A Look at ASHT’s First Virtual Annual Conference

A certified hand therapist, Gregory F. Caffiero has a degree in occupational therapy from Elizabethtown College and has worked as an occupational therapist for close to a decade. The lead certified hand therapist and clinic manager at Maui Hand Therapy LLC, Gregory Caffiero is a member of the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT), and regularly attends the ASHT annual conference.

In 2020, for the first time in its over 40-year history, ASHT held its annual meeting virtually in the interest of COVID-19 precautions. Just because the meeting was virtual, however, does not mean it was not full of learning opportunities. In fact, ASHT structured the annual meeting into a mix of live plenary sessions and prerecorded instructional sessions, allowing remote attendees to take part in more sessions than at previous in-person events, and in so doing, earn more continuing education credits.

The virtual meeting’s theme was “Ignite the Leader Within: Collaborate-Innovate-Advocate.” It featured 57 educational sessions delivered by 81 speakers, both surgeons and therapists. The sessions covered multiple topics around the hands and upper extremities including nerve transfers among patients with complex conditions, advancements in treating extensor tendon injuries, and dealing with Dupuytren’s disease.

The live sessions were held every Thursday from Oct. 1, 2020, to Nov. 19, 2020, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET. The prerecorded sessions were available on demand from Oct. 1 onward. ASHT increased the number of one-hour sessions while also making available shorter 30-minute sessions to accommodate attendees’ learning preferences.