Helping clients to regain function and independence

Michelle Saksa, OTR, OTD, CHT, GTS knew as an MOT student at UT Health San Antonio that she was interested in a career as a hand therapist. She has pursued this goal since graduation in 2009 and, as a Certified Hand Therapist, has recently opened her own hand therapy clinic in Oak Harbor, Washington. She also completed a post-professional OTD in 2014. Dr. Saksa has accomplished many things in her professional life including authoring chapter in several OT textbooks and hand therapy books as well as teaching as adjunct faculty at Abilene Christina University.
 
When asked what she is most passionate about in her work as an OT and CHT, Dr. Saksa says it is “getting get to see everything from the very simple to the very complex and everything in between. Hand therapy is a constantly evolving field that keeps me on my toes.  I love learning new and better ways to help my clients.”  She says that she “believes our hands are the most important parts of our body and essential to our engagement in the world around us” so her favorite thing about being an OT is helping her clients’ regain function and independence following an injury. 

Dr. Saksa recalls many great memories of her time on the Health Science Center campus. In her work as a Teaching Assistant for anatomy, she really appreciated her learning experiences afforded to OT students. She also feels that the amount of splinting taught in the courses directly influenced her to become the hand therapist she is today. Finally, the annual chili cook-off was her favorite social event on campus. 

Dr. Saksa is a proud alumnus and as a clinician and OT educator who has lived and practiced in several states, says she truly appreciates how well rounded the education program at UT Health San Antonio is in preparing graduates to enter an area of practice they choose to pursue.