On today’s episode of “Hands in Motion” we are diving into a discussion in an area of practice that most hand therapists would never find on their radar. We are joined by Michael Gerg, DOT, OTR/L, CHT, CEES, CWCE, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist who serves as an expert witness. He will explain what an expert witness is and how a hand therapist’s knowledge and practice experience is utilized in the legal system.
Dr. Michael J. Gerg, DOT, OTR/L, CHT, CEES, CWCE is the Program Coordinator of the Occupational Therapy program at the Creighton University Health Sciences Campus in Phoenix, AZ. He is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University School of Liberal Arts and the Temple University School of Health Professions and Social Work. He has been a practicing occupational therapist for 26 years and has obtained additional certifications in hand therapy, work capacity evaluation, and ergonomic evaluation. In the past, Dr. Gerg has worked clinically for Magee Rehabilitation and Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Valley Health in Winchester, Virginia where he helped to build a successful industrial wellness and ergonomic consulting practice.
After beginning his healthcare career in mental health, he has gained extensive clinical practice experience in a variety of adult physical disability settings including outpatient hand therapy, acute care, acute rehabilitation, long-term care, and outpatient rehabilitation. He has had full time academic appointments as the Director of Student Progression and Retention at A. T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona; Program Director of an Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Clinical Instructor/Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and has been an Adjunct faculty member at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia in the Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Training programs. His special interests include hand therapy, ergonomic worksite evaluation, legal expert consulting, Industrial Wellness, injury prevention research and training, and Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE).His research interests include hand therapy, ergonomics, community access for persons with disabilities, and occupational therapy practice in work and industry. He has published research on the ergonomics of text messaging, written various articles and fact sheets for AOTA, has published book chapters on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Occupational Therapy intervention with injured workers.
Dr. Gerg continues to be involved in clinical hand therapy practice and operates a small ergonomic consulting and legal expert practice. He has worked extensively with injured and disabled workers of various levels of ability to assist them in pursuing a means of earning a living that is also meaningful and fulfilling. He previously served as the Chairperson of the Work and Industry Special Interest Section of the American Occupational Therapy Association. When not working, he finds biking, hiking, traveling, and playing competitive amateur billiards fulfilling.
