International
ASHT's International Committee is committed to the mission of advancing the specialty of hand therapy through communication, education, research and the establishment of clinical standards throughout the international community. Here you can learn more about international hand therapy organizations, meetings and fellowships, volunteer opportunities and more.
- International Reverse Therapy Fellowship
- International Organizations
- Companion Clinic Program
- Meetings & Fellowships
- Volunteer Information
- Donate Books and Supplies
Share Information on the e-Community International Discussion Group
International Reverse Therapy Fellowship
The American Association for Hand Surgery in partnership with the American Society of Hand Therapists has established an International Reverse Therapy Fellowship. The program sponsors an international hand therapist's visits with AAHS and ASHT member therapists at their institutions with the aim to provide expert education so that the Fellow may return home to improve therapy education and patient care in his or her home country.
The application for the 2020 Reverse Therapy Fellowship is now available. ASHT members have such broad, international networks. Please be sure to forward this opportunity to those who may be eligible and interested.
The selected International Reverse Therapy Fellow will receive $10,000 from AAHS to be used toward a four-week visit to North America to travel to the ASHT Annual Meeting and the institutions of two AAHS and ASHT member therapists in October 2020. Fellowship funding will also cover attendance at the AAHS Annual Meeting in January 2021 so that the Fellow can provide a summary of his or her experience, and how that experience has changed education and care in their practice.
The application window for the 2020 Reverse Therapy Fellowship has closed. Please check back for more information.
International Organizations
International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT)
The mission of the IFSHT is to provide global networking and educational opportunities to develop and enhance the practice of hand therapy. IFSHT represents more than 8,500 hand therapists worldwide, and endeavors to promote the principles and practice of hand therapy internationally, thereby increasing the number of patients who receive specialized rehabilitation.
IFSHT-IFSSH Teaching Grants: IFSHT and IFSSH have joined together to support international projects that further the practice of hand therapy. Recently, a group of Canadian hand therapists traveled to Uganda to work with and teach local therapists there about hand therapy. This project was supported by a grant from the IFSHT-IFSSH International Teaching Fund. Do you have a project or are you considering one that will further the practice of hand therapy in a country other than your own? If so, you can apply for support from IFSHT-IFSSH. Projects are eligible for up to $1,000 in funding. Click here for more information and the application forms for the IFSHT-IFSSH International Teaching Grant program.
IFSHT Newsletter:
Hand Therapy Connections - April 2020
Hand Therapy Connections - December 2019
Hand Therapy Connections - June/July 2019
International Companion Clinic Program
The world is getting smaller. New technology has made it faster to connect with people around the globe, reaching even the most remote corners, an unthinkable probability a decade ago. Cheap and easy internet-based communication has replaced expensive, hardwired phone lines allowing people to connect via chat messaging and even video at little to no cost, both with archived messages or in real time. Because of this, taking part in ASHT's Companion Clinic Program is now easier than ever!
This program pairs a U.S. clinic or hand therapist with an individual in a developing country, providing a unique opportunity to create relationships between therapists practicing under a diverse set of circumstances. Through regular communication, members pursue collaboration, clinical education and professional growth while promoting best practice in the field of hand therapy around the world. The program also offers members networking opportunities, the development of new skills, and the satisfaction of actively assisting in the standardization of hand therapy practice on a global scale.
Fellowships
Review a full list of ASHT's fellowship and graduate programs.
Evelyn Mackin award from the Philadelphia Hand Foundation
Evelyn Mackin award from the American Hand Therapy Foundation
Volunteer Information
International Volunteer Toolkit
Find useful tools such as travel tips, up-to-date information on countries around the world, language tools and travel insurance.
Volunteer Organizations
Access a list of organizations that sponsor international volunteer opportunities.
*This listing is provided as a resource and not an indication of ASHT endorsement.
