Hand Surgery Associates

Nicole Leitch earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutritional Sciences at University of New Hampshire. While studying at UNH, she decided to take an EMT certification course which led her to working for Jackson Hole Fire/EMS for a period of time. It was then, that she met physician assistants in the medical community and realized that the PA role best matched her career aspirations. She attended University of Utah and received her Master of Physician Assistant Studies.

Prior to joining Hand Surgery Associates, she was working in urgent care and occupational medicine for the past seven years. What she loves most about working at Hand Surgery Associates is focusing on the common tools we all have: our hands, and helping people be able to use their “tools” with utmost function. Nicole’s principle in practice is to treat all her patients how she would like her family and friends to be treated.When she’s not working, Nicole loves to be outside- chasing down fresh tracks on the ski slopes, biking, paddle boarding, and spending time with her family and friends.

Maddy is a board certified physician assistant with over five years of experience as a surgical PA. She is a native to the Midwest, and grew up in Toledo, Ohio. She stayed close to home to complete her undergraduate Applied Health Science degree while also playing varsity tennis at Bowling Green State University. She then obtained her master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies at Shenandoah University in Virginia. After graduation, she practiced for several years in the DC metro area in hand, wrist, and elbow surgery, until relocating to Denver where she worked in the neurosurgical field.

Maddy joined Hand Surgery Associates in Spring of 2020, and is very happy to be practicing again in the upper extremity orthopedic specialty. She has found that because the mixture of conditions and diversity of the specialty, this is where her passion as a physician assistant lies. When not at work, Maddy enjoys reading, exercising, and exploring Denver and the mountains with her family.

Bio Coming Soon!

Bio Coming Soon!

Bio Coming Soon!

Laura is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Madison. Her first 20 years of practice were dominated by inpatient rehabilitation for both orthopedic and neurological disorders and she functioned as a rehab manager for 12 of those years. She pursued specialization in outpatient hand and upper extremity therapy in 2009 and has been a Certified Hand Therapist for the past 10 years. She has practiced in 6 states and is happy to have landed in Colorado. She is a member of the American Society of Hand Therapists and outside of work enjoys traveling, running, biking, paddling and hiking.

Tim received his Masters of Occupational Therapy from University of Texas Health Science Center in 2014. Since graduating, he has soley focused on upper extremity rehabilitation. He underwent a year long fellowship in Pennsylvania followed by eventually earning his Hand Therapy Certification in 2018. He is originally from Chicago IL and enjoys spending his time working out and hiking.

Carly received her Masters of Occupational Therapy from Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, California in 2013. She became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2018 following extensive training in the treatment of upper extremity related conditions. She is a member of the American Society of Hand Therapists and has worked closely with her colleagues to incorporate evidence based practice into the treatment of all patients at Hand Surgery Associates. Carly skillfully provides quality specialized post-operative and cumulative trauma care, restoring full function to the upper extremity through manual treatment and the fabrication of custom orthotics for a variety of simple and complex diagnoses. Carly grew up in Silverthorne, Colorado and loves being outside with her family hiking, backpacking, skiing, and gardening.

Katie received her Masters of Occupation Therapy from Pacific University in Hillsboro, Oregon in 2013. She worked for 6 years at a Trauma hospital and Burn Center in Portland, Oregon treating critically ill and injured patients on the Intensive Care Units. Katie transitioned her career to specialize further in the upper extremity and completed a 1-year Hand Therapy Fellowship at the University of Minnesota and M Health/Fairview. She assisted in teaching Orthotics management and Anatomy as well as research on Rock Climbing injuries during this fellowship. Outside of work Katie enjoys trail running, hiking, camping and spending time with friends and family.

Donna received her Occupational Therapy degree from the University of Oklahoma. She is registered with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, her Hand Therapy Certification is through the Hand Therapy Certification Commission and she is a member of the American Society of Hand Therapy. Donna has treated upper extremity patients in Colorado for seventeen years now providing specialized hand therapy services.

Prior to this she served in a variety of roles - as assistant director of a Hand Therapy clinic, adjunct professor for an Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, and Hand Therapy Program Coordinator in Oklahoma City. Donna's career mission is to always provide the highest quality therapy service to ensure the ultimate functional outcome. Her interests include camping, traveling, playing tennis and most of all, spending time with her husband and son.

Karen received her Bachelor of Science, Magna Cum Laude in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University in 1994 and went on to complete a Hand Therapy Fellowship at the Hand Rehabilitation Center in Metairie, Louisiana. She obtained her Certification in Hand Therapy from the Hand Therapy Certification Commission in 2014. Karen is a member of the American Society of Hand Therapists and the International Academy of Orthopedic Medicine. She grew up in Southern California and Steamboat Springs, Colorado and enjoys dirt bike riding and traveling with her husband and 3 great kids.

Shannon completed her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy at Washington University in St. Louis and her undergraduate degree at the University of Florida. She completed her hand therapy clinical rotation at Duke University. Shannon has conducted research exploring the relationships between depression, anxiety, pain, and physical function in hand therapy as well as exploring novel surgical techniques for metacarpal fractures. She has served as a laboratory instructor for an orthotic fabrication course for doctoral students at Regis University. She is a member of ASHT (American Society of Hand Therapists). Shannon has a passion for learning and enjoys rock climbing, cooking, and hiking.

Sarah received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational therapy from the University of Kansas in 1995. With 26 years of experience in hand therapy, Sarah has provided the full spectrum of hand rehabilitation including custom and prefabricated splinting, wound care, post operative therapy, cumulative trauma therapy, and ergonomic job assessments. She particularly enjoys post operative splinting and care and has observed over 100+ hours of surgery. She obtained her Hand Therapy Certification in 2000. She enjoys traveling around the world.

Lyn obtained her Master’s Degree In Occupational Therapy at Texas Women’s University. She has been a Certified Hand Therapist for over 20 years and a member of American Society of Hand Therapists. She began her career as a rehabilitation therapist at Craig hospital, with a special interest in their tendon transfer program to provide increased function in paralyzed hands, wrists and elbows. She pursued her love of working with hands by joining the University of Colorado as a hand therapist for Dr. Clinkscales, who was a professor in their orthopedic hand department. This led to joining a private practice with Hand Surgery Associates, 20 years ago, a job which she still enjoys to this day. She loves the challenge of hand therapy, splinting and most of all working closely with her patients to obtain their goals. In her free time, she loves the outdoors, traveling, riding her horse, and spending time with family and her many dogs.

Jenny received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at Thomas Jefferson University. She completed a clinical rotation in hand therapy at Philadelphia Hand to Shoulder Center and has worked in upper extremity rehabilitation since completing her graduate program. She is a member of American Society of Hand Therapists. A native of Memphis, TN, she enjoys traveling, good food, and exploring Colorado.