Suzanne Caragianis Biography
Introduction
Suzanne Caragianis graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy from SAIT (University of SA) in 1985 with a keen interest in treating hand injuries and burns. She began specialist training in these areas in 1986 and has now completed over 45 specialist courses to improve her knowledge and skills in the treatment of hand and upper limb disorders.
Worldwide Experience
Suzanne has had the opportunity to train and work around the globe. She developed skills working with burns in the United Kingdom where she worked at St Andrew’s Hospital in Billericay and Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead. She then went to U.S.A. in 1987 where she undertook specialist splinting courses with Elaine Fess and a Biomechanic of Hand course with Dr Paul Brand in Carville, Louisiana. She also attended The Philadelphia Hand meeting. She returned to Australia and continued to specialise in treatment of acute hand injuries in a hospital setting and in private practice and industry.
Suzanne returned to U.S.A. in 1989 to work at the Milliken Hand Centre, Washington School of Medicine, St Louis, MO. She then worked for 2 years with Dr Kleinert and Dr Kutz at Louisville Hand Surgery, Louisville, Kentucky.
Suzanne worked in Switzerland at Chirgurie of St Leonard, St Gallen under Dr Segmuller and Dr Sennwald before returning to Australia in January 1992 to start her own hand and upper limb private practice.
In 1991 she passed the inaugural Examination of the Hand Therapy Certification Commission and has recertified in 1996, 2001 and 2006.
In 2010, Suzanne embarked on a medical missionary to the Kingdom of Bhutan where she and Dr Philip Griffin went to teach, train and establish a Hand Therapy unit.
Industry Recognition
Suzanne has had the opportunity to teach and present at many national and international conferences and has published in the Journal of Hand Therapy. She has a keen interest in both teaching and research. She has lectured at the University of South Australia and continues to clinically supervise Occupational Therapy students and new graduates as she is committed to supporting developing therapists. She has been involved in research in many areas including:
- Incidence of injuries in hand therapist practicing in Australia and New Zealand
- Conservative Treatment Outcomes in common extensor origin tendinopathy
- Functional Outcome of Patients with Multiple Digit Replants
- Outcome of Individual Hand Replantation and Toe-Thumb Transplantation
- Outcomes of Orthosphere CMC Joint Arthroplasty and Soft Tissue Interposition Arthroplasty using FCR tendon
- Use of Inter-X device in treatment of forearm myofascial pain
Current Research
Her current research studies are in the Outcome of Autologous Blood Injections for Chronic CEO Tendinopathies and the outcome following radial tunnel release.
Suzanne is an active member of the Australian Hand Therapy Association and presents regularly at their National meetings. She is also mentor and advisor to the Indian Hand Therapy Association having had an instrumental role in the development of this association. Most recently she spoke at their inaugural meeting in 2006.
Last Updated: 04/07/2009
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