Karen Forester, OTR/L, CHT

Karen Forester brings more than 20 years of specialized experience in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation, and a clinical background that few hand therapists anywhere in the region can match.

Before joining the MOS team, Karen worked at the University of Virginia Hand Center, treating Level I trauma cases alongside hand surgeons in both orthopedic and plastic surgery. That environment (high-acuity, high-stakes, deeply collaborative) shaped the kind of therapist she is. She is most at home working at the intersection of surgery and recovery, translating what happens in the operating room into functional outcomes for real patients.

Her specialty focus reflects that experience. Karen has particular expertise in upper extremity trauma: burns, tendon and nerve lacerations, tendon transfers, amputations, replantation, and complex fractures. These are among the most technically demanding cases in hand therapy, and the patients who face them need someone who has seen it all before. Karen has.

Patients feel it from the first session:

"Karen's approach to each session is what sets her apart. She immediately puts me at ease and explains everything in detail. It's clear she really cares, and that is so beneficial with a tricky injury."

"My experience with Karen was very positive. She explained the issues I have and how best to deal with them. The therapy was helpful and built up in a way that allowed me to be successful. She listened, observed, and directed each session professionally."

She graduated with honors from Boston University and holds both her Occupational Therapist (OTR/L) license and her Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) designation, one of the most rigorous specialty certifications in rehabilitation medicine. She sees patients at our Rockville location.

Outside the clinic, Karen speaks French, makes art, and travels with her family whenever she gets the chance.