Our Hand Therapists

The Hand Therapists of The Hand Center at Willowbrook, with whom Dr. Jafarnia works exclusively, are board certified in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation. With nearly 50 years of combined experience, they specialize in hand related diagnoses and the restoration of hand, wrist and elbow function following an injury or condition.

Working closely with Dr. Jafarnia, the therapists create an individualized plan for each patient - from conservative rehabilitation in lieu of surgical treatment, to preoperative strengthening exercises and postoperative recovery of range of motion. It is the goal of these elite hand therapists to not only restore function necessary for quality of life in day to day activity but also the hobbies and sports patients love most.

Gail Hannahs, OTR, CHT

Gail Hannahs has been a part of Dr. Jafarnia’s Hand Team for many years. She is board certified in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation and specializes in hand related diagnoses.

Graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1983 with a B.S. in Occupational Therapy, Hannahs is today one of Houston’s leading experts in hand and upper extremity therapy. She has over 25 years of experience working closely with hand and orthopedic surgeons and is an experienced clinician in both academic and community settings with Hand and Sports related injuries.

Hannahs is a member of the American Society of Hand Therapy and a co-author of a case study with one of Texas’ Super Doctors specializing in Hand Surgery.

Rick Pratt, OTR, CHT

Rick Pratt is one of Houston’s best board certified hand and upper extremity rehabilitation therapists. With over 20 years of hand and upper extremity rehabilitation experience, he is an integral part of Dr. Jafarnia’s team and The Hand Center at Willowbrook.

Pratt graduated from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 1988 with a B.S. in Occupational Therapy - and developed unique Hand Therapy programs implemented throughout Houston.

He is a presenter in, “Special Topics in Hand Therapy,” at Methodist Willowbrook, which is designed to educate patients and therapists alike in the advancing world of hand and upper extremity therapy techniques, technology and protocol.

Pratt is the author of an industry-impacting article on “The Therapist’s Perspective of a New Surgical and Rehabilitation program.” And he is a member of the American Society of Hand Therapy.