Shyamala Gopalan OTR/L, CHT — Occupational Therapist

Biography

Shyamala Gopalan, OTR/L, CHT is an occupational therapist specializing in treatment of hand and upper extremity injuries. She grew up in India where she completed her undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy. She then moved to Boston for graduate school and obtained her Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy at Tufts University in 2003. After starting her career in California as a pediatric occupational therapist, Shyamala moved to Washington DC in 2005 to work for The George Washington University Hospital in their inpatient unit.  She soon realized that her passion was in hand therapy, and she obtained her Certification as a hand therapist (CHT) in 2009. While at GW, Shyamala took on a leadership role to manage the outpatient clinic there. Prior to joining Orthopaedic Medicine & Surgery in January of 2018, Shyamala was working in a private hand therapy practice in Alexandria, VA. Her interest professionally is in treating tendon repairs and traumatic injuries to elbow and wrist. Shyamala enjoys working with her patients to come up with an individualized treatment plan to help them regain functional use of their hand. When not at work, Shyamala enjoys volunteering, spending time with her family and exploring the city.