When you're hurt, we're here
Visit our qualified team of occupational therapists with certified hand therapist designations today!
Staff
Laurie Hartley OTR/L, CHT
Graduated from the Colorado State university from the College of Applied Human Science in May 1987 with the degree of Occupational Therapy. I became intrigued with the hand in college. I have been practicing in Occupational Therapy with a specialty in upper extremity rehabilitation since graduation. I was eligible for the Hand Therapy Certification Exam in 1993 and became a Certified Hand Therapist in 1993. My dream was to have a clinic and I have successfully accomplished that with Advanced Hand & Orthopedics. I participate in numerous continuing education courses to maintain an advanced level of patient care. I became a resident of Alaska in 1989 and have never looked back. When I am not in the clinic I am outside. I love skiing, biking, hiking, white water kayaking, and paddle boarding not to mention spending time with my husband, friends, and dogs.
Briana Acker OTR/L, CHT
Brinn worked as a special education teacher and behavioral therapist prior to pursuing occupational therapy, and feels her previous careers have helped her to understand how to provide holistic care to individuals recovering from life’s big curveballs. She has been a registered occupational therapist for over eight years and began her career as a travel therapist, which provided unique opportunities for professional development across the country. She co-founded an OT program to support patients on a nationally recognized, acute medical-stabilization eating disorder unit, developed post-op protocols for hospitalized pt’s following amputations, and specialized in the treatment of neurological diagnoses and concussions as an outpatient therapist. She has always seen hand therapy as the perfect mix of art and science, and feels our upper extremities are incredibly complex and beautiful tools. In 2019, she decided to specialize in hand therapy, and became a board-certified hand therapist after completing a fellowship at the Philadelphia Hand to Shoulder Center. Brinn is passionate about helping patients recovering from upper extremity trauma, elective post-operative procedures, and overuse injuries, so they can regain independence and return to enjoying all the wonder that Alaska has to offer. She has been working at AHO since October, 2021 and has really enjoyed becoming part of the Anchorage community. Brinn is fluent in Spanish and believes it is paramount to deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate care when possible. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, mountain biking, and baking things with lots of butter.
Nathan Missler OTR/L, CHT
Nate graduated from Wayne State University in 2016 with a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy. Upon graduation, he moved to Alaska to pursue his passion for hand and upper extremity rehab. Nate has worked in various settings prior to starting at Advanced Hand and Orthopedics including outpatient orthopedics, acute care and academia. In 2019, Nate acquired his certified hand therapist (CHT) credential. Aside from hand therapy, Nate has worked in the past in his OT career as an LSVT-BIG clinician which is a full body movement treatment program for Parkinson's Disease. Nate enjoys educating patients on various upper extremity conditions including ergonomics, repetitive stress and post-surgical needs. In his spare time, Nate enjoys hiking, weight lifting, and playing video games.
Back Office Staff
Advanced Hand & Orthopedics is thankful for all of our support staff, Kristel, May, Roxanne, and Jim. We hope we all make your visit at advanced Hand & Orthopedics easy and pleasurable.