Hand/Occupational Therapy Staff

A native of Upstate New York, Steph attended Ithaca College and received her master’s in occupational therapy in 2006. Since college, Steph has been an active member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and state OT boards and has presented at state OT annual conferences. She has worked in a variety of settings during her career, including post-stroke rehab, inpatient psychiatry, and then specializing in hand therapy.

To advance her skills, Steph received specialty certification in hand therapy (CHT) from the Hand Therapy Certification Committee (HTCC) in 2016. She is currently an active member of the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) and has volunteered with both ASHT and HTCC. To contribute to the profession and the advancement of the next generation of therapists, Steph has been a clinical instructor to students and worked as an adjunct professor. In her free time, Steph enjoys outdoor sports, including hiking, kayaking, camping, and swimming.

Alexa first worked with The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics: Maryland Orthopedic Specialists Division during her fieldwork rotation as an occupational therapy student under the supervision of a certified hand therapist, Steph Clement Pogonowski. Alexa received her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Maryland, graduating in 2018. She then officially joined the MOS rehab team in April 2021 after completing her master’s degree in occupational therapy from Towson University in January 2021.

Alexa’s fieldwork rotation further solidified her interest and desire to pursue the specialty area of occupational therapy: hand therapy. Alexa was always intrigued and passionate about health and fitness, particularly anatomy and biomechanics, as she was driven to understand how and why the human body operates. She enjoys being involved in athletics in various capacities, as she was a member of the cheerleading team at the University of Maryland and has previously coached youth cheerleading teams. Additionally, during her time in undergraduate and graduate school, Alexa worked with UMD’s athletic training department, at a private hand therapy practice, and as a caretaker for an individual with a spinal cord injury, in addition to volunteering with numerous occupational therapy facilities.

Through these experiences, Alexa learned specific treatment techniques for diverse orthopedic and musculoskeletal conditions and fell in love with having a direct role in patient care and rehabilitation. In her free time, Alexa enjoys weightlifting, running, reading, being outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.

Karen is a board-certified occupational therapist and a certified hand therapist. She is treating patients in our Rockville office. She graduated with honors from Boston University and has over 20 years of experience specializing in hand and upper quadrant rehabilitation.

Prior to joining CAO, Karen worked at the University of Virginia Hand Center, treating level I trauma cases. She enjoys working closely with hand surgeons in both the orthopedic and plastic surgery divisions.

Karen has a special interest in treating upper extremity trauma, including burns, tendon and nerve lacerations, tendon transfers, amputations, replantation, and complex fractures. When not at work, Karen enjoys art, French, and traveling with her family.

Kendyl is a native North Carolinian who graduated from North Carolina State University in 2015 with a degree in food science and a minor in biology. She took an opportunity to teach English in South Korea for a few years as an educator and learned she had a passion for helping and collaborating with others. Returning to the States, she received her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from East Carolina University in 2023.

As a student, Kendyl was a student leader of The Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity and worked diligently to further research in the Occupational Therapy field, assisting with presenting at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Kendyl completed her fieldwork with Steph Clement Pogonowski, a certified hand therapist here at The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics: Maryland Orthopedic Specialists Division, which solidified her passion for hand therapy and led her to officially join the team in 2024.

Kendyl enjoys learning about the intricate anatomy of the upper extremity, how dysfunction in these systems impacts people’s daily lives, and finding individual solutions to help those who visit our clinic. Getting to know each patient and creating client-centered care are Kendyl’s favorite aspects of working at MOS. Now, she aspires to become a certified hand specialist and is currently working toward this goal.

Kendyl is currently a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Outside of work, Kendyl has a passion for travel and the arts.