Dr. Ritu Goel, DHSc, MS, OTR/L, CHT
- Occupational Therapist
- Board Certified Hand Therapist (CHT)
- Clinical Assistant Professor, Towson University, Department of Occupational Therapy & Occupational Science
Bio:
Dr. Ritu Goel, MS, OTR/L, DHSc, CHT, has over 15 years of experience in hand and upper extremity therapy, providing care to individuals of all ages, from infancy to older adulthood. As an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist, Dr. Goel brings specialized knowledge and skills to help clients restore function and improve their quality of life through personalized, effective treatment.
Dr. Goel began her career in inpatient acute care at the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopaedics (RIAO) and the International Center for Limb Lengthening (ICLL) at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, where she treated patients following joint replacements and limb lengthening procedures. Dr. Goel continued her career in outpatient rehabilitation at the William Donald Schaefer Rehabilitation Center at the University of Maryland Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Institute (UMROI), where she treated traumatic orthopaedic injuries, spinal cord injury, and fabricated splints for post- and non-operative cases. Following her time at UMROI, Dr. Goel transitioned to the University of Maryland’s Department of Orthopaedics at Camden Yards and Hunt Valley locations, where she treated trauma, overuse injuries, and brachial plexus birth palsy, and continued to provide splinting services. After 6.5 years with the Department of Orthopaedics, Dr. Goel opened her own practice, Atlantic Shoulder to Hand Therapy, where she will continue to provide clients with experienced, high-level, specialized care.
Dr. Goel is a faculty member of the Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science at Towson University. She teaches and mentors aspiring doctoral and master’s level students in research, musculoskeletal, neurological, and advanced rehabilitation courses. She takes pride in the opportunity to give back to the OT community by teaching the next generation of OTs and bridging the connection between the classroom and the clinical setting.
Education
- Bachelor of Science: Kinesiological Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park
- Master of Science: Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science, Towson University
- Doctor of Health Science: Occupational Therapy (Ortho Track), University of Indianapolis
- Advanced Practice Certificate: Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation, Thomas Jefferson University
Certifications and Licensure
- Certification in Hand Therapy (CHT) – Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC)
- Occupational Therapy (OT) – National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
- OT License: Maryland
Recent Publications
- Goel, R., May, C. C., Abzug, J. M. (2023). Pediatric hand fractures: Rehabilitation and orthoses. In J. M. Abzug, R. G. Gaston, A. L. Osterman, & R. J. Tosti (Eds.), Pediatric and adult hand fractures: A clinical guide to management (pp. 147-164). Springer.
- Goel, R., Geigle, P., Santurri, L., Fruth, S., & Abzug, J. (2022). Telerehabilitation use with spinal cord injury: Occupational therapists’ perspectives. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(2).
- Zarro, M., Goel, R., Bickhart, N., May, C., & Abzug, J. M. (2022). Extensor carpi ulnaris tendinopathy in athletes: A review of the conservative and rehabilitative options. HAND.
- Goel, R., Case, A. L., Hogarth, D. A., & Abzug, J. M. (2020). Amputations and replants. In J. M. Abzug, S. H. Kozin, & R. Neiduski (Eds.), Pediatric hand therapy (pp. 303-319). Elsevier, Inc.
- Goel, R., & Abzug, J. M. (2015). deQuervain’s tenosynovitis: A review of the rehabilitative options. HAND, 10(1), 1–5.
Professional Memberships
- Member, American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT)
- Member, National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)