Memberships & Associated Organisations

Capitulo de Terapistas de la Mano de la Asociacion de Cirugia de la Mano,
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS OF THE HOSTING
ORGANIZATION.

The Argentine Chapter for Hand Therapy (CATM) was created by the Argentine
Association for Surgery of the Hand (AACM) on 22nd May, 1997 in view of the need
for integrating the different professionals who are dedicated to the hand
rehabilitation throughout Argentina.
From its beginnings, the CATM has pursued the purposes of:
– Contributing to the progress of the hand and upper limb rehabilitation.
– Promoting the professional hierarchy, teaching and research.

History

In 1997, the Executive Council of the Argentine Association for Surgery of the
Hand requested of occupational and physical therapists with a renowned scientific
background in hand rehabilitation that their curriculum vitae and the certification of
their work experience with hand surgeons be submitted. Therefore, the AACM
appointed the First Executive Council of the Argentine Chapter for Hand Surgery
and their first twenty Founding Active Members.

This Committee was in charge of drawing up the Bylaws of the CATM and
validating the scientific background of the professionals aspiring to become active
or adherent members.

On 30th October, 1997, the Argentine Chapter for Hand Therapy in conjunction with
the Brazilian Society of Hand Therapists decided to constitute the South
American Society of Hand Therapists, in the framework of the VI Congress of
South American Federation for Surgery of the Hand (FSCM), Buenos Aires,
Argentina. On such occasion, Chilean professionals attending the meeting were
invited to create the Chilean Society of Hand Therapists and to join this scientific
endeavour.

In 2002, the Argentine Chapter for Hand Therapy fostered and encouraged the
creation of the Bolivian Chapter for Hand Therapy in Cochabamba City, Bolivia.
In the last years, the CATM has summoned the Colombian Society of Hand
Therapists as well as the Venezuelan Society of Hand Therapists to join the South
American Society.

This year the Past Presidents Council of the CATM initiated contacts with the
presidents of the Hand Surgery Societies of Mexico and Perú, to provide support
and promote the formation of Associations or Chapters that join the professionals
of the Rehabilitation (physical and occupational therapists)

Current situation

Currently, the Argentine Chapter for Hand Therapy of the Argentine Association for
Surgery of the Hand is composed of 149 Members including from all over the country.
Each Active Member must recertify every five years.

The CATM belongs to the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy since 2002 and its Delegate is the Professor Beatriz Inés Piso, P.T. MS.

The CATM participates scientifically in:

– Organising an Annual Argentine Congress in conjunction with the AACM
– Organising an Annual Updating Course in conjunction with the AACM
– Being part of the Teaching Staff of the AACM Post-graduate Specialisation in Hand Surgery.
– Offering courses and workshops throughout the country to foster the development of Hand Rehabilitation.
– Offering since March 2014 The Biennial Course.