Jenna Thacker

Jenna Thacker serves as Assistant Professor (Adjunct) and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at the University of Southern Indiana while maintaining clinical practice as a Certified Hand Therapist at ProRehab. She additionally directs EIM's Certificate for Advanced Practice in Hand Therapy program, demonstrating a tripartite commitment to education, clinical service, and professional development.

Her research focuses on evidence-based hand rehabilitation, particularly post-operative protocols for CMC arthritis and conservative management of upper extremity conditions like lateral epicondylitis. She bridges academic theory with clinical application through ongoing research and development of specialized training programs that address gaps in hand therapy education.

As a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT), she maintains rigorous clinical standards while contributing to academic discourse through publications and program development. Her recent work includes a 2023 publication on lateral epicondylitis management and active research on Mini-Tightrope Suspensionplasty rehabilitation protocols.

Dr. Thacker's professional trajectory exemplifies clinical-academic integration: she developed EIM's Certificate program from her OTD capstone project and co-created their post-professional OTD curriculum. Her weekly clinical practice at ProRehab ensures current hands-on expertise informs her academic roles, while her fieldwork coordination responsibilities directly impact occupational therapy student training.

Though not leading a named research laboratory, she drives innovation through EIM's educational platforms and clinical research initiatives. Her work focuses on translating evidence into practice through structured certificate programs and specialized courses like 'Hands-On Treatment of the Upper Quarter', addressing critical needs in advanced hand therapy training.