Hands on Ot staff
Mary Ochoa, Office Manager
Mary Ochoa- Office Manager Mary has been in the healthcare industry over 13 years. She has strong work ethic in management and patient care Cordinator. She always puts her patients first and makes sure that they’re being taken care of get the care they need to get back to their normal life duties and hobbies. When Mary isn’t working she’ll be at the gym but she also love and enjoys outdoors activities and nature. She also loves spending time with family and friends and traveling the world.
Paul Gerstenfeld, MS, OTR/L CHT
Paul is a certified hand therapist who earned a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy, undergraduate degree in Recreational Therapy, and minoring in Psychology. He has over 20 years of experience treating disorders of the upper extremity helping people recover function and return to normal activities. He excels in creating adaptive devices, orthotic construction, modifying tools and helping people become more independent.
Previous to becoming an OT, Paul taught English as a Second Language, physical education, massage therapy and worked in special education with troubled youth. His clinical skills in concert with a rich, multidisciplinary background help in treating the person rather than the injury alone.
Ravi Amarawansa, MS, OTR/L
Ravi completed his master's degree in occupational therapy in 2017 from Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, CA. He then completed his clinical fieldwork rotations in a variety of settings which included inpatient stroke rehabilitation at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Hospital in Los Angeles and outpatient hand/upper extremity therapy at Stanford ValleyCare Center in Livermore, CA. Ravi has primarily focused on treating hand/upper limb conditions for approximately five years and is a member of the American Society of Hand Therapists. During his free time, Ravi enjoys running and playing sitar and piano.
Maria Jose Padres Leon COTA
MJ was born in Concepcion (Chile), earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education, specializing in Physical Education at Universidad de Concepcion. MJ is fluent in both Spanish and English. She moved to California, following her passion of helping others improve their quality of life, by becoming a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant at Community Based Education & Development (CBD College). MJ’s expanded her skill set becoming a Reiki Master, Certified IASTM provider (Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization) for the upper extremity and certified on MWM (movement with mobilization) for the upper extremity. These tools help her to utilizes a holistic approach and intuition with her practice. MJ has since completed her internship at Hands on OT in 2019, offered a position joining like minded therapist and continues to grow her knowledge base. When not at the office, she is investigating new ways to help her patients, driving around the country or enjoying sea sports with family and friends.
Lori Ann Hicks PT, DPT
Dr. Lori Ann Hicks is a native of Los Angeles who enjoys playing Basketball, lifting weights, and doing Pilates. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education with an Option in Exercise Science degree, a Master of Physical Therapy degree, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. She has worked as a Physical Therapist in many different types of settings during her career. Over the last 15 years, working as a hand therapist and upper extremity specialist in a Hand Therapy clinic is her absolute favorite.