Our Providers
Orthopaedic Surgery and Hand Therapy in Washington, DC
At DC Hand - The Hand and Upper Extremity Institute of Greater Washington, Dr. Raizman and his board-certified orthopaedic colleagues provide the most comprehensive hand, wrist ,shoulder and elbow treatment in the Washington, DC area. They have many years of experience providing leading-edge treatments and performing advanced procedures, including complex trauma care and the latest minimally-invasive procedures. Take some time to learn about our highly experienced physicians and give us a call at (202) 835-2222 to schedule an appointment.
Dr. Noah Raizman was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Brown University, where he graduated magna cum laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi honor societies. Dr. Raizman attended Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he was president of his class and completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the George Washington University School of Medicine. He then completed a fellowship in hand and upper extremity at the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland before returning to Washington, DC to practice.
Dr. Raizman’s particular areas of interest include nerve transfers and peripheral nerve surgery; hand, wrist and elbow arthritis; brachial plexus injuries; and joint replacement of the shoulder, elbow and wrist. He specializes in minimally invasive approaches to hand and elbow surgeries for carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome and Dupuytren’s contracture.
As a triple letterman in high school and an active runner and triathlete, Dr. Raizman also has a significant interest in sports injuries. He has participated in the care of many professional athletes, including active players on the PGA Tour, the Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Cavaliers, and has also provided care for the Division 1 collegiate hockey championships, George Washington University athletics, DC high school football games, and the Marine Corps Marathon. Having worked at several Level 1 Trauma Centers, he has an interest in orthopaedic trauma care, particularly of the upper extremity. He performs both open and arthroscopic capsular release for stiff elbows after trauma.
Dr. Raizman has been active in both teaching and research, and was awarded a Howard Hughes Medical Institute fellowship to study at New York University and a Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship at Columbia. He has pursued research into molecular genetics at Harvard University and the National Institutes of Health. He has written several scholarly articles and book chapters on hand surgery, shoulder and sports medicine, and has presented research at numerous national and regional meetings. Dr. Raizman is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) as well as local and regional medical societies.
Dr. Raizman was elected an ASSH Young Leader and is a nationally recognized leader in Evidence-Based Medicine, having served as a member of the AAOS Evidence-Based Quality and Value Committee for four years and as Chair of hte ASSH Evidence-Based Practice Committee. He has participated as moderator and panel member of numerous Clinical Practice Guidelines and Appropriate Use Criteria for the AAOS, ASSH and American College of Radiology on topics such as clavicle fracture, shoulder arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and upper extremity imaging. Dr. Raizman is a recognized expert in Independent Medical Examination, has served on the Editorial Panel for the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment since its inception, and has given numerous lectures and courses on IMEs and impairment ratings.
Dr. Raizman lives in Washington, DC with his wife, two children and rescued retriever.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Raizman, call DC Hand - The Hand and Upper Extremity Institute of Greater Washington at (202) 835-2222.
To view Dr. Raizman's CV with scholarly publications and presentations, CLICK HERE
Shyamala Gopalan, OTR/L, CHT, is an occupational therapist specializing in treatment of hand and upper extremity injuries.
Shyamala grew up in India, where she completed her undergraduate degree in occupational therapy. She then moved to Boston for graduate school and obtained her master's degree in occupational therapy from Tufts University. After starting her career in California as a pediatric occupational therapist, Shyamala moved to Washington, D.C., in 2005 to work for The George Washington University Hospital in their inpatient unit. She soon realized that her passion was in hand therapy, and she obtained her certification as a hand therapist (CHT).
While at George Washington University Hospital, Shyamala took on a leadership role to manage the outpatient clinic there. Prior to joining the Office of Orthopaedic Medicine & Surgery in 2018, Shyamala was working in a private hand therapy practice in Alexandria, Virginia. Her areas of interest include treating patients who have undergone tendon repairs and experienced traumatic injuries to the elbow and wrist. Shyamala enjoys working with her patients to come up with an individualized treatment plan to help them regain functional use of their hands.
When not at work, Shyamala enjoys volunteering, spending time with her family, and exploring the city.
Areas of Expertise:
- Hand Therapy
- Tendon Repairs
- Traumatic Injuries to the Elbow & Wrist
Education & Certifications:
- Bachelor of Science: Kovai Medical Center and Hospital, College of Occupational Therapy, India, 2001
- Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy (MOT): Tufts University, Medford, MA, 2003
- Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) 2009
To schedule an appointment with Shyamala Gopalan, call DC Hand - The Hand and Upper Extremity Institute of Greater Washington at (202) 835-2222.
Susan Clark, OTR/L, CHT, is an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist.
A graduate of Towson University in Maryland, Susan began her career in acute inpatient rehabilitation at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital in D.C. in 2001. In 2006, she began work in MedStar NRH’s outpatient program, working with cardiovascular accident (CVA), traumatic brain injury, and cardiac patients. Susan began her clinical focus in orthopaedic hand therapy in 2007, and she completed the advanced certification in hand and upper quarter rehab at Drexel University in 2009. In 2012, she became a certified hand therapist, working exclusively with patients who have hand or upper extremity problems. Susan joined the staff at Orthopaedic Medicine & Surgery in February of 2015. Susan attends numerous conferences and continuing education presentations to stay up-to-date with advancing clinical research. In her spare time, Susan enjoys photography. Her favorite photographic subjects are hands, adapted sports, and people. She also enjoys swimming, travel, and supporting her rugby home team, the New Zealand All Blacks, when she's away from work.Education & Certifications:
- Bachelor of Science: Towson University, Towson, MD, 2000
- Advanced Certification in Hand & Upper Quarter Rehab: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 2009
- Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) 2012
