Julie Dixon

Julie Dixon received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Tennessee, Memphis in 1991.  After completing her hand and upper extremity specialty rotation at Arkansas Hand and Microsurgery in Little Rock, AR, she began her career practicing at Northeast Arkansas Hand Therapy Center in Jonesboro, AR.  With a desire to move back closer to home, she returned to Memphis to work at HealthSouth in their hand clinic.  Here she was able to work side-by-side with the area’s most respected hand therapist and learn under her tutelage, as well as cover clinics with one of the area’s most experienced hand surgeons.  Prior to leaving HealthSouth she had moved into management for the hand program and had overseen two build-outs for the clinic due to program growth.

In 1995, she and several of the other hand therapists took on the challenge of starting a clinic for the Baptist hospital system, The Hand Clinic.  This clinic enjoyed a wide-range of referral sources and included two hand surgeons on-site.  She was able to not only continue her love of hand therapy practice, but develop the important skills of physician rapport in the collaboration of care for hand and upper extremity patients.

1998 was a key year in Julie’s professional career.  She attained the prestigious credential as a Certified Hand Therapist.  She was one of the first clinicians in the area to receive this recognition.  She remains an active advocate in supporting young clinicians in pursuing this landmark goal in their professional career by mentoring therapists and allowing staff therapists time in their workweek to prepare for the examination.

After recognizing the restraints to clinical creativity and opportunity within traditional medical systems, in 2000, Julie, along with a veteran physical therapist, opened Southern Hand Centers’ first office, known then as Memphis Hand Center.  Again, they enjoyed the opportunity of hand surgeons on-site and continued to expand their staff.

Since opening Southern Hand Centers, Julie has seen program growth to now include four offices over the regional area throughout West Tennessee and North MS.  Julie remains very active in the Memphis area offices, providing direct patient care and complex case consultation.  She continues to enjoy office hours with local hand surgeons and to use that collaborative opportunity to maximize the care of her patients.

MEMBERSHIPS AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Certified Hand Therapist 1998-present
• University of Tennessee Memphis Orthotics Module Instructor 2000-2022
• Clinical Instructor for Level II Occupational Therapy Rotations
• Member American Society of Hand Therapists
• Mid-South Workers’ Compensation Association member
• TN and MS OT Licensure

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Julie and her husband Todd are native Memphians.  They have two wonderful grown children.  She sees her job of following and demonstrating Christ as her primary career and enjoys honoring Him through hand therapy.  A few of her favorite things are dinner with friends, sneak-away weekends out of town with family, and ministering to others.