Background
Dr. Osterman grew up in Philadelphia and was exposed to the art of hand surgery and the beauty of the human hand at an early age. She believes that the hands reveal a great deal about a person and his or her journey. “Every wrinkle, callus or scar tells a story. We greet each other with a handshake, we communicate with hand gestures, and we hold the hand of a loved-one in pain– hands not only allow us to accomplish activities of daily living but also they allow us to connect and communicate with one another. The loss of one’s ability to use his or her hands can be physically and emotionally devastating."
Inspired by her father, Dr. Lee Osterman, and her personal experiences as an orthopaedic patient, Dr. Osterman entered medicine to pursue her study of the upper extremities. She believes that "the greatest part about being a physician is the ability to help and heal her patients.” She treats every patient with compassion and strives to include each in the understanding and treatment of his or her injury or condition.
Dr. Osterman is also a dedicated wife and the proud mother of three. She enjoys skiing, board games, traveling, and building LEGO castles and cardboard-box forts with her children.
Education
Dr. Osterman earned her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science and Kinesiology at George Washington University before she attended medical school at Jefferson Medical College. She completed her orthopaedic training at Jefferson Hospital and her hand fellowship training with Dr. Peter Stern at the University of Cincinnati. Her strong family ties and her love for Philadelphia inspired her return to the area. She is honored to join the Philadelphia Hand Center.
Practice
Dr. Osterman’s practice focuses on the hand, wrist, and elbow. She enjoys tackling complex problems and interacting with patients of all ages. She is involved in a number of academic projects and is well published in multiple orthopaedic and hand journals. She has presented at national meetings, both as author and co-author, and will continue to pursue clinical research throughout her career. Dr. Osterman has traveled abroad to provide surgical care in Honduras with Dr. Culp and his team. She hopes to join more service trips in the future.
Professional Memberships
- American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- American Society for Surgery of the Hand
- American Association for Hand Surgery
- Philadelphia Orthopaedic Society
- Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society
- Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society
- American Medical Association