SouthShoreMagazine

SSM Late Summer 2026 Issue

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24 true difference. Their passion is felt from first contact through follow up care, and the attention to detail for the entire patient experience, combined with years of expertise, makes their commitment to each patient evident and appreciated by prior and existing patients all along the South Shore. The real difference at HandNE is the team. Each member is an expert in their field who has felt compelled to create a different type of experience for their patients. Living right here in the community that they serve, their commitment to fostering a culture of mutual trust, respect and collaboration among patients, caregivers, staff, families, and referring providers is evident in the way they operate their practice as well as their interactions within the community MEET THE TEAM Dr. John Kadzielski, MD Dr. Kadzielski is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who has additional subspeciality board certification in Surgery of the Hand. He subspecializes in finger, hand, wrist, elbow, and upper-extremity surgery. Graduating cum laude from Harvard College as a varsity athlete and completing medical school at Tufts University School of Medicine, Dr. Kadzielski attended surgical internship at Massachusetts General Hospital, completed the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, was selected as Chief Resident at Brigham and Women's Hospital and completed the Massachusetts General Hospital Hand Surgery Fellowship. Over the course of his training and subsequent career, he has received several awards and acknowledgements in leadership, mentorship and patient safety. He is also an accomplished researcher and has authored several award-winning publications, sharing his passion and expertise through teaching and mentorship of medical students. He has dedicated his professional time to help found the modern patient safety system at a regional trauma center, fostering a culture of mutual trust and respect in the ambulatory surgical unit which developed the highest patient safety culture of any procedural area in the health system, leading regional educational events and leading the Hand Division as Division Director for nearly a decade. Dr. Kadzielski holds certifications from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, including additional subspecialty certification in Surgery of the Hand, and is an active member of several major medical and surgical organizations. He is dedicated to helping patients regain comfort, strength, and function so they can return to the activities they enjoy. Kimberly Belina, MPAS, PA-C Kim is a board-certified Physician Assistant specializing in orthopedics with a focus on hand and upper extremity surgery, with a Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. With over ten years of experience in orthopedic practice, Kim is dedicated to providing high-quality, patient- centered care, working closely with patients to help them understand their conditions and treatment options, emphasizing education and collaboration throughout the recovery process. Meryl Summers, MS, OTR/L Meryl is an experienced occupational therapist specializing in upper extremity rehabilitation and custom splint fabrication. She earned her MS in Occupational Therapy from Tufts University, following earlier degrees from Yale University and Northwestern University. She has provided comprehensive care across orthopedic, outpatient, home health, and inpatient settings throughout the South Shore and Greater Boston area. Meryl expertly fabricates custom splints for a wide range of hand and upper extremity conditions, and also provides detailed evaluation and treatment focused on range of motion, strengthening, edema and scar management, pain reduction, ADL/ IADL retraining, splinting, and physical agent modalities. In her extensive home-health work with Bayada Home Healthcare and the Norwell Visiting Nurse and Hospice, she delivered therapeutic and palliative services emphasizing home safety, fall prevention, functional mobility, transfers, energy conservation, home modification, adaptive equipment, pain management, individualized home exercise programs, and caregiver education. Meryl also has experience in both orthopedic and psychiatric inpatient care through her work at Cambridge Health Alliance. In addition to her work as an occupational therapist, Meryl has a distinguished parallel career as a professional bassoonist, performing with renowned ensembles such as the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pop and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Recently, Meryl created the Adelia the Wonder Girl Foundation in memory of her daughter who lost a courageous battle with aggressive brain cancer. She is currently training for the Boston Marathon to raise critical funds for research at the Brain Tumor Center.

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