MMI’s Beyersdorf receives national recognition

Amy Beyersdorf of the Munroe-Meyer Institute’s Department of Physical Therapy has been selected by the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy of the American Physical Therapy Association as the Outstanding Pediatric Clinical Practice Award recipient for this year.

Interim department director Sandra Willett submitted Beyersdorf for consideration for the honor, gathering 10 letters of recommendation from parents, colleagues and supervisors.

It wasn’t hard to find people willing to sing Beyersdorf’s praises, Willett said.

“Amy truly embodies ‘Outstanding Pediatric Clinical Practice’ in all that she does for children and families,” Willett said. “We are proud to have her as a member of our MMI team!”

Beyersdorf has been at MMI for 21 years. After attending UNMC for her physical therapy degree, she joined MMI for a clinical affiliation and applied for a job right out of school.

She was interested in PT because she enjoyed physical activity and was intensely curious about how muscles and nerves worked.

“But I fell in love with pediatrics right away, especially doing a clinical affiliation here. I knew that’s what I wanted to do and didn’t need to look elsewhere,” she said.

Part of the reason she’s been at MMI for more than two decades is the collegiality and cross-discipline collaboration.

“There is so much support here,” she said. “I’ve had so many great mentors who shared so much of their experience. As a new grad coming in here, having that support was huge. There are a lot of places in the country where you start and you’re on your own. Here, we are able to mentor each other, grow from each other, learn from each other.

“Also, having the other disciplines here is an incredible advantage. Having speech, OT, genetics, the whole gamut of developmental professionals here — it is really phenomenal.”

Beyersdorf credited her colleagues and clients with helping her grow as a professional.

“I’m really thankful to work with so many encouraging and bright people,” she said. “I learn every day. I learn from the kids, I learn from the people who work here. We bounce ideas off each other. We share inspiration. That’s what’s kept me going, and that’s what makes us all better therapists.”