In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, ACAPT is proud to spotlight Marisa Birkmeier, PT, DPT, DHSc, Board Certified in Pediatric PT at George Washington University. Marisa is a member of the ACAPT Nominating Committee and a dedicated leader in academic physical therapy.
When asked about how the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month influences her approach to work and leadership, Dr. Birkmeier shares, "As a Korean American adoptee, I see my heritage being diverse in and of itself. I know not to judge “a book by its cover” since we all have unique lived experiences that make us who we are. I identify as Korean American but also identify with my southwestern Ohio roots and adopted Polish heritage. However, diverse representation enhances our profession. I am one of a few Asian American female program directors. I work each day to do my best to inspire others to see what is possible in their professional journey."
What inspired you to pursue a career in this field?
When I was in elementary school, I couldn’t see myself having a job that didn’t involve helping others. Healthcare and teaching were a natural draw and at that age, I also didn’t understand what business people did other than wear fancy clothes and carry briefcases! I also didn’t have sports injuries or direct childhood experiences with physical therapy. I learned about physical therapy from spending time with my mom at her school. She was a special educator at an elementary school, and I met physical and occupational therapists that worked with kids in her class. I loved that the PTs and OTs were a part of the classroom and the team to support the child. I explored the profession a bit more and knew physical therapy was the slice of healthcare that was the best fit for me and my future goals.
Share a defining moment in your professional journey.
There are so many! But if I focused on my leadership journey within the physical therapy professional organizations, it would be when I was “volun-told” by Corrie Odom that my name was shared with a new SIG in the Pediatrics Section focused on academic and clinical education to be a voice for the Clinical Education SIG in the Education Section. Corrie is an amazing mentor to so many people and she helped me by giving me this nudge to build confidence in myself and recognize that I have something important to contribute. Since then, I have made lifelong professional connections and friends that all share my passion to move the physical therapy profession forward through excellence in the educational preparation of our future colleagues.
What are some projects or initiatives you are most proud of?
I feel so fortunate to have had opportunities to contribute to the continual development and growth of physical therapy education. The clinical education community provided me with a strong sense of commitment to shaping the future by identifying what needs to be addressed and making it happen. I participated in the development of the Physical Therapy Clinical Education Glossary that initially started as a priority panel from the Clinical Education Summit 2014. Now it is a living online glossary that will continue to adapt and grow with societal needs. Additionally, I am proud of my work in the pursuit of excellence in pediatric physical therapy education.