Marisa Birkmeier Marisa Birkmeier
Director of the Physical Therapy Program
Associate Professor of Health, Human Function, and Rehabilitation Sciences

Office Phone: 202-994-6348
Email: Email
Department: Health, Human Function, and Rehabilitation Sciences

Education

  • B.S., Saint Louis University, 1999
  • MPT, Saint Louis University, 2001
  • DPT, Saint Louis University, 2005
  • DHSC, George Washington University, 2022

Biography

Dr. Birkmeier is a board certified pediatric clinical specialist in physical therapy, associate professor, and program director for The George Washington University Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program. As the director of the DPT Program, she works collaboratively with students, faculty, and community partners to achieve the mission and vision of the program. She co-teaches multiple courses throughout the DPT curriculum that focus on professional formation, clinical reasoning, practice readiness, and pediatric physical therapy practice. In collaboration with Georgetown University, she teaches and serves as a liaison in a federally funded early intervention certificate program for pre-professional students.

Dr. Birkmeier has practiced pediatric physical therapy since 2001 in the acute and outpatient settings. She earned her Specialist Certification in Pediatrics from the Board of Physical Therapy Specialists in 2009 and re-certified in 2019. Her current clinical practice and interests include the NICU, children with neuromotor dysfunction, and children with biomechanical alignment issues. Her research centers on the scholarship of teaching and learning with a focus on assessment, pediatric physical therapy education, and clinical education. She is an active member and leader in multiple APTA academies, the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy, and the clinical education community. Dr. Birkmeier has presented nationally and internationally on physical therapy education research and clinical education and is a Level 1 and 2 APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program trainer.

Book Chapters
1. Fleming M, Birkmeier M, Brown M, Burton J, Garg S, Evans SH. Rehabilitative Services,
Children with disabilities, 8 th Edition: Paul H. Brookes Pub, 2019.

Invited Publications
1. Plack MM, Birkmeier M. Invited commentary on, “The responsiveness of clinical
laboratory measures for detecting intervention effects in children with DCD.” Pediatr Phys
Ther. 2015;27(1):52.
2. Birkmeier M, Resetar J. Invited commentary on, “A survey of paediatric competencies in
entry-level physiotherapy programs in Australia.” Pediatr Phys Ther. 2020;32(4):366.
3. Birkmeier M, Elegbe A. Invited commentary on, “Experiential learning in pediatric physical
therapist education: Challenges and facilitators.” Pediatr Phys Ther. 2022;34(1):72.

Grants

Oct 2021 - Sept 2026:
University Liaison: M Birkmeier. US Department of Education, Personnel Development to Improve
Services and Results for Children with Disabilities. "Critical Components of Contemporary
Early Intervention Practice (C3EIP)". $1,939,330.

2019:
Principle Investigator: D Anderson; Co-Investigators: J Furze, M Birkmeier, L Dannemiller, H
Lundeen, J Moore. Midwestern University, College of Health Sciences – Research Facilitation
Grant. “Excellence in Pediatric Physical Therapy Education: Teaching for the Future.” $4400. 

2018:
Principle Investigator: D Anderson; Co-Investigators: J Furze, M Birkmeier, L Dannemiller, H
Lundeen, J Moore. Midwestern University, College of Health Sciences – Research Facilitation
Grant. “Excellence in Pediatric Physical Therapy Education: Teaching for the Future.” $2445.

2017:
Principle Investigator: T Long, PT, PhD, FAPTA; Co-Investigators: M Birkmeier, R Brady. US
Department of Education, Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children
with Disabilities (CFDA 84.325). “GEORGE: Graduate Education of Related Services at
Georgetown and George Washington Universities in Early Intervention.” $1,097,912; 20% effort,
Oct 2017-Sept 2022.

2017:
Principal Investigator: M Birkmeier, PT, DPT, PCS; Co-Investigators: D Anderson, H Lundeen,
L Dannemiller, J Moore, J Furze. December 2017-July 2020, GW School of Medicine & Health
Sciences Emerging Scholar Grant. “Excellence in Pediatric Physical Therapy Education: Teaching
for the Future.” $25,000.

2017:
Principle Investigator: J Furze, PT, DPT, PCS; Co-Investigators: D Anderson, H Lundeen, L
Dannemiller, J Moore, M Birkmeier. APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy, Research
Grant. “Excellence in Pediatric Physical Therapy Education: Teaching for the Future.” $5000.

2013:
Principal Investigator: E Costello, PT, PhD; Co-Investigators: M Birkmeier, E Ruckert, L Lyons.
February 2013-August 2015, GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences Emerging Scholar
Grant. “The Use of Technology to Enhance the Clinical Decision Making Skills of Physical
Therapy Students in the Acute Care Setting.” $25,000; 5% effort.
 

Programs

  • Physical Therapy

Publications

Birkmeier M, Costello E, Pinkus R, Maring J. Predictive value of in-program academic variables for future clinical education performance in physical therapist education: An exploratory study. J Phys Ther Educ 2024;38(1):44-52. DOI: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000308

Birkmeier M, Lundeen H, Furze J, Moore JG, Dannemiller L, Anderson D. Excellence in pediatric physical therapy education: Professional charges and practical applications. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2023;35(2):260-267. doi: 10.1097/PEP.0000000000001001.

Birkmeier M, Emmel LA, Manning RA, Nesbit KC. Innovation in pediatric clinical education: The development of a Clinical Instructor Toolkit. J Phys Ther Educ. 2022;36(4):303-310. Doi: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000245

Duong T, Canbek J, Fernandez-Fernandez A, Henricson E, Birkmeier M, Siener C, Tesi Rocha C, McDonald C, Gordish-Dressman H. Knee Strength and ankle range of motion impacts on timed function tests in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: In the era of glucocorticoids. J Neuromuscul Dis. 2022;9(1):147-159. DOI: 10.3233/JND-210724

Birkmeier M, Wheeler E, Garske HM, Gorman SL, Richards HK, Wolff-Burke M, Bureau MR. Feasibility of use of the Clinical Internship Evaluation Tool in full-time clinical education experiences: A multi-institutional study. J Phys Ther Educ.2022;36(3):263-271. Doi: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000237

Duong T, Canbek J, Birkmeier M, Nelson L, Seiner C, Fernandez-Fernandez A, Henricson E, McDonald C, Gordish-Dressman H. The minimal clinical important difference (MCID) in annual rate of change in timed function tests in boys with DMD. J. Neuromuscul. Dis. 2021;8(6):939-948. DOI: 10.3233/JND-210646

Birkmeier MC, Brady RA, Chimka J, Durie O, Long T. “Abstracts of the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy poster presentations at the Combined Sections Meeting: GEORGE: Preparing future early interventionists in the natural environment.” Pediatric Physical Therapy. 2020;32(1):E18.

Erickson M, Birkmeier M, Booth M, Hack LM, Hartmann J, Ingram DA, Jackson-Coty JM, LaFay VL, Wheeler E, Soper S. Recommendations from the Common Terminology Panel of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy. Physical Therapy Journal. 2018;98(9):754- 762.

Birkmeier M, Plack MM, Wentzell E, Maring J. “Abstracts of the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy poster presentations at the Combined Sections Meeting: Kids R Us: Authentic Engagement Links Theory to Practice.” Pediatric Physical Therapy. 2018;30(1):E13.

Birkmeier M, Plack MM, Wentzell E, Maring J. A course of its own: A stand-alone pediatrics course designed to meet the essential core competencies and program goals. Journal of Physical Therapy Education. 2017;31(2):97-107.

Kenyon L, Birkmeier M, Anderson D, Martin K. Innovation in pediatric clinical education: Application of the essential competencies. Pediatric Physical Therapy. 2015;27(2):178-186.

Duong T, Birkmeier M, Fengming H, Maring J, McDonald C. “Abstracts of poster presentations at the 2014 Combined Sections Meeting: Conservative management of Achilles tendon contractures and the impact of contracture on function in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.” Pediatric Physical Therapy. 2014:26(1): 117.

Costello E, Corcoran M, Barnett J, Birkmeier M, Cohn R, Ekmekci O, Falk NL, Harrod T, Hermann D, Robinson S, Walker B. Information and communication technology to facilitate learning for students in the health professions: Current uses, gaps, and future directions. Online Learning. 2014;18(4):15-32.

Ruckert E, McDonald PL, Birkmeier M, Walker B, Cotton L, Lyons LB, Straker HO, Plack MM. Using technology to promote active and social learning experiences in health professions education. Online Learning. 2014;18(4):51-72.

Maring J, Costello E, Birkmeier M, Richards M, Alexander L.  Validating functional measures of physical ability for aging persons with intellectual developmental disability.  American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disability. 2013;118(2):124-140.

Industry Relationships and Collaborations

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported a financial interest with the health care related companies listed below. These relations have been reported to the University and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts.

  • None