Physical Therapy
Munroe-Meyer Institute
985450 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5450
Phone: 402-898-1136
Email
Professional Summary
Heidi Reelfs, MPT, PCS, is a Physical Therapist and Co-Director of the Residency Program in the department of physical therapy at the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI). A board certified pediatric clinical specialist since 2014, Heidi has a broad range of experience serving children and their families in acute, clinical, home and school settings that have informed her perspective on motor learning and FUNction. She enjoys thinking innovatively to help children optimize movement and participation. Educational related therapy services are of particular interest to Heidi. She works within the Bellevue Public schools, providing educational physical therapy services in the classroom and in homes through the birth to three Early Development Network (EDN). She has been a consultant for the Nebraska Department of Education EDN and currently serves on Nebraska’s Special Education Advisory Council. Having benefited from excellent teachers and mentors, Heidi is invested in clinical teaching and is a past Center Coordinator of Clinical Education. She currently enjoys clinical teaching for physical therapy students and mentoring residents in the Physical Therapy Residency program. Providing clinical support to departmental research further strengthens Heidi’s aim to provide evidence based physical therapy interventions to the children and families she serves.
Specialty Certifications
- APTA advanced credentialed clinical instructor
- Board certified clinical specialist, pediatric physical therapy
Education
- MPT, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 1996
- BS in Biology, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO, 1994
Teaching
- PHYT 612 clinical and community-based laboratory experiences
- Clinical instructor
- Residency curricular modules (Educationally related services; School based and Early Intervention)
- MMI Physical Therapy residency mentor/faculty
Special Interests & Projects
- Early Intervention Services
- School-based physical therapy
- Clinical teaching and mentoring
- Clinical case studies
Publications
- Davies, B. L., Arpin, D. J., Liu, M., Reelfs, H., Volkman, K. G., Healey, K., et al. (2016). Two different types of high-frequency physical therapy promote improvements in the balance and mobility of persons with multiple sclerosis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 97(12), 2095-2101.e3.
- Davies, B. L., Arpin, D. J., Volkman, K. G., Corr, B., Reelfs, H., Harbourne, R., et al. (2015). Neurorehabilitation strategies focusing on ankle control improve mobility and posture in persons with multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, 39(4), 225-232.
- Kurz, M.J., & Reelfs, H. (2014). Taking steps towards improving the mobility of children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 56(12), 1137-1138.
Professional Affiliations
- American Physical Therapy Association
- Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy
Award
- MMI Stand-out (January 2017)