Amy Cooper - Vice Chair of Mentorship
When asked what first drew her to physical therapy, Amy returns to her childhood. "Growing up, my brother Eric had a Mitochondrial disease and lost a lot of physical ability between the ages of 6 and 16," she explains. She remembers physical therapists coming into their home and being fascinated by the work they were doing, even as a young child. "I didn't know it at the time, but it left a lasting impression about how PT was really helping kids with disabilities in a way that his doctors couldn't on a daily basis." That early experience stayed with her. In College, she was orginally on a pre-med track, but by junior year something clicked. "I realized PT was what I wanted to do," she says, and shifted focus toward pursuing physical therapy school.
During her third year of PT school, she had what she describes as a defining experience, an internship at the Roosevelt Children's Center, a preschool for children with multiple disabilities. "In this preschool, I found my place in the world, surrounded by the most wonderful, caring, and patient people." It was here that she discovered the joy of collaborative practice. "That was where I learned how to work as part of a team, not just as a PT." She stayed at the preschool for 11 years and has devoted her entire career to working with children with multiple disabilities.
Working in pediatrics has given her countless moments to feel proud of her work. "Some of my proudest moments have been teaching young
children to do things that their families were told they'd never do." She recalls teaching children to walk, roll over, use their wheelchair, hold their heads up, or even ride a scooter, milestones that carry so much meaning for both the child and their family. One parent once gave her a card that read, "I teach kids to walk, what is your superpower?" A message she holds close.
Those years shaped not only her career, but her philosophy as a therapist. "Early on I was lucky enough to work with amazing mentors who taught me that the sky is the limit for my students as long as I was willing to try." That mindset pushed her to grow, experiment, and constantly learn, traits she now passes on to others.
Her mentoring journey began in 2010 when she became a clinical instructor. "I fell in love with teaching and mentoring right away, and stay in touch with so many of my former students." When the role of Vice Chair of Mentorship became available, it felt like the natural next step. "I thought it would be a great way to widen the scope of what I was already doing informally."
Looking ahead, she hopes to strengthen the alumni mentorship network in a meaningful way. "I hope to create an easy-to-use network of mentors of Columbia alumni for anyone to use, from students looking for first-job advice to a seasoned PT thinking about a change in practice type." Her vision is simple, to build a supportive community that spans the country, maybe even the globe. "The best outcome for me would be that we create something strong that lasts for everyone who comes after us."