Elizabeth (Beth) Smith, PT, is fully immersed in the job she loves — being a physical therapist at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Pediatric Rehabilitation Services.
Her colleagues are quick to point out that this is not just working with her patients throughout the regular workday but also during lunch breaks and dedicated documentation time. They note her dedication to training new staff and, after hours, volunteering to repair patients’ adaptive tricycles and overseeing aquatic activities at adaptive triathlons.
“Her approach to care is the definition of patient centered,” one colleague writes. “She listens closely, treats the whole person, and ensures that every patient feels heard, respected and supported in a manner that is confidential. Beth’s commitment to doing what’s best for her patients, even when it means going the extra mile, is both inspiring and deeply appreciated by her colleagues and those she serves.”
Because of her leadership, dedication to patients and her colleagues, and commitment to quality, Smith received a Credo Award at the October VUMC Leadership Forum.
“I’m just very thankful and humbled by this award,” she said, but added she has no intention of resting on her new laurels. “We’re just going to keep pushing forward and keep advancing and making things better for our patients.”
Smith, a Tennessee native who grew up in Franklin, said her passion for physical therapy dates to the time she once needed it herself. In middle school, she played basketball and soccer and had a series of knee injuries that culminated in ACL surgery. She spent a year in physical therapy.
“From then on, I kind of knew I was going to go into health care, but I wasn’t exactly sure how.”
She started college as a biomedical engineering major but realized over time she wanted to work more directly with patients. She thought about medical school, but considering work-life balance, she shifted to exercise science instead. Ultimately, that led her to physical therapy.
As an undergraduate, Smith had the opportunity to shadow therapists and patients at Vanderbilt’s pediatric rehabilitation center “and kind of fell in love with pediatric therapy at that point.”
She started at the rehab center in 2016. She has since advanced to a physical therapist 4, and recently, she became a clinical coordinator for the orthopaedic team. In this role, she works with physical, occupational and speech therapists to assess, consult and treat children from infants to young adults. They may be recovering from an injury or surgery or presenting with developmental disabilities. Her team’s goals: to improve function and quality of life, restore independence and promote healing.
“We have a really stellar team all the way across,” she said, “because we have physical, occupational and speech therapists, and there’s just a lot of great collaboration across the spectrum. It really helps to consolidate care for patients who need multiple services, which many of our patients do.
“Our co-workers are really one of the best parts of this job,” she added. “Besides the patients, of course.”
Another colleague sums it up: “Elizabeth doesn’t just help patients recover physically, she builds their confidence, motivates them deeply and inspires real, lasting change. Elizabeth’s ability to motivate, uplift and deliver exceptional clinical care makes her an invaluable part of the rehabilitation team and a true example of what it means to go above and beyond in patient care.”
Watch Elizabeth Smith’s video from Leadership Forum.
If you are a VUMC employee, you can nominate a colleague for an Elevate Credo Award, C. Wright Pinson Leader Award, or Team Award. Visit the Elevate website to fill out a nomination form. Employees demonstrate credo behaviors when: they make those they serve the highest priority; respect privacy and confidentiality; communicate effectively; conduct themselves professionally; have a sense of ownership; and are committed to their colleagues. Elevate award nominations are accepted year-round. If a nomination is received after the cutoff for an award selection period, the nomination will be considered for the next period. VUMC VOICE will post stories on each of the award winners in the weeks following their announcement.
