UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Magazine Winter 2018 | Page 11

Meet Liz Birrer
By KENDR A CARTER
For Elizabeth Birrer, the quality she admires most in her
husband Dr. Michael Birrer is his dedication—whether to a
person, principle, or project.
“Once he takes on the responsibility or cause, he calmly and
logically analyzes it, taking it step by step,” she says. “Things
that appear overwhelming, he makes look so obvious and easy.”
But she herself is not one to back away from a challenge
either. A physical therapist for more than 30 years, Mrs. Birrer
has seen endless opportunities in her career, including working
for hospitals, rehabilitation centers and in home health, working
with both pediatric and adult patients. She even owned her own
outpatient therapy clinic in Maryland for 15 years, exposing
her to the challenges of working with insurance companies and
navigating the ever-changing health care system.
Her current endeavor is working with children who have
diagnoses of autism with severe behavioral issues.
“I love the continual challenges that my field has to offer
and the opportunity to work with so many unique individuals,”
she says of physical therapy. “You spend a lot of time with each
person to find what motivates them, and you really get to build
a trusting relationship. I am always amazed at what they can
accomplish and their drive.
“Each individual challenges me to be a better therapist, and
I like to think that I impact their life and future in a positive
way well.”
The spirit for challenges and possibilities is what attracted
the Birrers to Birmingham and the UAB Comprehensive
Cancer Center.
“Mike is committed to his vision to help the Cancer Center
to thrive and to move forward. Making this move was definitely
the next step in his career and a challenge that he felt he had the
experience to meet. In addition, we were looking for a change
from the Northeast where we both have spent most of our time.
When we visited Birmingham, the fit felt right.”
The couple, who met while Dr. Birrer was a medical student
at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Mrs. Birrer
was in her final year of physical therapy school, has been
married for 35 years. They have three adult children: Michael,
Nicole, and Elizabeth, daughter-in-law Lauren and grandson
Michael James III.
Mrs. Birrer says the couple’s favorite activities outside work
are spending time with their children, tending to their garden,
getting outdoors and exploring new restaurants. She says the
move to Birmingham will be a great experience for both she and
her husband.
“We are excited about exploring Birmingham, with all it
has to offer in the arts, the cuisines, and the culture, but more
importantly we really felt a sense of community when we
visited,” she says. “We look forward to becoming a part of it.”
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