Susan Gillum Gives & Finds Inspiration at Innovate

Susan Gillum, PTA, with Innovate Rehab & Wellness credits her mother with her strong work ethic.

“She was a nurse for over 30 years and her spirit inspires me every day to be my best,” Gillum said.  

Proof that working hard and doing her best is paying off, Gillum won the PTA Clinical Excellence Award from the Nebraska Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association on March 31, 2023. She was also awarded with Innovate’s 2022 Advancing Quality Award at Team Member Appreciation Night in February.  

Now a mother herself, Gillum says she wants to set the same example for her three daughters as her mother did for her. She says she is honored to work with so many amazing Innovate therapists who have helped her improve her clinical knowledge and be the best therapist possible.  

Director of Rehab Compliance & Education Grace Knott, PT, RAC-CT, nominated Gillum for the Clinical Excellence Award. Having worked with her for close to 10 years, Knott says she is impressed with her ability to connect to every patient she encounters.  

“Watching Sue interact with her patients, you see the genuine interest and concern for them to achieve their goals,” Knott said.  

Knott went on to note that Gillum has amassed close to 40 CEU credits in Medbridge (the online continuing education site) in the past three years, way above the minimum amount for re-licensure. She completed additional CEUs through the APTA as part of her didactic work to achieve her advanced skill certification. Gillum also completed the APTA’s Advanced Proficiency Pathway in Geriatrics and was awarded the Advanced Proficiency in Geriatrics in 2022.  

“I would especially like to acknowledge Betsy Spieler for being my mentor at Hillcrest Millard while I was getting my Advanced Proficiency in Geriatrics,” Gillum wrote. “I feel like being a therapist is a calling, and [I] feel very fortunate to be able to make a difference in the lives of our guests.”