Timothy Brei

Brei has received extensive recognition for his work in developmental pediatrics. He has been quoted by many media outlets such as US News. Annually, the Spina Bifida Association of America presents the Timothy Brei, MD, Outstanding Healthcare Professional Award to individuals have made a significant impact in spina bifida treatment and care.

Early life and education

Brei was born in Fremont, Nebraska in 1956 and was diagnosed with spina bifida. During this time, prenatal ultrasound had not been invented, so Brei's diagnosis came as a surprise to his parents.

Brei grew up in rural Nebraska. With no cure for spina bifida in the 1950s and limited medical interventions, Brei's parents fostered independence from an early age. At the age of four, Brei began playing piano. Later, he attended school at a two-room schoolhouse in rural Nebraska. In high school, he participated in musical activities such as all-state choir and all-state band. With Brei's academic success, he received scholarship support to attend Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska.

At Midland University, Brei was involved in various extracurriculars such as the touring choir and decided that he wanted to pursue a career as a physician. At this time, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) had not been passed and very few people with disabilities were accepted into medical school. Brei was initially not accepted into medical school and began a graduate program in Biology at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The following year, Brei was accepted into medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where he became a doctor of medicine in 1984. Subsequently, he completed residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1987 and a fellowship in developmental pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in 1989.