Member Spotlight: Dr. Amy Belko
New Beginnings
After a 30-year career in pediatrics, Dr. Amy Belko is a beloved figure in the South Sound community. She has cared for thousands of children, guiding them from routine checkups to life-changing illnesses. Out and about, she’s like a local celebrity, often stopped by people eager to say hello. Now, we’re proud to welcome her as one of O Bee’s newest members.
“New beginnings!” she says with a laugh. “When I retired, I wanted a separate account for fun money without touching the family budget. My daughter loved O Bee when she was at college, so I gave it a try—now I’ve saved enough for a sewing machine! The more I learn about O Bee, the more I like it.”
Dr. Belko’s journey to medicine wasn’t exactly a straight line. “I wanted to be a second-grade teacher,” she says. “Then I thought I’d be a cheesemaker.” Instead, she earned a Ph.D. in nutrition and studied exercise’s effect on weight loss. But at 31, she realized medicine was calling. “Let’s just say I was about 10 years older than most of my classmates,” she quipped.
Medical school was a balancing act—she got married and had her first daughter while still in school. By the time her second daughter was born, Olympia had become home. “It’s a place that still feels like a small town, even as it’s grown,” she said. Dr. Belko loves how the history of the Olympia Brewery and the history of the credit union are intertwined.
“When my parents first visited after we moved, I took them on a brewery tour. Even though neither of them drank beer, they loved it and called it the heart and soul of the town. They jokingly insisted I buy a six-pack every week to keep the place going,” she laughs. “Most of all, they loved the whistle.”
Falling for Pediatrics
Dr. Belko still remembers the moment she knew pediatrics was for her. “My first day in the pediatrics unit, I met a three-year-old with cancer walking the halls with his IV pole. There was so much courage in him, and his family, and I was hooked.”
For three decades, she built relationships with families, watching kids grow from toddlers to teenagers. “One of the best parts was seeing them later in life—getting graduation announcements, wedding invitations. It meant they remembered me like I remembered them,” she said. Dr. Belko admires O Bee’s support for young people through college scholarships, financial literacy programs, and local charity donations.
Career Highlights
Looking back, Dr. Belko takes great pride in knowing that many of her patients felt safe and welcomed in her care, no matter the reason for their visit. She is especially proud of her two daughters’ success — though neither pursued medicine, both developed a deep curiosity about the world. She also admires her husband’s dedication to the community, as he became actively involved in supporting their daughters while she spent long hours working and at the hospital.
Words of Wisdom
For those starting in medicine, she has simple advice. “It’s a long road. You’ll hit bumps. But it’s worth it.” And, above all, “Listen. Listen to the child, the parent, the grandparent, the coach—they all know something valuable.”
Her message to the families she worked with is just as straightforward: “Healthy children are happy children and lead to happy, healthy families and a happy, healthy community. I hope that we can provide all children with a safer world and a life with opportunity.”
Dr. Belko’s impact in the South Sound is lasting — one patient, one family, one relationship at a time. Welcome to the O Bee family, Dr. Belko. We are proud to have you here!