Matt Hempe is a ’21 BS graduate in Kinesiology who, for three of his undergrad years, also was an administrative intern in the School of Kinesiology’s front office. Matt is now pursuing a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) here at the U.
Hempe’s entrance into the School of Kinesiology was not a product of lifelong dreams or the alignment of stars. He came to the School from a place of pragmatism, citing a career search during high school that led him to be interested in pursuing a career in physical therapy.
“I looked up fun careers in healthcare, and physical therapy popped up. It wasn’t like the story where it’s usually, ‘Oh, I got injured, and I had a good time at physical therapy. So that’s what I wanna do.’ It just seemed like a nice work-life balance.”
During his time with the School of Kinesiology, Hempe worked as a student administrative intern. That experience equipped him with a solid set of skills which he has made use of, and it also helped to enrich his student experience. Through his work in his admin intern position, Matt was able to become more closely acquainted with faculty and staff in the School, gaining a deeper appreciation for their work and the School’s place in the University. Through taking classes and via interactions as part of his work, he formed close bonds with much of the staff and faculty.
Matt is also a cross country skiing aficionado. As a Twin Cities Metro native, he is no stranger to snow and he tells of a lifelong love affair with cross country skiing. “My main hobby is cross country skiing. I was on the U of M’s club for all four years of undergrad and I coached cross country skiing at the Maple Grove High School. I just go to my happy place and ski and try not to think of anything else. I’m a sucker for the Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove, which has a man-made loop. That is where I grew up. It’s where I learned to ski, and where I spent all my time with most of my closest friends. I’m actually going to get it tattooed on my legs because I just love it so much. That park has a special place in my heart.”
Though he now finds himself pursuing a DPT, during the last year Matt worked at Courage Kenny Center in Golden Valley in the Transitional Rehabilitation Program unit. In this position he had some measure of independence in working with patients, and was able to put many of the skills he learned in the School of Kinesiology to use. In particular, he cites the skills he learned during his coaching minor as helping him transition well into patient care.
Hempe takes a holistic approach to patient care, acknowledging that much of the battle of physical rehabilitation is fought inside the mind. At Courage Kenny, he was taught the importance of instilling the values of hope and determination in patients. As much as medical, the care was also in building patients’ confidence; showing them how to readapt to life while dealing with physical disabilities, and teaching them how to be advocates for their own care. Passionate about the patient care experience, he mentions dreams of effecting legislative change to increase access to physical therapy for those who need it, recognizing that many lose insurance coverage before they are able to finish treatment.
Hempe’s advice to current and prospective students is to take advantage of all the opportunities afforded to students in the School of Kinesiology, and to get to know all the faculty and staff. He notes that they are valuable sources of insight and guidance. His own experience as an administrative intern served both of those purposes.
Looking forward, Matt is unsure of the exact direction that his DPT will take him, as he is interested in all fields of physical therapy.
“I really like neuro even though it’s super weird and confusing. But I also love sports, so maybe I’ll do sports PT. Then again, I like kids so I might go into pediatric. I’m open to anything.”
Wherever his world takes him, it is for certain that Matt will be successful!
