UPHS – Portage Heroes | Natalie Hupp, Dpt

WHAT IS YOUR TITLE AT UPHS – PORTAGE?
 I am a Physical Therapist with my Doctorate in Physical Therapy at UP Health System – Portage.

WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION FOR GETTING INTO HEALTHCARE?
I had several knee injuries/surgeries between high school and college athletics. I loved that the Physical Therapists I worked with had an attitude of “how do we get you back doing what you love”. There was no “oh sorry, you have to be done”. I really connected with the positivity that came from this field. 

WHAT’S A TYPICAL DAY LIKE FOR YOU? WHAT IS IT LIKE WORKING IN THIS FIELD?
Three to four days a week I am an outpatient physical therapist in the Houghton clinic at the SDC. I start at 8 am caring for patients from high school and college athletes to patients in their 80’s and 90’s and finding ways to keep them moving through injury, and strengthen tissues that have been injured, as well as make sure they are resilient to future injury. My favorite thing about the day is when someone returns to something that they haven’t been able to do for months, even years due to pain or even because of fear. I also work in the school system as a physical therapist. I cover the L’anse and Baraga area, as well as the Hancock and Dollar Bay areas. In that setting, I work with children who are having a difficult time keeping up and maneuvering their educational environment.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN EMPLOYED HERE? HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN IN THE SAME POSITION?
I was originally hired as a part-time employee in the summer of 2018 and then made the transition to this being my full-time job. 

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF WORK? WHAT/WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL GEM?
I am married with two kids, I love to spend time with them and all of our extended family as both my husband and I are from the area. We love spending time outdoors, time at the lake, and staying active. One of my favorite places is the Sturgeon River Gorge. Typically you will run into fewer people on this hike compared to Canyon falls, which is on the same river, but has many fewer people due to it being a little harder to get to. 

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING AT UPHS – PORTAGE?
One of the things that I think is so great about these spotlights is that everyone’s answer is always “the people I work with”, “my coworkers”. I feel like this really is a great place to work. So, it is true for me as well, my coworkers in the rehab department are amazing. I also love that I get to help my patients gain confidence and believe in themselves, it is very rewarding.