From Spartan Spin’s Dale Summerfield Jr.
Editors Note: This story is a product of a partnership with Superior High School’s Spartan Spin written by a UWS student reporter there.
Former University of Wisconsin-Superior student and Superior High School alumus Dr. Matt Thompson spoke in Superior High School teacher Tatra Hansen’s careers class the past October. He spoke on his professional journey to become a doctor.
Dr. Matt Thompson poses with his autographed Ryan Braun Jersey at his office in Rochester, Minnesota.
“When I was growing up, my friends wanted to be baseball players or astronauts, I knew I wanted to be a doctor,” said Thompson. After graduating from Superior’s high school in 1992 it would take another 16 years of education to achieve his dream of being a doctor.
He would struggle in school as he discussed in his presentation, he almost flunked out of the University of Wisconsin-Superior twice and applied to medical school four times until he was finally accepted at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
Completing his studies at UMD he afterward took an internship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He ended up becoming a resident after graduating from the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine.
On the path of becoming a specialist physician he began working as assistant team physician for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008. He has worked with numerous players including outfielders Lorenzo Cain, Ryan Braun, Carlos Gomez as well as Brewers Hall of Fame announcer Bob Uecker.
Thompson has also worked with members of the United States Olympic Ski Team and the Rochester Honkers of the Northwoods baseball league. His favorite part of the job is helping students.
“[The] best [athlete] to take care of is the junior high or high school athlete who goes out and does their job, because they love to do it,” Thompson said. “If it’s important to them, it’s important to me.”
Senior Andrew DeBough was entertained by Thompson’s speech. “I was engaged the entire time and was very intrigued by what he had to say,” DeBough said. “I really enjoyed the part about his advisor not believing in him, because it shows us all to stay driven.”
Both DeBough and Hansen agree that Thompson’s speech was impactful and worth the listen as it helped describe where hard work and dedication can lead to.
“His work ethic is all we should strive to adopt,” Hansen said.
