We recently connected with Dr. Karen Hedenschoug and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Dr. Karen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Is there a heartwarming story from your career that you look back on?

My life’s work as a physical therapist and servant leader in both the military and the civilian sectors was set in motion when, as a student physical therapist working on my Master’s degree at the University of Missouri, I had the great honor of working with a Wounded Warrior. I was on my final clinical rotation prior to graduating with a Master’s in Physical Therapy, working in an outpatient neuro rehab hospital in southern California. The population I was working with included men and women with spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and strokes. I can still remember the day that I had a soldier on my schedule for an evaluation. I was SO nervous to work with someone in the military – I wanted to give him the best care possible, and I was still a student PT…would what I had to deliver be good enough? I can still remember the day I met this particular Staff Sergeant and his spouse. The soldier had returned to the US from Iraq due to being medically evacuated. He was out on a call when his vehicle ran over an IED (improvised explosive device). Everyone in the vehicle was killed except him. He was diagnosed with a severe traumatic brain injury, and suffered multiple impairments in vision, balance, strength, cognition, speech, and more upon returning to the US. Here he sat in front of me in the hospital in southern California – awaiting a PT evaluation.

I was fortunate to work with this soldier and his devoted, loving spouse for about 3 months while I was there for my rotation. We made some great strides! By the time I was about ready to depart back to Missouri to finish up my final semester, he was able to stand unassisted, take steps with a walking stick, and maneuver in bed more easily. My final memory of this incredible time we had together was when one day the soldier, myself, and my clinical instructor were walking down one of the hallways in the hospital, and I noticed a tall gentleman walking with purpose straight towards us – looking directly at my patient. It was soon apparent to me that he somehow knew the soldier. He stopped in front of us, and we stopped as well. The gentleman stood proudly in front of my patient and said “Stand tall, Soldier!” My patient looked straight at him, assumed the position of attention, and saluted him. I’ll never forget that moment – I was so incredibly amazed, proud, and emotional! My patient was experiencing significant challenges with feeding himself, his vision, being able to walk unassisted with good balance, getting dressed – but in this moment – he had the memory…the muscle memory and memory of serving his country in uniform – to be able to assume the position of attention and render a salute. I’ll never forget it for as long as I live, and it was that very moment that set the remainder of my career as a physical therapist and servant leader in motion. It still motivates me to this day.

I graduated from Mizzou and just knew that I wanted to work with more people like the soldier I had the honor of treating in southern California. I completed a couple of traveling physical therapy assignments after graduation, and thereafter made the decision to join the Air Force and serve as an Officer and Physical Therapist in the military. For over fifteen years to date, I have worked with service members of all branches – stateside and internationally. I’ve deployed, and I’ve served as an active-duty service member and also a reservist. I’ve worked as a PT contractor with the Department of Defense multiple times over – treating sailors, Marines, Airmen, soldiers – others who have chosen a path that serves a higher purpose. I am so incredibly grateful for that soldier who was on my schedule that day many years ago. For all of the service members I’ve treated and for those I’m still serving- my mission is to deliver the best possible care to help those who would put their lives on the line for myself, my family, and my country.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Dr. Karen Hedenschoug, and I’m a Board-Certified Physical Therapist and an Air Force Veteran who helps front-line defenders heal from the physical trauma endured in the line of duty.

For over 15 years, I’ve witnessed and experienced first-hand a critical void in proactive medical support for military and civilian front-line defenders. These selfless individuals require a system of support that is proactive, empowering, and builds community, but instead what they are met with is one that is reactive, punitive, and more heavily focused on building a record of disability rather than building resilience. This drove me to create Venture Out Wellness, a new proactive path for dependable health and wellness services that are specifically built to meet the needs of the unique individuals who put their lives on the line for us. This new model of care ventures out to ask front-line defenders how we can serve and support them through healing strategies and recovery support with an equal sense of urgency to the jobs they perform. My programs build resiliency and teach our country’s finest how to land on their feet time and time again. Our services educate, empower, and foster a safe, healing space for military and first responder communities. We teach front-line defenders the tools they need to build resilience while returning to doing the things they love most: serving others and living healthy, active lives. We serve through workshops, courses, and community events.

I’ve served our nation’s front-line defenders in over 9 states and 3 countries as a military medical officer and civilian physical therapist, amassing over 33,000 patient encounters throughout my career. From serving civilian firefighters and law enforcement personnel to the men and women defending our country in uniform in commands like Air Force Special Operations and Naval Special Warfare, my continued service to our country and passion for supporting those who have dedicated their lives to protecting our communities is undeniable.

I have a bold and unapologetic mission to change the way we support those who dedicate their lives to serving others, their communities, and their country. Rooted in a mission of service before self, we are here to build not only more resilient first responders, but more resilient communities.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

So this story of resilience is personal – but it’s important and I don’t mind sharing it because I think that maybe there’s someone out there who has been through something similar – and perhaps my story can help them see that there is always a way to ultimately land on your feet when challenged with adversity.

I was in a toxic relationship a number of years ago. Why did I stay so long? Perhaps it was love, hormones, lack of self-esteem – it could have been a host of different things. All I know is – what’s important is that from this particular experience I learned that (1) I’m resilient as f*ck and (2) any future relationship that would be healthy and long-lasting needed to start with me loving myself more. The long and short of it is – I fell in love quickly with, unbeknownst to me, a manipulative, unfaithful man who carried with him a lot of unhealthy baggage from previous relationships that he frequently took out on me. It was an emotionally abusive relationship. In under a year, we had moved in together and talked about long term plans – including a move from California to Colorado where his job was taking him. I left my full-time job in California and moved with him to Colorado, and nearly immediately, I regretted my decision, but stayed the course: I was invested in this relationship, and we would find a way to work things out…after all, we loved each other, right? I found us an apartment close to his new job, and in the meantime while he worked and traveled, I landed two jobs and sold beauty products on the side for extra money. I was integrating with new work teams, learning their new systems, finding a new network of friends, all great things – and then – many arguments later and finding another woman’s athletic bra in our washing machine – he came home and said “I don’t love you anymore, and I want to break up with you.” This was about 5 months after we moved to Colorado.

Needless to say, I was beside myself: I had left my permanent job to begin a life with this man, willing to put in the work to help our relationship through whatever means, was working multiple jobs until I could find something more permanent – ugh, it was a terrible time. I was mostly frustrated with myself because I knew I deserved to be treated better. I knew that I was worth more than all of this mess and that he didn’t deserve me. I needed to dramatically shift the way I looked at myself and decide, once and for all, what I wanted out of a relationship. But first – I had to get my life in order.

I decided to drive to Illinois and visit my mom. First up: a sob fest. Next up: I traded in my Camaro for an SUV. I called around and landed a traveling physical therapy job back in northern California near where I had made so many good friends prior to moving to Colorado. I drove back to Colorado and loaded as many of my things into my SUV as I could – alone – while he watched and didn’t help (oh yes, he was home while I was moving out). I left that relationship in my dust and headed to California, started working again, reunited with old friends, and vowed to never let anyone treat me poorly like he had ever again. Most importantly, I made a vow to truly love myself. And I’ve stuck to that promise! The items I couldn’t fit into my SUV from my old apartment? I left them behind. No need to cry over things, because that’s all they were – just things that could be replaced. I started over. Actually, I not only started over, but I also moved forward in life with a new more positive, driven mindset. I’m now in a loving relationship with an amazing partner who I look forward to spending the rest of my life with. I got out of a very sh*tty situation and landed on my feet. That’s resilience, baby.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

There’s so much more to serving others than simply skill or knowledge. People want you to speak to them like people, because that’s what they are! We’re all just trying to make it through each of our crazy lives as best we can. I’m passionate about holding space for respect and kindness for everyone I interact with.

Everyone.

Whether you’re my patient, the bubbly Starbucks barista who keeps me well-caffeinated and energetic, or the sweet woman who keeps my office space clean and tidy: I don’t care where you land in the chain of command, the workplace hierarchy, or society in general. Everyone has their own story, their own things they’re going through, and it’s important to me that I always have mutual respect while offering kindness and compassion.

We are all more similar than we think.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ventureoutwellness.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ventureoutwellness/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ventureoutwellness
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/venture-out-wellness-pllc/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/doctorkarenhedenschoug/