Pat Hageman, PhD, was laughing as she told the story.
“I underestimated how many details need to be completed before retiring after being at UNMC 40 years,” she said. “My friends are having fun teasing me unmercifully, as I’m not sure what I was thinking when I volunteered to teach on my last week and even on my last day.”
If you somehow haven’t met her, over these past four decades, those few sentences give you a pretty good picture of Dr. Hageman: her joy, good humor and dedication to her beloved physical therapy program, even up to her very last day.
Dr. Hageman, professor of physical therapy, will retire Aug. 31. The campus is invited to a celebration Tuesday, Aug. 27, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the Sorrell Center’s Linder Reading Room. Remarks are set for 2 p.m.
Officially, she will serve just about a month short of 40 years. Just as she was physical therapy’s program director for 19 years, not 20, from 1989-2008. In both cases, it was never about hitting some round number. In both cases, although it was a big step to take, it just felt like the right time.
“It’s scary,” she said of decisions like that. “It’s frightening because you know what? You can get your identity too much into your role.
“But I actually have done everything I set out to do, and more.”
Like what?
“Things I didn’t know I had the ability to do,” she said.
It would take a while to list them all.
More on Pat Hageman, PhD
- PhD, Medical Sciences Interdepartmental Area, UNMC; MS, HPER, University of Nebraska Omaha; BS, physical therapy, UNMC;
- Hired as assistant professor of physical therapy, UNMC, October 1984 (program director 1989-2008);
- UNMC Distinguished Scientist, 2012 (first from allied health);
- Inaugural Karen Linder Distinguished Professor for Women’s Health;
- Chair, American Physical Therapy Association advisory panel on education;
- Appointed by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) advisory committee, sole physical therapist on five committee reports to congress on interprofessional health care workforce development;
- Chair/co-chair, College of Allied Health Professions promotion and tenure advisory committee.
“Her exemplary contributions have impacted every mission of the college,” said Kyle Meyer, PhD, dean of the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions. “Teaching, research, administration and community and professional service.”
With Dr. Hageman at the helm of physical therapy for two decades, “The program catapulted to the national stage,” Dr. Meyer said. During this time, UNMC “was one of the first public institutions to adopt the DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) degree and graduated more than 650 physical therapists to serve Nebraska and the nation.”
The program also earned the NU University-wide Departmental Teaching Award in 2006 under Dr. Hageman’s leadership. And earlier this year she helped contribute to physical therapy winning the prestigious honor for a second time.
She spent more than 20 years in research, as a National Institutes of Health-funded co-investigator. Dr. Hageman and others traveled the state, studying behavior-change interventions to promote physical activity and reduce cardiovascular disease risk among midlife and older men and women from rural communities. She collaborated with colleagues in UNMC’s College of Nursing, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Nebraska Extension and other colleges. Dr. Hageman was named allied health’s top researcher three times and contributed to 47 peer-reviewed publications.
She had joy in what she did every day, she said, and loved “that camaraderie that is inherent in our field.”
That joy in connecting with others made her an impactful teacher, mentor and presence in the profession and on campus.
“Dr. Hageman’s impact at UNMC will extend to future students through the legacy she leaves behind,” said Betsy Becker, PhD, DPT, physical therapy program director. “This legacy is clearly reflected in the 10 existing faculty members who transitioned from being students to alumni during her career.”
Dr. Becker pointed out that Dr. Hageman also had an integral role in hiring several other faculty members, including one who would go on to become the college’s dean.
Dr. Hageman laughed again, saying she’ll never forget the date she hired Dr. Meyer. It was April Fool’s Day, 1991. They were classmates together in the UNMC PT program, graduating in 1979.
“I’m the official, designated, bestowed-upon internal historian of the program, because I’ve been here 40 of the 50 years of graduates,” she said. “I had a front row seat.”
But now it’s time. What will she do next? She doesn’t have a grand plan. She will do her best to be retired and go from there. “I don’t know that I have always had balance in my life,” she said. “So, it will be an adventure.” She plans to spend more time with her husband, family and friends.
She will have time to devote to her interest in art. And one more thing for sure. “I have to practice what I preach,” she said. “I’ve done all that research on women and aging and healthy activity.” She’s already started high-intensity strength training and vows to hit the gym often.
How does she feel, stepping away after almost 40 years? “I’m happy,” she said. “I started out being happy but not excited. It’s (almost here), so I am excited now.”
Congratulations, Pat!!!
Pat, your legacy will last for decades to come. Thank you for the impact you have made on our students both inside and outside of the classroom. I wish you joy and many blessings in this next chapter.
Best wishes!
Congrats, Pat, on an absolutely stellar career. You are an iconic figure in UNMC’s history. Enjoy the next chapter – you will never be forgotten.
I am forever grateful to have worked just shy of 3 years with Dr. Hageman. Cheers to retirement!
Congratulations on your retirement, Pat. It was a true pleasure knowing and seeing you whenever our paths crossed at UNMC. Your subtle sense of humor was delightful. Enjoy retirement to its fullness going forward, and don’t regret that you hadn’t done it sooner. Take care, be well, and stay safe.
It’s hard to imagine this place without our “PT Mom”! I am extremely grateful for your faith in me as a faculty member and for your mentorship. I would not be where I am today without your sage advice and the example you set. You paved the road for women leaders in our Program, College, University and the PT profession! We are forever grateful!
Congratulations Pat. You have made a significant and lasting impact on the health care of all Nebraskans.
Congratulations, Pat, and thank you for your tremendous service to PT and the CAHP. Enjoy this next chapter!
Congratulations, Pat! I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with you on various grants and projects. Best wishes to you as you enter this new chapter!
Wishing you a joyful retirement, Pat. And, congrats on a remarkable and impactful career!
Congratulations, Pat! Your legacy lives on in the many students and faculty you trained and mentored. And a personal thank you for your support and mentorship.
May you have many more adventures with retirement!
Congratulations, Pat! Thanks for your commitment to the PT program, College, University, and community. We’ve got your cell phone number, and we know how to find you if we have a question. 😉 Enjoy your well-deserved break!
Congratulations Pat on this next step in your career and life! There really aren’t words that can come close to expressing my gratitude to you and the rest of the UNMC PT program for taking a chance on me and allowing the opportunity to begin again after my initial semester in the program did not go well. I will never forget your understanding and support, as I’m sure many others can say. Thank you for all you have done for all of us, we owe you a forever debt
Congratulations, Pat! It’s been a pleasure helping you with your travel planning and booking these past few years. You are a delight, and you will be missed. I wish you an adventurous retirement!
Congratulations on an amazing career! You have made such an impact at UNMC. All the best in your next adventures!
Congratulations on a wonderful career at UNMC. You made a tremendous impact on students, the profession, and Nebraska. Thank you for your commitment to excellence!
Congratulations Dr. Hageman! I have learned so many incredible lessons from you! How to build strong teams, how to value each team members unique strengths, how to celebrate others and ensure they are recognized for their efforts. How many nominations have you submitted and honors have you helped to bestow!? You were always putting others first. Now it’s time to celebrate you and all your amazing work! Come visit us…..we’d love to have you! We are where we are and doing what we love because of you and all you invested in us. We can’t be there tomorrow but certainly send our love and best wishes.
Congratulations and enjoy retirement, Pat! Appreciate you accepting Kristi and me in the same class, that worked well!:) Appreciate the hard work you put into UNMC’s PT program to make it a top institution with excellent PTs when they graduate.
Congratulations Pat! What a difference you made in so many people’s lives!
Congratulations Dr Hageman ! ! believe one of your first years on faculty was with our class and I will forever be grateful. It has been inspiring to watch you over the years and an honor also to get to know Bruce back in the day. I wish you all the best as you start this new season . Blessings to you and Bruce.
Much Love
Kelli Bentley
Pat, thanks so much for your many outstanding contributions to the PT Program and UNMC. You have been an exemplary role model for me and many others!
It’s hard to imagine UNMC without you and your positive energy. It was always a pleasure to work with you. Thank you for 40 years of service. Congratulations on your retirement.
Congratulations, Dr. Pat on your retirement. Thank you for your guidance during my time working on the WWW study from 2011-2014. Much respect for you and your many accomplishments! Enjoy your new adventure.
Sincerely,
Laura DeWitt
Congratulations on your distinguished tenure at UNMC. I had the great pleasure of knowing you whil I was there. So happy for you!!
You have always been a standard for excellence. Enjoy your retirement.
Congrats Pat! Thank you for all you have done to expand the PT program at UNMC and make it one of the top in the country. Thank you also for all that you have contributed to the profession. Enjoy your well deserved retirement!
Congratulations on a stellar PT career Pat!
I so enjoyed our time at UNMC together and wish you the very best in your retirement!!