Hands that Heal: Kyle Meyers’ Journey from First-Generation Scholar to Orthopedic Occupational Therapist
Kyle Meyers (B.A. Community Health ’21, M.O.T. ’23) grew up in a household where education meant both opportunity and expectation. Encouraged by parents, grandparents, and a sprawling network of aunts and uncles to aim for nothing less than A’s and B’s, he developed an early reverence for learning. “I learned to love school because everyone around me treated education like the key to becoming a better person, student, and—eventually—a better healthcare professional,” he recalls. That support laid the foundation for a work ethic and curiosity that would carry him through two degrees at Governors State University and into the demanding, people-centered world of orthopedic occupational therapy.
As the first in his family to attend college, Kyle arrived on campus feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. “I didn’t know what to expect—no one in my family had ever navigated the college process,” he says. The first semester was a crash course in everything from registration portals to time management, but by spring he’d found his rhythm, striking the delicate balance between coursework, friendships, and self-care. The day he crossed the stage in 2021—earning GSU’s first diploma ever awarded to a Meyers family member—he felt both relieved and eager for the next challenge: graduate studies in occupational therapy.
Kyle originally imagined his college years would revolve around a football scholarship, but unforeseen circumstances redirected his path. A campus visit to GovState, only fifteen minutes from home, made the decision easy. “The second I walked in, it felt like home,” he says, citing the university’s tight-knit community and small class sizes as decisive factors. Those intimate learning environments fostered relationships that would shape his career. He credits an entire team of professors—Dr. Frank Czuba, Dr. Luther King, Dr. Cynthia Carr, Dr. Erin Simpson, Dr. Rebecca Kvasnicka, Dr. Caren Schranz, Patti Kalvaledge, and Dr. Joseph Day—for pushing him academically while modeling professional integrity. “They taught me to treat every patient as a whole person, not just a diagnosis,” he says.
Today, Kyle puts that philosophy into practice at North Point Orthopaedics, where he serves as an OTR/L in a private outpatient setting. He thrives on collaborating with surgeons, physicians, and fellow therapists to guide patients from post-surgery vulnerability to full discharge. “The best part is getting to know people well enough to tailor care that truly fits their lives,” he explains. One of his proudest milestones has been working under the mentorship of a therapist with more than twenty years of clinical experience and multiple specialty certifications—an opportunity that has accelerated his professional growth.
Reflecting on how GovState prepared him for the realities of clinical work, Kyle highlights the university’s emphasis on evidence-based practice and whole-person care. Rigorous coursework paired with field placements gave him the confidence to navigate complex cases, while small cohorts allowed him to refine soft skills like communication and inter-disciplinary collaboration. “GSU didn’t just teach me the textbook side of OT; it taught me how to be mindful and adaptable with every patient I see.”
For current students considering occupational therapy, Kyle offers practical wisdom: “Do your research and shadow in as many settings as you can—pediatrics, neuro, geriatrics, orthopedics—because OT has endless avenues. And above all, know your ‘why.’ A clear purpose will carry you through the toughest semesters and the longest clinic days.”
Outside the clinic, Kyle recharges by casting a fishing line or coaching youth football—activities that let him step away from professional responsibilities and reconnect with personal passions. “Those moments on the water or the field remind me who I am beyond my scrubs,” he says with a smile.
Looking back, Kyle cherishes the sense of community he found at Governors State. “The friendships I built with classmates and professors have turned into lasting professional networks—and in some cases, family.” And while he’s already achieved the milestone of becoming his family’s first college graduate, his story is just beginning. With every patient he guides toward recovery, Kyle Meyers pays forward the encouragement and educational values that once propelled a first-generation kid from a small Illinois town onto a path of healing hands and lifelong learning.
Author: Jocelyn Bell, Alumni Relations Communication Coordinator