Kimberly Topp

Kimberly S. Topp is an American physical therapist and a Professor Emeritus and Physical Therapy Chair at the UCSF School of Medicine.

Early life and education Kimberly Topp, born in 1955, grew up in Phoenix, Arizona with her mother Frances, a homemaker and homeschooler, and her father James, a Navy veteran of the Korean War who changed careers to become a graphic artist. Topp grew up participating in charity work including running errands for a disabled woman and working with migrant workers. After completing eighth grade, she was hired by many families to babysit and do a variety of housework for them. When her family moved to Flagstaff, Arizona from Phoenix, she transitioned to taking care of farm animals such as horses, chickens, and rabbits. While she was in high school, Topp worked a full-time job in retail and eventually was promoted to assistant manager at the store before she graduated. Topp says that "juggling school and work taught her valuable life skills such as responsibility and following through on a project."

Research and teaching career In 2004, she became an elected member of the Academy of Medical Educators at UCSF and was also a part of the UCSF Academic Senate from 1998-2017. During her time as Chair of Physical Therapy, she oversaw the development of the entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, PhD, and Orthopedic Residency programs. Her project titled "Axonal Transport and Peripheral Nerve Function" was funded from 1997-2002.

During her career, Topp had many mentors, including Hugh "Pat" Patterson, Ph.D., a human anatomy professor. She learned how to be a "focused and passionate teacher" from Patterson and also says that she has learned a lot from her students. Her most recent award was the A.J. Ladman Exemplary Service Award, given to her in 2020 by the American Association for Anatomy. Topp said that the "honor itself is humbling" and decided to give the money she was awarded back to the AAA.

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