James M. Kult, MD

Inspired by his mother, James Kult, MD, knew in grade school that he wanted to have the same positive impact on people that she did as a nurse. But one of his close family members – who was born with a disability – influenced him to specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

"I saw the impact that health care providers had in the quality of her life and her ability to be as independent as possible," said Dr. Kult, a physiatrist at Methodist Physicians Clinic. "That's part of why I went into rehab medicine – for that opportunity to rebuild people's quality of life. When you're meeting someone who's gone through a traumatic or life-changing experience, it's always satisfying to be able to help them find purpose again and move forward."

In fact, one of the most rewarding moments of his career came when he was introduced to a young stroke patient who had lost the ability to verbally express himself.

"I had the opportunity to work with him and trial several medications, one of which ended up being very effective for him," Dr. Kult said. "Just his ability to verbally communicate his wants and needs, and live at home safely with the support of his family in a way that wouldn't have otherwise been possible was really fulfilling to witness."

He wants each of his patients to know that no matter their circumstances, there is hope, and he's dedicated to helping them reach their goals.

"When people are first meeting with me, they're often at a point that's pretty low ñ maybe the lowest point in their life as far as their ability to be independent and care for themselves. What I've seen over the years is that the combination of the right medications and the right recommendations does open up a lot more opportunities."

Outside of work, Dr. Kult enjoys spending time with his family, bowling, running, reading and watching Husker football.