Spirit of Marquette Award (achievement before age 40)
Dr. Timothy M. Kummer, Nurs ’07
Minneapolis, Minn.
There’s an African proverb that has served as a call to action for Dr. Timothy Kummer: “When you pray, move your feet.” Guided by that belief, Tim has built a life and career defined by stepping toward suffering and responding with dignity rather than judgment.
Tim has found deep purpose in his work as an emergency physician and medical director at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minnesota. “Advocacy and service are not side projects in my work. They are central to it,” he says. Whether he’s serving as an emergency responder, developing strategies to combat the opioid crisis or helping build emergency medical services in northern Tanzania, his focus is the same: giving voice to those who are often unheard.
That commitment took root during Tim’s time at Marquette. He began as an education major but was still uncertain about his path. His course became clear the summer after his freshman year, when then-College of Nursing professor Karen Ivantic invited him to travel to Kenya, where he lived with and worked alongside Sr. Genovefa Maasho and the Sisters of St. Joseph.
The trip exposed him to a life of service grounded in humility, presence and commitment to community, and provided him with both a personal and professional compass. “It shaped how I understand excellence, leadership and faith in action,” Tim says.
When he returned from Kenya, Tim switched his major to nursing, sensing he needed to fully understand pain and suffering before attempting to treat it. Alongside fellow students, he also co-founded Watumishi — Swahili for “people of service” — a student organization focused on HIV/AIDS education and community engagement.
After earning his Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Tim worked as an emergency room nurse in Milwaukee before volunteering in Tanzania. He later attended medical school at the University of Minnesota, followed by an emergency medicine residency and fellowship in emergency medical services at Hennepin County Medical Center.
Today, his work centers on systems change. In response to the opioid crisis, Tim has helped develop prehospital overdose response strategies, expand access to medications for opioid use disorder, integrate peer recovery support and build follow-up systems that connect patients to care beyond the emergency department. His guiding principle is simple: meet people where they are and respond with dignity rather than judgment.
“I’m fortunate to work in a role that allows me to help bend the arc toward those who are often voiceless,” he says. “I use my training, title and leadership roles to work for others and to give a voice to those who are often unheard.”
He is also a co-founder of the Tanzania EMS Project, working to establish the first coordinated emergency medical services system in the Arusha region through training, standardized care and long-term local ownership. Closer to home, Tim remains engaged in gun violence prevention, a commitment sharpened by his experience as the first physician on scene at the Annunciation Catholic School shooting near his home.
“That experience reshaped my understanding of responsibility as a physician and leader, and clarified the voice I have, the opportunity to enact change, and the duty I feel to help make our community and state safer,” he says.
Tim believes success is measured by impact, not by titles or recognition. He continually asks himself: Is this work reducing the suffering of those without a voice? Is it helping create a more just world? Are we leading with empathy and understanding instead of judgment and staying grounded in why the work matters?
Receiving the Spirit of Marquette Award affirms that the values instilled during his student years continue to guide each step he takes. For Tim, faith is lived in motion.
“This award is a reminder that Marquette empowers and lifts up those who choose a life of purpose,” he says. “Receiving this recognition gives me confidence that the work I’m doing is true to the life I hoped to lead during my time at Marquette.”
