Temple University Athletics
Olympic Hopeful Kamali Thompson Set to Become Temple Hospital Orthopedic Surgeon
4.23.21 | Women's Fencing
Doctor, Olympic Hopeful, M.B.A, and Small Business Owner are just a few distinctions that describe Temple Class of 2012 Fencer Kamali Thompson. The Teaneck, N.J. native will return to Philadelphia to complete her Residency at Temple Hospital in July after earning her medical degree from Rutgers this May.
Fencing was not a sport that Thompson had grown up playing. "I started fencing as a freshman in high school and joined a club as a junior" explained Thompson. "I had never considered playing sports in college so at the point that it became an option, I had to find ones that had Fencing."
Temple is a school that attracts many students from Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs, and for some this is a deterrent. "I wanted to be on my own," said Thompson.
However, at her first fencing national competition, Thompson was introduced to Temple's Head Fencing Coach Nikki Franke. "Her and my mom hit it off immediately and my mom was telling me that this would be a great school," said Thompson.
Thompson entered the Pre-Med degree as part of the Honors Program. During her time at Temple, Thompson was a two-time winner of Temple's PNC Female Student-Athlete of the Year, earned All-American Honors, and was a four-time NCAA Qualifier placing 6th her senior year. Her list of accomplishments is plentiful, and she did it all while balancing the rigor of being a pre-med student.
Most student athletes transition away from their sport following graduation, Thompson has not. Since her graduation, she has gone on to become the 2016 Division 1 Women's Sabre National Champion, a member of the World University Games Team (2013), a U.S. National Team Member (2019) and a 2021 Olympic hopeful with the qualifiers concluding in May. She has done all of this while completing her M.D. and M.B.A at Rutgers University.
In 2012, Thompson enrolled at Rutgers Medical School and continued through with success. She is set to become an Orthopedic Surgeon in July of 2021 starting her Residency at Temple Hospital.
Thompson is also a member of USA Fencing's Advisory Committee through the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), where she is the Woman's Sabre Representative. "About five years ago, a teammate of mine recommended that I become part of organizations in USA Fencing," said Thompson. "That same friend decided that I should get involved from a medical aspect, so I am now part of the USOPC Medical Advisory Committee."
Through these organizations she has played a pivotal role through the pandemic in providing guidance to athletes on whether they should be competing and how to navigate the pandemic. In addition, through her medical committee membership, she has used her voice to identify where the USOPC may be lacking from a medical perspective such as mental health resources.
Thompson has also used her following to develop her own business called 'Sabre and a Stethoscope' where she promotes her journey to inspire others. "Eventually I want to get into a space where I am providing resources to premedical students, most importantly underrepresented minority students," said Thompson.
Beginning in July, Thompson will be an Orthopedic Surgeon Resident at Temple Hospital. "I put so much energy into this year of making the Olympics and getting into residency, so I am not really sure what is next," Thompson said. Woman and minorities are very underrepresented, and Thompson is set to play a role in changing that.
Thompson's athletic and professional resume shines, but her future is limitless. She is a hopeful for the 2020-2021 Olympic Games, a soon to be orthopedic surgeon and a small business owner. She surely will continue to inspire those that look to follow her path.
"Kamali is a very special young lady," added Temple's Hall of Fame fencing coach Nikki Franke. "She was an instrumental part of our program when she was here and has been very supportive since leaving. She really is an inspiration to our girls and has accomplished so much at such a young age. I am extremely proud of her."
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Fencing was not a sport that Thompson had grown up playing. "I started fencing as a freshman in high school and joined a club as a junior" explained Thompson. "I had never considered playing sports in college so at the point that it became an option, I had to find ones that had Fencing."
Temple is a school that attracts many students from Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs, and for some this is a deterrent. "I wanted to be on my own," said Thompson.
However, at her first fencing national competition, Thompson was introduced to Temple's Head Fencing Coach Nikki Franke. "Her and my mom hit it off immediately and my mom was telling me that this would be a great school," said Thompson.
Thompson entered the Pre-Med degree as part of the Honors Program. During her time at Temple, Thompson was a two-time winner of Temple's PNC Female Student-Athlete of the Year, earned All-American Honors, and was a four-time NCAA Qualifier placing 6th her senior year. Her list of accomplishments is plentiful, and she did it all while balancing the rigor of being a pre-med student.
Most student athletes transition away from their sport following graduation, Thompson has not. Since her graduation, she has gone on to become the 2016 Division 1 Women's Sabre National Champion, a member of the World University Games Team (2013), a U.S. National Team Member (2019) and a 2021 Olympic hopeful with the qualifiers concluding in May. She has done all of this while completing her M.D. and M.B.A at Rutgers University.
In 2012, Thompson enrolled at Rutgers Medical School and continued through with success. She is set to become an Orthopedic Surgeon in July of 2021 starting her Residency at Temple Hospital.
Thompson is also a member of USA Fencing's Advisory Committee through the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), where she is the Woman's Sabre Representative. "About five years ago, a teammate of mine recommended that I become part of organizations in USA Fencing," said Thompson. "That same friend decided that I should get involved from a medical aspect, so I am now part of the USOPC Medical Advisory Committee."
Through these organizations she has played a pivotal role through the pandemic in providing guidance to athletes on whether they should be competing and how to navigate the pandemic. In addition, through her medical committee membership, she has used her voice to identify where the USOPC may be lacking from a medical perspective such as mental health resources.
Thompson has also used her following to develop her own business called 'Sabre and a Stethoscope' where she promotes her journey to inspire others. "Eventually I want to get into a space where I am providing resources to premedical students, most importantly underrepresented minority students," said Thompson.
Beginning in July, Thompson will be an Orthopedic Surgeon Resident at Temple Hospital. "I put so much energy into this year of making the Olympics and getting into residency, so I am not really sure what is next," Thompson said. Woman and minorities are very underrepresented, and Thompson is set to play a role in changing that.
Thompson's athletic and professional resume shines, but her future is limitless. She is a hopeful for the 2020-2021 Olympic Games, a soon to be orthopedic surgeon and a small business owner. She surely will continue to inspire those that look to follow her path.
"Kamali is a very special young lady," added Temple's Hall of Fame fencing coach Nikki Franke. "She was an instrumental part of our program when she was here and has been very supportive since leaving. She really is an inspiration to our girls and has accomplished so much at such a young age. I am extremely proud of her."
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Players Mentioned
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