Dr. Kurt Hansen and Erin Hansen Prioritize Helping Others

Written by Nancy Sokoler Steiner

Photographed by Wendy Saade

Volunteering comes naturally to Kurt Hansen, MD, and his wife, Erin Hansen, who have devoted themselves to helping others since their teens. In fact, that’s how they met. Both were high school student volunteers at Rising Above Disabilities Camp for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

They spent the week paired up with a special needs “buddy,” providing care and assistance. The Orange County camp enables buddies to enjoy activities that might not otherwise be available to them, while their caregivers receive a week of respite.

After spending a day together with their buddy at Disneyland, the connection between Erin and Kurt was immediate. “He asked for my number, and the rest is history,” Erin says. That was in 2005.

Fast-forward to today, and the Hansens remain involved with the camp. They have also chosen to support Torrance Memorial Medical Center as members of Young Physicians and Professionals Alliance (YPPA). The group brings together doctors, business professionals and community leaders who enjoy social gatherings for causes that blend community, impact and philanthropy. YPPA’s mission is to support the medical center’s high-level expert care in the South Bay.

Dr. Hansen is an emergency department physician and co-director of emergency medicine at Torrance Memorial. As parents of three boys, ages 7, 11 and 13, he and Erin have busy schedules. But they make time to attend YPPA events because of the benefits they’ve reaped.

“It’s been an amazing experience for us to meet other members of the community—even the physicians I know on the medical side—in a social context,” Kurt says.

Erin agrees: “We’ve made a lot of new friends and connections, especially as parents.”

The couple has attended Casino Nights, St. Patrick’s Day at Hennessey’s, and family-centered activities such as barbecues and picnics. Dr. Hansen has also represented YPPA at some events.

He says participating in YPPA has enhanced his relationship with colleagues. For example, he and orthopedic surgeon John Andrawis, MD, and their wives bonded over their mutual experience of having three children. They’ve seen each other socially as a result.

Dr. Hansen had an affinity for the sciences since he was in high school. As a senior he broke his hand playing football, and his orthopedist made a big impression.

“It blew me away that he knew so much about something under the skin. I thought his knowledge was incredible,” he shares of the doctor’s impact, which along with Dr. Hansen’s interests in both science and sports reinforced his inclination to explore the medical field. He thought he might like to work in orthopedics or surgery.

While an undergraduate at UCLA, he worked as a transporter for the radiology department at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, taking patients to get ultrasounds and CT scans. He then transitioned to working as a physical therapy aide. He enjoyed the interaction with patients and enrolled in medical school at UC Davis.

His preference of specialty changed when he did his emergency department rotation. “It just fit: the people, the pace of work, the patients. The choice was obvious for me.”

Kurt and Erin, who married while he was in medical school, were thrilled when he matched with Torrance Memorial. He marked his eighth year here in September.

Working as an emergency department physician has both challenges and rewards. There’s no way to control the volume or flow of patients, Dr. Hansen notes. For example, the emergency department saw 363 patients the day after Labor Day—an extremely high number.

In addition, “You never know what’s going to come through the door, so you have to be prepared for everything,” he says.

At the same time, “It’s so rewarding to use your knowledge, hard work and skills to really have an impact on someone else’s life. People come in scared and in pain, and it’s gratifying to provide answers and peace of mind—to take someone in a terrible state mentally, physically and medically and quickly help them.”

Erin, who grew up in Fullerton, majored in criminal justice at San Diego State University and worked to support her husband while he attended medical school. The Hansens agreed that Erin would stay home when the couple’s first child Eli was born in 2011. A second child Leo, came along two years later, and Jack their third arrived soon after Dr. Hansen started at Torrance Memorial.

Erin has remained involved with RAD Camp since high school. A previous volunteer with Special Olympics, she learned about the camp from a teacher at school. “It was really eye-opening,” she says. “As much as we were helping our buddies, we got so much love and understanding in return from them as well.”

Today she coordinates schedules for the camp kitchen volunteers and helps in any way she can, whether in the classroom or with a buddy. Dr. Hansen took a break during medical school but now serves on the camp’s board of directors. He also helped them form a medical board and serves as the camp physician.

The Hansens like to stay active. Erin is a long-time runner, and Dr. Hansen ran his first half-marathon with her in Nashville earlier this year. Dr. Hansen is also an avid golfer. Their boys play baseball and soccer, and the Hansens are big Dodgers fans.

Nevertheless, “I think some of our most enjoyable days are just being at home together,” he says.

The Hansens clearly find giving back to be a fulfilling and worthy part of their busy lives. They encourage others to consider joining YPPA.

“You can’t imagine the people you’re going to meet and how those relationships will impact your future, the way you see the world and the opportunities you’ll have,” says Dr. Hansen. “We’ve had some of the most interesting conversations and friendships come out of YPPA. When it’s rooted in your own community, it’s an investment in your stake in the South Bay.”