Dominique Kinnett-Hopkins, PhD

Dr. Dominique Kinnett-Hopkins (she/her) is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology and director of the Translational Physical Activity Laboratory (TPAL). Before joining U-M, she served as a research assistant professor at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Health Services and Outcomes Research, supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation at Feinberg. Dr. Kinnett-Hopkins earned her PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Her research is driven by a commitment to enhance the lives of people living with chronic conditions, particularly focusing on multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Her work integrates her expertise in physical activity promotion, health services research, qualitative research methods, and implementation science to address gaps in clinical care through innovative exercise and rehabilitation programs.

At the TPAL, Dr. Kinnett-Hopkins leads efforts to develop and evaluate evidence-based physical activity interventions that prioritize patient-centered care. Recent projects include shifting clinical care paradigms from reactive to proactive systems through the delivery of a proactive physical therapy model for people with chronic conditions.

Dr. Kinnett-Hopkins’ work has been supported by prestigious organizations, including the National Institutes of Health, the Lupus Foundation of America, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, as well as Northwestern University, and the University of Michigan.