From Doctorate to Van Life: A Physical Therapist’s Journey to Living Fully
When you picture someone with a doctorate degree, you probably imagine them in a clinical setting, wearing a white coat, perhaps behind a desk in a well-appointed office. You probably don’t envision them living in a van, surfing at dawn, and treating patients in different cities every few months. But that’s exactly the life Daniel Walden, DPT, has created for himself.
Dan, known as “Mountain Man Dan” to his growing online community, represents a new breed of healthcare professional—one who’s challenging traditional career paths while maintaining the highest standards of patient care. His story isn’t just about van life or physical therapy; it’s about redesigning your life around what truly matters to you.
Image of Daniel taken from his Instagram.
The Birth of a Different Path
“I designed my career around my lifestyle, not the other way around,” Dan explains. This revelation didn’t come overnight. Back in 2012, while still in graduate school, he was already sketching blueprints of his future van. His grandmother, Peg (whom his current van is named after), held onto those drawings for years before returning them with simple encouragement: “If you really want this, you should see this all the time.”
Five years later, in 2017, those blueprints became reality. But the journey was just beginning.
Breaking Down the Van Life Stigma
“When people hear ‘van life,’ they often think of Chris Farley’s ‘living in a van down by the river’ sketch,” Dan laughs. But his reality is far from that stereotype. As a traveling physical therapist, he takes three-month contracts at different facilities across the Western United States. This arrangement allows him to:
Maintain a thriving professional practice
Experience different healthcare settings
Build relationships across multiple states
Pursue outdoor activities in various locations
Live minimally while maximizing experiences
The Professional Nomad
Dan’s approach to physical therapy is as unconventional as his living situation. “We were deemed non-essential during the pandemic,” he reflects. “That showed me that even with a doctorate, job security isn’t guaranteed. So why not create a life that’s both professionally fulfilling and personally exciting?”
His patient care philosophy reflects this integrated approach:
Focus on long-term resilience over quick fixes
Address both physical and mental well-being
Build genuine connections with patients
Teach sustainable self-care practices
Learning at Any Age
At 34, Dan decided to learn surfing—a completely new skill for someone who grew up wakeboarding in Tennessee. “I was terrified of sharks at first,” he admits. “Then I realized I was more likely to drown than get eaten. That’s when I knew I needed to focus on the actual challenge: learning to surf.”
This experience taught him valuable lessons about growth:
Fear often masks the real challenges
Being a beginner is humbling and exciting
Progress comes from consistent practice
New skills lead to unexpected connections
Image of Daniel taken from his Instagram.
The Van Life Advantage
Living in a van isn’t just about freedom of movement; it’s about intentional living. Dan has discovered unique advantages:
Building Community: “Every town has potential connections—bike shops, climbing gyms, coffee houses. You just have to be open to engaging.”
Minimalism: “When you live with less, you focus more on experiences than possessions.”
Flexibility: “I can follow the weather, the waves, or the work—whatever makes sense at the moment.”
Mental Health: “There’s something freeing about knowing you can change your environment if it’s not serving you.”
The Role of Companionship
No story about Dan would be complete without mentioning Coop, his Golden Retriever. “Having a dog in this lifestyle has changed how I operate,” he says. Coop isn’t just a pet; he’s:
An icebreaker in new communities
A reason to maintain routine
A constant companion on adventures
A source of unconditional joy
Looking Forward
Dan’s latest venture involves sharing his lifestyle with others. He’s transitioning his current van into a rental vehicle for those wanting to experience van life firsthand. “I want people to experience the stoke,” he explains. “Whether that’s through coaching, van rentals, or just sharing stories—it’s about showing others what’s possible.”
Lessons for Everyone
You don’t need to live in a van to apply Dan’s philosophy:
Design your life intentionally
Don’t let age stop you from learning
Build community wherever you go
Face fears by breaking them down
Stay present in the journey
The Journey Continues
“The real prison is up top,” Dan often says, pointing to his head. Whether it’s fear of sharks, fear of failure, or fear of breaking convention, the biggest obstacles are usually mental. His story shows that with intention, planning, and a bit of courage, you can create a life that others might not understand but that feels absolutely right to you.
Listen to the full conversation here.
Connect with Mountain Man Dan:
Instagram: @mountainmandan
YouTube: Mountain Man Dan
Remember to share your own appreciations today. As Dan would say, “Count at least three things you’re grateful for—it changes your perspective on everything.”
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