Acute Care Physical Therapy Residency Program

• Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree
• Graduation from a CAPTE-accredited physical therapy program
• Current physical therapy license or eligibility for Illinois licensure
• Strong interest in acute care physical therapy
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Personal Statement
• Academic transcripts
• Letters of Recommendation
• Successful interview performance
• Ability to satisfy employment and credentialing requirements

The Acute Care Physical Therapy Residency Program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is an advanced post-professional training program designed to prepare physical therapists for specialised practice in acute hospital settings. Based primarily at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, one of the nation's leading academic medical centres, the residency provides extensive clinical exposure to medically complex patient populations. Residents gain experience in intensive care units, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery services, transplant units, trauma services, oncology programs, neurology units, and general medical-surgical floors. The curriculum integrates direct patient care with structured mentorship, advanced didactic education, journal clubs, case discussions, and scholarly activities. Residents develop expertise in critical care rehabilitation, early mobilisation, ventilator management considerations, functional assessment, discharge planning, and interdisciplinary team collaboration. The program emphasises evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning, leadership development, and quality improvement initiatives. Residents work alongside experienced physical therapists, physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other healthcare professionals. Upon completion, graduates are well prepared for advanced clinical practice, board certification in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy or Neurologic Physical Therapy, academic positions, and leadership roles within hospital-based rehabilitation programs.