Northwestern DPT program, neuro focus?

[VeloDPT]

I heard from a former student of the NUPTHMS program that it was strongly neuro based in terms of the interests of the professors as well as class content. In other words, does the program really put more emphasis and spend more time on neuro than, say, ortho, peds, or cardiac? This student's views may have been slightly biased because neuro is not her main area of interest, however, I was wondering what others have to say about this.

I think it would be tough to answer this question if you have never been involved in the DPT program there......So, anyone with experience at NUPTHMS have any input? I applied for 2010 and I'm just curious to know more since right now neuro really interests me.

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[DPTinFL]

I'm not involved with Northwestern but a way you can tell is by looking at the faculty and seeing how many of them have the NCS credential. If they are strong in Neuro then they will probably have at least 3 faculty members with it. I know my school (St. Augustine) is well known for manual therapy/ortho and most of the faculty have a credential in that.

 

[Akiramay]

I'm in my first trimester at Northwestern. Only one of our professors has the NCS credential, and she's the one who teaches our neuro classes. I have heard from other people that the program is strongly neuro-based. Since I am still new I can't say for sure. From our curriculum, however, that does seem to ring true. Throughout the program, we will take 3 different Clinical Management of Patients with Neurologic Dysfunction classes as well as 2 different Neuroscience classes. However, we also take 3 Clinical Management of Patients with Musculoskeletal Dysfunction classes and 2 Clinical Management of Patients with Cardiopulmonary Dysfunction courses. From what our professors say, Northwestern's program prepares you for all fields in physical therapy. So while they prepare you for all types of patients, I would say that they also strongly focus on neuro, probably more so than other schools.

 

[DancerFutureDPT]

I think how Akiramay worded it is pretty accurate - I don't think that NUPT is so focused on neuro that it neglects other disciplines, but it may just cover more neuro than most schools do.

I just got accepted at NUPT for 2010 and will most likely end up there. I love the program, and the area and opportunities it provides, and even though I have nothing against neuro, it's definitely not my interest.

I work at an outpatient clinic in Chicago that's practically all ortho/sports rehab....at my old location of the company's clinic both facility managers were NUPT grads, and they had recently hired a Dec. 2008 NUPT grad shortly before I left. I spoke with the recent grad about the school and she said that there is a lot of neuro covered, but that they cover all aspects really well and that she felt comfortable working in any environment.

Good luck!

 

[Akiramay]

Hope you do end up going to NUPT! BTW DancerFutureDPT, sorry I haven't responded to your message yet. I haven't had much time. I'll try to asap though.

 

[MotionDoc]

I think you guys will soon see how everything in PT is so intertwined that you're gonna get out of that "neuro ain't my thing," or whatever the phrase of the day is, mentality rather quickly.

Everything builds on top of everything else (as it should...it's one body right?)

...and unless you have witnessed first hand a Neuro PT in action, or have psychic powers, hold judgment until you've at least had a class! You would be surprised at how many students come in with one mentality and leave completely changed.

 

[DancerFutureDPT]

I think you guys will soon see how everything in PT is so intertwined that you're gonna get out of that "neuro ain't my thing," or whatever the phrase of the day is, mentality rather quickly.

Everything builds on top of everything else (as it should...it's one body right?)

...and unless you have witnessed first hand a Neuro PT in action, or have psychic powers, hold judgment until you've at least had a class! You would be surprised at how many students come in with one mentality and leave completely changed.

I have had a lot of neuro PT experience (both inpatient and outpatient), and I've taken some neuroscience classes in undergrad, and I'm not a huge fan. I have nothing against it, but I love sports and ortho so much more that I know that is where my interest lies...We have a few neuro patients too where I work, mostly MS and other neuro disorders that affect the muscular system, and I love working with them, but in general I would much rather work in an outpatient ortho clinic than a neuro one when I get my degree.

That said, who knows how I'll feel after a few neuro PT classes - I could totally see something I was missing during observation and love it. 😛