Diversity
Pictured: NUPTHMS faculty, staff, and students and representatives from My Block, My Hood, My City.
Associate Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Message
As a leader in physical therapy education, the Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences at Northwestern University recognizes the importance of striving to create a diverse workforce that not only mirrors the diversity of the population we treat but produces critical thinking clinicians who center patients first. To center treatment around patient perspectives and experiences we must first center students’ experiences and all that each individual brings to the program and to the field of physical therapy. From our strategic plan to our course syllabi, our department centers diversity and equity in our teaching and research practices. From department activities to community engagement we seek to include voices from traditionally excluded groups and we invite multiple perspectives to help us all learn and grow. Our department invites participation from faculty, staff and students in DEI initiatives in order to impact the lives of our entire PTHMS community. We strive to understand bias and its impact on others. We aim to see, acknowledge, and dismantle racism in its many forms. We engage with our community in hopes of learning more about how we can be allies to those who seek physical therapy services and we seek to be advocates for those who lack access to appropriate care.
In PTHMS inclusion matters. Those who come here belong.
“We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tobey DeMott Yeates, PT, DPT
Student Affinity Groups
Asian Pacific-Islander Student Association (APSA)
The Asian Pacific-Islander Student Association at NU PTHMS fosters a safe, inclusive space for exploration of the Asian Pacific experience in America, analyzing the intersectionality between our identities, modern social justice issues, and our roles as students and clinicians in healthcare. Through education, advocacy, and mentorship we aim to inspire a generation of leaders for health equity that will create meaningful change at the departmental, clinical, state, and national level.
Black Student Association (BSA)
Our mission is to create and sustain an affinity space for self-identifying Black students to aid in their academic, professional and social needs. We are dedicated to supporting academic excellence, mentoring and social support to enhance the experience of Black students at NUPTHMS. We provide a community where Black students feel recognized, included, and valued.
Latinx Student Association
The Latinx Student Association builds a network and support system where Latinx physical therapy students and physical therapists empower each other and promote diversity within the profession. We showcase physical therapy as a profession through community outreach and education, developing cultural awareness to provide high-quality patient care, and raising awareness of health disparities among the Latinx community.
LGBTQIA+ Student Association
As LGBTQIA+ community members and allies, we aim to create an inclusive, open, positive environment to celebrate the community, explore issues relating to the LGBTQIA+ community, and increase the network of healthcare workers who are LGBTQIA+ community members and allies. Using open forums, guest speakers, and fundraising events to provide education for NUPTHMS and beyond, this student association gives its members the strength and knowledge to continue fighting wrongdoings they may witness in their everyday lives. We provide space for a thriving LGBTQIA+ community in NUPTHMS where all can feel safe, loved, and accepted.
South Asian Student Association
The South Asian Student Association embraces cross-cultural conversation by sharing elements of South Asian culture in new and innovative ways. We incorporate activities and discussions that highlight the unique nuances of South Asian heritage and create an open and welcoming space for all to engage and discover South Asian cultural practices.
Jewish Student Affinity Group
The Jewish Student Affinity group (JSAG) aims to create a space for NUPTHMS students, faculty, and staff to further consider their identities and draw strength from similarly identifying individuals. Members of the JSAG will have the opportunity to connect with like-minded peers as well as educate others on Judaism and topics related to Judaism.Diversity Committee
Our mission is to foster a diverse community of students, faculty, staff and alumni who model inclusion and acceptance in our educational setting, and who demonstrate respect for each individual’s cultural history, experiences, traits, and characteristics. Members of the committee include department faculty, staff, and students who work together to promote education, awareness, and inclusion in the following areas:
- Faculty/staff education and training
- Student education and training
- Department celebrations and activities
- Community Outreach
- Alumni Outreach
Curriculum Diversity Statement
Scholarships
Diversity Scholarship
This award recognizes a student who demonstrates leadership potential and commitment to promoting diversity, tolerance, inclusion and belonging within the Department of Physical Therapy & Human Movement Sciences. The recipient should strive to promote outreach and service to the community through a focus on underserved communities, social justice and health disparities.
Robert Babbs, Jr. PT Diversity Scholarship
The Robert Babbs, Jr. Diversity Scholarship was established in 2020 and is awarded to one incoming student who demonstrates commitment to diversity and inclusion and a vision for leadership in this area of physical therapy.
Check out our Tuition & Scholarship page for more information.
Community Partnerships
My Block, My Hood, My City (MBMHMC) Explorers Program
Malcolm X Community College Partnership: The Art and Science of Human Movement from a PT Perspective
