Advising and Mentorship

Doctor of Physical Therapy Students at Northwestern University have multiple avenues for professional development beyond the classroom and clinic. Students receive advising and mentorship in two formalized programs: STRIDE and ROADMAP and one informal program: Peer to Peer mentors. Each program has a different structure and emphasis, offering students opportunities to connect and grow with faculty, alumni, and each other.

The STRIDE program focuses on advising, goal setting, and self-reflection to help students navigate their academic and professional journeys. ROADMAP provides mentorship through a structured framework for students to enhance their skills with hands-on experiences, networking opportunities, and career guidance. The Peer-to-Peer Mentorship program links upperclassmen with incoming students to assist with the transition into and through graduate school. All three programs aim to foster a supportive and enriching environment where students can explore their interests, gain valuable insights, and build meaningful connections with professionals in the field of physical therapy. These programs not only complement the academic curriculum but also provide a holistic approach to professional development, preparing the next generation of skilled and compassionate physical therapists.

Advising and Mentorship Programs

Peer to Peer Mentorship Program

Each incoming DPT student is thoughtfully paired with a second-year student mentor who offers support, advice, and encouragement before matriculation as well as throughout the DPT program. Regular meetings and informal check-ins ensure that each mentee receives consistent and personalized guidance, creating a solid foundation for success and professional growth. Having recently gone through similar challenges, peer mentors offer valuable insights, practical tips, and a listening ear. They assist with everything from understanding course material, managing time effectively, adjusting to the program's demands, and finding a healthy school-life balance. This mentorship program fosters a supportive community, helping new students feel more connected and confident as they embark on physical therapy school and the PT profession.

Advisement Groups in DPT Education (STRIDE)

DPT Students participate in small teams, each matched with three faculty advisors. The purposes of STRIDE include the following:

To provide support to students by fostering collegial relationships with peers and faculty
To facilitate reflection
To help students identify and achieve their professional goals
To cultivate a sense of belonging

STRIDE teams start during orientation and meet approximately two times each term during the first and second year of the DPT program.

Professional Development and Mentorship Program (ROADMAP)

In ROADMAP, DPT classes are organized into four groups, with each group being assigned an alumni to serve as a mentor. ROADMAP mentors meet with students once per month, focusing on various topics of professional interest, such as career development, industry insights, and skill enhancement. Additionally, these meetings foster connections and relationship-building among the students and alumni, thus facilitating the exchange of valuable perspectives to guide professional growth.

Current ROADMAP Mentors

Listed By Our Classes' Graduation Year

2027

Mary Cheng

Mary Noreen Cheng received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Michigan and pursued her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Northwestern University. She has been a practicing pediatric physical therapist at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago since her graduation in 2016. Mary went on to become a board-certified specialist in Pediatrics in 2021. Throughout her career, Mary has split time between the acute care setting, primarily treating in the ICUs, and in the ambulatory setting, working with her team to establish the pelvic floor program. Her professional focus is expanding this program, as she has found her passion in helping treat patients with pelvic floor dysfunction. Mary looks forward to seeing the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction expand beyond the current reach, as she finds pelvic health incredibly foundational to healthy development across the lifespan.

Kristen Hadden

Kristen Hadden ’01, PT, DPT, graduated with a BA in Exercise Science from University of Dayton in 1999. She obtained her Masters and shortly afterwards her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University in 2001 and 2002. She has worked at Athletico Physical Therapy since 2000. She has held several different positions starting as a rehab aide in 2000, moving to staff physical therapist in 2002 and has been involved in their Endurance and Performing Arts Programs working with Broadway in Chicago and Hubbard Street Dance Company. She later also transitioned to treating pelvic floor and pre/post-natal conditions and has been a mentor in the CI and OCS certification program through EIM. She held a clinic manager position for seven years in Bucktown. The last eight years at Athletico, she has transitioned to a non-clinical role supporting and implementing clinical systems promoting functional outcomes and patient satisfaction at Athletico. She enjoys downhill skiing, tennis, coaching her kids sports and any outdoor activity with her kids and husband. She is excited to be a part of RoadMap as she enjoys mentoring and supporting physical therapists in their professional growth.

Ginny Ngo

Ginny Ngo, PT, DPT, CLT was a professional contemporary ballet dancer in Chicago, IL before graduating from Northwestern University with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2022. She is currently completing the Women’s Health Physical Therapy Residency Program at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) where she became a certified lymphedema therapist and specialized in the treatment of all pelvic floor conditions for all genders. Her clinical interests include helping athletes and active individuals with pelvic floor dysfunction return to exercise and sport. Ginny discovered her passion for mentoring during her experiences lecturing and lab assisting the DPT students at WashU. She enjoys helping learners develop their confidence and explore their interests in the multifaceted field of physical therapy. She is excited to work with the budding physical therapists at her alma mater.

Keyra Thurn

Keyra Thurn '18, PT, DPT, OCS, CMTPT, graduated from NUPT in 2018 and has been a physical therapist for 4.5 years at Athletico Physical Therapy in Bucktown. She received her distinction as an Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist in 2020 and completed her certification in dry needling in 2021, receiving distinction as a Certified Manual Trigger Point Therapist. In 2022, Keyra was appointed to serve on the NUPT Alumni Board and has enjoyed giving back and getting involved in the NUPT community as an alumnus. Over the past 3 years, Keyra has also served as a clinical instructor, taking on several NUPT students throughout their physical therapy education. She has a passion for teaching and engaging with students which is ultimately what motivated her to participate in the Roadmap program. Mentorship has been an important component of her own career development and she is excited to help students find their passion and develop professionally as they make their way through the NUPT program.

2026

Lindsay Ardiff

Lindsay Ardiff ‘20 is an acute care physical therapist who works at Northwestern Memorial Hospital on the general medicine floors. Lindsay encounters a wide variety of diagnoses and impairments, including amputations, strokes, vestibular disorders, back pain, functional neurologic disorders, cardiovascular disease and more. She also serves as a clinical instructor for DPT students during their clinical rotations at the hospital. Since completing her undergraduate degree in Human Biology and Studio Art from the University of Virginia in 2016, Lindsay has been interested in the social factors related to health and disability. In the year before starting PT school, she worked at a non-profit K-12 school for students with disabilities. Currently, she is participating in the IL LEND program, a leadership development program designed to improve the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities. During her time in PT school, Lindsay was involved in APTA/IPTA, worked as a peer tutor, and completed clinical rotations in St. Louis, Nashville, and Belize. In her spare time, Lindsay enjoys traveling, eating good food, and riding her bike around the city.

Dorine Aziz

Dorine Aziz is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist and works to treat primary and secondary lymphedema in the adult population. Her clinical background is in acute care, wound care, lymphedema and outpatient orthopedics. She initially spent her career in the acute care setting providing care to patient’s with cardiac, neurological, pulmonary, orthopedic, medical surgical, and general medical diagnoses. She also evaluated and treated acute and chronic wounds (venous wounds, arterial wounds, pressure ulcers, necrotizing fasciitis) in the acute setting. She recently made the transition to the outpatient setting treating adolescents and adults with general orthopedic conditions. In addition to being a practicing clinician, she enjoys being a clinical instructor to physical therapy students. She is excited to be a part of RoadMap, as a mentor and having the opportunity to develop relationships to aid in student development.

Courtney Gilbert

Courtney L. Gilbert '18, PT, DPT, attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for her undergraduate degree. She later obtained her doctorate of physical therapy from Northwestern PTHMS in 2018. She then began working in outpatient physical therapy. Courtney is fond of treating the overhead athlete, concussion, vestibular impairments, and sports related injuries. She has also written for magazines such as Rehab Management. She is certified in FMS and an Emergency Medical Responder. Her interests include treating sport related injuries; however, clinically, she has treated patients with various orthopedic and neurologic presentations, not limited to, Parkinsons, CVA, low back pain, radiculopathies, etc. She is currently a full-time therapist and is in the process of becoming AIB-Certified and will be sitting for her SCS exam next year. She is excited to be a mentor for the Roadmap program to bring a diverse perspective and inspiration to future physical therapists and support NUPT students to the finish line.

Malcom White

Malcolm White ’18, PT, DPT, OCS, graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Purdue University – Fort Wayne in 2014. He went on to earn his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University in 2018. Afterwards he completed an orthopedic physical therapy residency at Northwestern University – Shirley Ryan Abilitylab in 2019. He has since been working in outpatient orthopedics at Shirley Ryan Abilitylab for over 5-years. During that time, he has stayed involved with NUPTHMS as a tutor for students in the musculoskeletal coursework, reviewing prospective PT student applications for admissions, and serving as adjunct faculty in the Psychosocial Aspects of Human Behavior I course. Now a Senior II therapist at Shirley Ryan Abilitylab, he leads the organizational healthy equity committee, serves on the I.D.E.A (Inclusion, diversity, equity, action) Council, is leading implementation of blood flow restriction rehabilitation, and engages in research. Clinically, Malcolm enjoys treating overhead athletes, and patients with spinal and knee conditions. He has MDT (mechanical diagnosis and therapy) training and is a certified blood flow restriction rehabilitation provider. He strives to approach clinical care with a mindset of professionalism, compassion, empowerment, and service. In his free time, he enjoys playing baseball, hiking, listening to music, cooking, and spending quality time with friends and family. Malcolm is excited to be a part of the Roadmap mentoring program to aid students gain real-world perspective and facilitate them finding fulfillment in becoming successful professionals.

2025

George Cachares

George Cachares '81, PT, MS, has been working since graduating from NUPT in 1981. His experience ranges from acute care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation, and management in a rehab unit of a large hospital. Most of his time (32 years) has been spent in private practice as an owner and partner. He began with  a focus of outpatient orthopedics and mobility specialists with home health contracting. Seven years ago, he became part of the “FYZICAL” franchise which gave him the ability to become a Level III vestibular therapist, which is extremely rewarding work. He is serving as a board member of NUPTAA and has been a consultant with the PRD III classes over the past 10 years helping third year students develop skills in business plan proposals and presentations. As he reduces some of his clinic commitment,  he has more time to ‘give back’ to the profession via NUPT programming and pro-bono community involvement.  He looks forward to becoming a mentor in the current program and is motivated to give students a glimpse into the ‘real world’ of physical therapy as he has seen it on so many levels.

Cathy Curran

Cathy Curran '15, worked at an outpatient pediatric clinic in the North suburbs of Chicago, treating newborns up to teenagers with various neurologic and orthopedic conditions. Following this experience, Cathy started her own physical therapy business with a focus on outpatient orthopedics. In 2017, Cathy launched ResculPT Physical Therapy and Wellness LLC, partnering with an existing wellness clinic through the sharing of clinic space and patient referrals. The partnership was advantageous, allowing Cathy to grow her network in the local community. However, in 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the community, Cathy identified a need for mobile, concierge physical therapy. Her current practice allows Cathy to treat patients in an environment of their choosing and has also given her the opportunity to again work with the pediatric population, in addition to adults of all ages. Cathy’s clinical experiences during her time in PT school included an outpatient pediatric clinic in Twin Falls, Idaho, an outpatient free clinic in Belize, an acute care rotation in Tucson, Arizona and an outpatient orthopedic clinic here in Chicago. Cathy is excited to be a part of Roadmap because she remembers how valuable it was for her to have access to practicing clinicians during her PT education and she loves to give back in any way that she can.

Hiral Tailor

Hiral was born and raised in Des Plaines, Illinois and attended Elmhurst College for undergraduate training. He completed his Doctor of Physical Therapy at Northwestern University and was the graduating class of 2020. Hiral then pursued his orthopedic physical therapy residency at Saint Louis University-SSM Health Physical Therapy. He worked with Saint Louis University to also obtain his Foundation's Certificate in teaching. As an orthopedic physical therapist, Hiral currently works at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. As an educator, he also teaches remotely for several courses at Saint Louis University's physical therapy program and mentors within the orthopedic physical therapy residency. Hiral loves to spend time with his family and play basketball!