NYMC > School of Health Sciences and Practice (SHSP) > SHSP Academics > Degrees > Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) > Clinical Sites

D.P.T. Clinical Sites

  DPT Clinical Sites
  Click the photo to view a map of the D.P.T Clinical Sites


In our physical therapy program, clinical preparation begins in your very first term. 

  • You will learn Anatomy and Physiology from the same faculty who teach NYMC’s medical students, using the same state-of-the-art lab and facilities.
  • You will enroll in a professional practice series course which, along with group dynamics and historical and contemporary aspects of physical therapy, will teach you professional behaviors of the discipline.
  • Our problem-based learning curriculum will help you develop flexible learning strategies, effective problem solving skills, and effective collaboration skills.  You will learn how to identify what you already know, determine what you need to know, and figure out how and where to access new information to lead to resolution.

Dr. Sonia "Nikki" Gawronski, Director of Clinical Education for the P.T. program, will meet with you to discuss the components of clinical education, clinical placements and which practice areas interest you.

Throughout your first year in the program, Dr. Gawronski and our P.T. faculty will provide guidance as you explore the many pathways within the discipline of physical therapy.

  • You will learn about the role and responsibilities of a physical therapist in a multi-disciplinary team of health professionals.
  • You will become acquainted with the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and how it will affect your patients and your practice.
  • You will engage in a guided self-assessment to highlight the strengths and challenges you will bring to clinical practice, and to clarify your goals and objectives.
  • With your classmates, you will visit first-class facilities such as the Helen Hayes Hospital, one of the country's first free-standing physical rehabilitation hospitals, and the VA Medical Center in the Bronx.

Our faculty is committed to preparing you to engage fully in these clinical experiences.

  • Role playing with faculty and colleagues will help you learn what to ask – and how to understand the answers you receive.
  • Videotape facilities available in our clinical skills lab will allow you to see yourself in action – and receive feedback from colleagues and faculty to improve your clinical performance.
  • Online discussions during clinical rotations, facilitated by Dr. Lavinder, provide an opportunity to: confer with your fellow students on specific topics related to patient care; explore clinical strategies; and celebrate your successes. 

We partner with a variety of clinical environments to ensure that your hands-on experiences include patients from diverse backgrounds, who present many different health conditions.

  • You will engage in four full-time clinical affiliations that integrate the science and theory of physical therapy with clinical practice.
  • You will have the opportunity to practice in a wide variety of healthcare settings locally and scattered throughout the United States under the guidance and supervision of experienced practicing therapists.
  • If you choose, you may participate in projects with collegiate dancers, physical therapists in school settings, and disabled athletes involved in road racing, made possible through our close ties with Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, The Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, and The Achilles Track Club.

All of this hard work pays off.  For the past two years, our graduates have achieved a 100% first-time passing rate on the national licensure exam. And, because they are so well trained, our students have great success in finding and keeping satisfying positions in physical therapy.