Play meets purpose

NIU hosted a free, faculty-supervised camp tailored specifically for autistic children, pairing therapeutic fun with hands-on training for graduate students in speech-language pathology (SLP) and physical therapy (DPT). “Camps like these are necessary because they provide a free opportunity for autistic children

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Student Spotlight: Cassidy Sweeney

NIU student Cassidy Sweeney was awarded the 2024-2025 Midwest Deans Association (MDA) Legacy Scholarship sponsored by the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP). The Legacy Scholarship program was established to honor the legacies of current and former deans and directors of

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NIU hosts summer camp for autistic children

NIU physical therapy and speech-language pathology  students joined forces to create a summer adventure to remember. Over a four-week period in July and August, NIU Health, Wellness and Literacy Center was home to an educational camp that focused on gross motor and

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NIU students join forces for community wellness at WellBatavia Festival

Ten NIU Doctor of Physical Therapy students showcased their dedication to community service and wellness initiatives at the seventh annual WellBatavia Festival on June 8. The festival, which aims to promote health, wellness, and community engagement, offers a variety of activities and

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Huskies participate in National Institutes of Health Science Education Conference

Two NIU students participated in the National Institutes of Health Science Education Conference held in Washington D.C. from May 30 through June 2. Students Trevor Laffin, a first-year student in NIU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, and  Alassane Twillie, a junior studying

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Physical Therapy students engage with the community at local fair

Fifteen students in NIU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program took what they’ve learned in the classroom into the community when they attended the Sycamore Park District Self-Care Fair on Feb. 4 at the Sycamore Park District Community Center. “This was an important

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NIU students learn lesson in Polish language and culture

Faculty and staff from the School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders (AHCD) were treated to a guest speaker when visiting scholar Rafal Mlynski from Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland arrived on campus Sept. 12. Mlynski, a speech-language pathologist who is studying the

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Huskies learn from Huskies

Interdisciplinary instruction and exploration fosters a student’s ability to think critically and tolerate ambiguity.  The School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders (AHCD), with its graduate programs in audiology, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology, is well suited for these learning opportunities. “Interdisciplinary

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Dawn Brown continues to be an agent of change

Dawn Brown Dawn Brown was recently recognized for her passion and ongoing commitment to being an agent for change within the physical therapy profession and higher education. Brown, who earned her bachelor’s and master’s at Northwestern University, was honored by her alma

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Dr. Diane Hillard-Sembell, ’82, reflects on award-winning ortho surgery career

Dr. Diane Hillard-Sembell, ’82, is a senior partner and orthopaedic surgeon at Springfield Clinic in Springfield, Illinois. By the time Diane Hillard-Sembell came to NIU’s campus in 1978, she was already familiar with “The Hard Way.” Growing up in Alexis, Illinois—a small

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