Kathleen O. Doherty, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Northwestern Medical GroupPrimary Specialty
Occupational/Physical Therapy
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Education
- Professional Education:
-
DPT, Washington University School of Medicine - 2021
Practice Groups and Affiliations
- Medical Group:
- Northwestern Medical Group
Ratings and Reviews
At Northwestern Medicine, our patient’s feedback is important to us. While different care providers have their own unique strengths, we strive to be as transparent as possible with our quality of care.
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160 Ratings
Reviews from Patients
Reviews from Patients
November 29, 2025
5.0 star star star star starI sought physical therapy at the Women's Integrated Health Program, after having surgery for multiple repairs of the pelvic area. My pelvic floor was weak, and I had pain for multiple reasons. In addition, these deficiencies were exacerbated by my osteoporosis of my hips and spine. At each session Kathleen explains to me what is the medical issues contributing to my problem area so that I can understand, what specifically is causing the pain, and how she will work with me towards alleviating the pain and make my pelvic area stronger. Her explanations include multiple learning modes so I am able to understand the structure and function of the areas we work on. I see progress, and any time roadblocks arise she addresses them pulling me in to ensure I understand my plan's revisions and next steps. Most recently she has written a summative explanation of my physical therapy program so that the orthopedic specialist evaluating me would better understand the many facets of my treatment plan under Kathleen as well as how my medical treatment for my osteoporosis is a part of my ongoing medical plan. My physical therapy continues to be a lot of hard work but it is helping me *reduce my areas of pelvic pain, *increase my strength of my pelvis area, *increase my mobility, and has addressed the urologist/gynecology issues I had when I first sought therapy. Additionally, most recently I had a Dexa Scan. I learned that my test results showed substantial increases in my bone density of my hips and spine. I believe the treatment plan of exercises Kathleen continues to design to uniquely address my pelvic floor weaknesses has supported these test results. When I learned about my results last week, I was so thankful to have her as my physical therapist.
October 21, 2025
5.0 star star star star starI've only had a couple of sessions so far, but I'm already really impressed. Kathleen is attentive, professional, and most importantly makes me feel comfortable. Looking forward to more sessions and a full recovery.
August 27, 2025
5.0 star star star star starI am a different person because of my physical therapist, Kathleen Doherty. She completely helped me understand the amount of water my body needs to have normal bladder and bowel movements. This has also affected the successful use of wearing my pessary. Likewise I am now doing fun outings with my family again because I trust in my bladder control. Ms. Doherty designs weekly exercises that she teaches me and I work on at home to stretch, strengthen, and massage, to increase the blood flow, specific muscle groups that are painful and/or strained. She treats these muscles and tendons or scar tissue in my weekly sessions with deep tissue massage, dry needling, and a myriad of intentional exercise that directly treat the unique weaknesses and needs. She is so professional and extraordinary in her knowledge of pelvic floor disorders and orthopedics. When I recently was sent to an orthopedic specialist she helped in my recovery because she knew exactly how to provide deep tissue massage therapy and dry needling so that I could walk again and resume my treatment of my pelvic floor treatments. She helped me understand why all my pelvic straining and tightness led to three hernia repair surgeries. I am still in PT but I know I am receiving the best treatment I could have by the best physical therapist I could have. I am thankful for all her infinite knowledge, professionalism and passion she has when doing her work. I am thankful that she takes the time to share this knowledge with me. Because of this I understand my treatment and am able to ask her any questions I have to follow through and support myself as well.
June 27, 2025
5.0 star star star star starKathleen is the bomb. She has been incredibly knowledgeable, helpful, and professional throughout my care and has really taught me a lot about postpartum, my body, and caring for myself. I've gotten a lot stronger and seen results. In addition, as other physical issues have come up throughout my course of treatment, Kathleen has been flexible in helping me address those and work through them. She is compassionate, personable, and is also absolutely hilarious.
June 11, 2025
5.0 star star star star starMy therapist, Ms. Doherty, is an exceptional PT therapist. She talked with me and asked me questions to help her understand what I've been experiencing. With each weakness and struggle I have been experiencing with she shared actions I could take that would help me, and they did! I am breathing differently which has helped my tightness and discomfort. But it has also impacted other areas that I was struggling with. She explained to me the importance of good hydration in so many areas of my body's functions and after making sure to drink as she was guiding me to do, again so many areas of my body's functions are working so much better. She explained my struggles to me so I could understand how I could impact and help my self, and she also reassured me that she would help me with anything that I had questions about or anything that seemed like I wasn't able to apply. She talked with me about how we were going to work together in my PT sessions, and then also helped me to understand how other medical issues I was having could be address by others on my care team. Which I reached out and feel good about that. I went to PT and felt like my body might be broken beyond repair, and after one session, I don't feel broken any more. I feel I'm working toward recovery with a lot of exceptional support and guidance.
May 23, 2025
5.0 star star star star starShe is professional and receptive to any questions, concerns, and problems and will share and//or advise methods that help. If medication affects the procedures negatively, she will contact the provider regarding the prescribed medication.
May 01, 2025
5.0 star star star star starK. Doherty addressed all issues necessary for us to have an extremely beneficial relationship, if we proceed past next appointment, another informational meeting. She explained the importance of: appt. continuity, determining musculoskeletal vs. nerve 'causation the homework to determine habits + environmental influences.
Disclosures
Kathleen O. Doherty, PT, DPT reported no external professional relationships for calendar year 2025.
External Professional Relationships
Pharmaceutical, device, and biotechnology companies frequently collaborate with basic scientists and physicians within an academic medical center to help advance science and improve patient care. These relationships are important in achieving scientific breakthroughs and in establishing the effectiveness and safety of promising new therapies. In order to assure objectivity in clinical research and patient care, the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (Feinberg), Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, Children's Hospital of Chicago Medical Center, and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab have adopted integrity policies that require research and clinical faculty (in full-time, part-time, and unpaid/voluntary categories) to report compensated and uncompensated external industry relationships. Patients are encouraged to discuss these disclosures with their physician as well as to inquire as to how these relationships are overseen by Feinberg. To learn more about our Disclosure and Professional Integrity Policy, and the conflict of interest policies of our joint affiliate survey partners, please go to our Office for Regulatory Affairs Policies page.
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