Our Team

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Amy Pawlik, PT, DPT

Co-owner, Physical Therapist

Board-Certified Specialist in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy

Amy is the co-founder of Vitality and is a board certified cardiopulmonary physical therapist. She specializes in rehabilitation of orthopedic, neurological, and cardiovascular conditions. For over a decade, Amy worked as a PT in the ICU at University of Chicago Medical Center. There, she worked in all aspects of PT as she helped patients overcome severe injuries and heal from complex surgeries. Despite the high stress of treating patients in the ICU, Amy’s calm and steady demeanor has always stood out to her patients, who appreciate her pragmatic and empathetic approach to physical therapy.

Amy has an extensive medical background and is an educator at heart. Her work has taken her from teaching and research opportunities in Chicago to lecture and mentoring opportunities nationally and internationally. She also helped build new programs at the University of Chicago from the ground up.

Today, Amy brings her experience and research background to Vitality, where she helps women overcome a wide range of orthopedic, neurological, and cardiovascular conditions. If you’ve experienced an injury or diagnosis that makes movement more difficult or just can’t shake a nagging pain, Amy is your PT.

Why I practice

women’s health physical therapy

I am a natural builder and love the idea of meeting a need that doesn’t exist today. At Vitality, this means understanding the needs of women and addressing those needs in an effective, comprehensive way. It’s been a really powerful experience to see first hand how my work as a physical therapist impacts my patients’ lives for the better. Every step is one we take together and I love the experience of working alongside my patients as they accomplish their goals.   
 
Vitality has given me an incredible opportunity to live a more flexible, focused, and healthy lifestyle, and the feeling of having more control over my life is something I want to give back to every woman who comes to Vitality.

Testimonial

A big thank you to Jennifer and Amy for having the vision to create Vitality Women’s PT & Wellness. Your expertise and advanced training in women’s health is amazing! You truly understand a woman’s body is constantly evolving and the challenges that brings for a busy mom. I greatly appreciate you helping me learn more about pelvic floor health and…

– Anonymous

​Education

  • Doctor of Physical Therapy: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
  • Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science: Truman State University

Board Certification

  • Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy

​Memberships

  • American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
  • APTA Academy of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy
  • APTA Acute Care, an Academy of the American Physical Therapy Association
  • American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Teaching

  • Northwestern Physical Therapy: Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation instructor

Research

  • Hillegass E, Fick A, Pawlik AJ, et al. Supplemental oxygen utilization during physical therapy interventions. Cardiopulm Phys Ther J. 2014;25(2):38-49.
  • Pawlik AJ, Kress JP. Issues affecting the delivery of physical therapy services for individuals with critical illness. Phys Ther. 2013 Feb;93(2):256-65.
  • Pawlik AJ. Early mobilization in the management of critical illness. Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am. 2012 Sep;24(3):481-90.
  • Pohlman MC, Schweickert WD, Pohlman AS, Nigos C, Pawlik AJ, et al. Feasibility of physical and occupational therapy beginning from initiation of mechanical ventilation. Crit Care Med. 2010; 38(11): 2089-94.
  • Schweickert WD, Pohlman MC, Pohlman AS, Nigos C, Pawlik AJ, et al. Physical and occupational therapy in mechanically intubated, critically ill patients: a randomized controlled trial. Lancet. 2009 May 30;373(9678):1874-82.