Discover Kenneth’s career journey to a physical therapist at Northwell Health

May 27, 2026/in Rehabilitation Services /by sgreer2

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Discover Kenneth’s career journey to a physical therapist at Northwell Health

Kenneth Connolly’s career at Northwell Health illustrates how passion, persistence, and a supportive environment can help shape a meaningful career path. Now as a physical therapist (PT), neurologic clinical specialist at Northwell’s STARS Rehabilitation in East Meadow, NY — Kenneth has continued to grow by embracing opportunities to learn, connect, and make a difference for our rehab patients with complex neurological conditions.

Kenneth was in the physical therapy program at a local college when he began his journey with Northwell. In 2020, he began his clinical rotations at Northwell, which are part of his graduation requirements. It was during this experience working with patients facing life-changing conditions that Kenneth realized that neurological physical therapy was exactly where he belonged. This further reinforced his desire to pursue a career focused on helping individuals regain independence and improve their quality of life.

Determined to turn that passion into a career, Kenneth joined Northwell in January 2021 as a per diem therapist across multiple STARS locations. Through dedication to refining his craft, he grew to expand his role within the organization—first becoming a full-time floater PT, before transitioning to a full-time staff physical therapist at STARS Rehab East Meadow in 2022.

Northwell played an important role in supporting Kenneth’s development along the way. Through continuing education courses and professional resources, he was able to attend specialized seminars focused on treating complex neurological diagnoses, including spinal cord injuries. This helped him reach a significant milestone in his professional growth when he earned his neurologic clinical specialist certification in 2024, further advancing his clinical expertise.

Today, Kenneth serves as a clinical specialist PT at STARS, where he continues to build on both his technical skills and relationships with patients and colleagues within the clinic. For him, one of the most rewarding aspects of his role is the sense of community that defines the STARS environment.

“There is always a coworker ready to offer support or advice about challenges I am facing with a case,” he shared. “The patients also rally around one another to provide support to each other at the clinic, and it feels like one big family.”

A defining moment in Kenneth’s career came from a conversation with a patient who shared that she missed bowling after sustaining a spinal cord injury. Wanting to help her reconnect with something she loved, Kenneth helped create the “Bowling with the STARS” fundraising event — an initiative that brought together individuals of all abilities, raised funds for treatment research and allowed participants to experience something many thought was no longer possible. For Kenneth, seeing the excitement and confidence in those moments was unforgettable. “The look of joy on the patients’ faces when they realized they could play was beyond rewarding,” he said.

Discover a career well cared for in rehabilitation services. Learn more about opportunities with Northwell Health today.

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Explore two different career paths beginning as a nurse extern at Northwell Health.

May 14, 2026/in Career Paths, Nursing /by ezumbach

Explore two different career paths beginning as a nurse extern at Northwell Health.

At Northwell, we are committed to providing tools, resources and opportunities to our team members who wish to learn and grow within our organization. Our nurses are encouraged to continue learning to expand their skills with through our accredited nurse residency program, fellowships, and with continued education through our tuition reimbursement and scholarship opportunities.

Ready to explore a career in nursing at Northwell? Below, see how John and Nancy started as nurse externs and took different paths to learn and grow as part of our nursing team. Their inspiring career journeys demonstrate the many career opportunities in nursing within Northwell.

For the complete job profiles of each role, we invite you to visit NorthwellCareers.com or learn more about our available nursing opportunities here.

John

2010 – Summer Nurse Extern, North Shore University Hospital
2011 – Registered Nurse, Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit, North Shore University Hospital
2014 – Assistant Nurse Manager, Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit, North Shore University Hospital
2016 – Assistant Nurse Manager, Pre-Op and Recovery Room, Syosset Hospital
2017 – Nurse Manager, Pre-Op and Recovery Room, Syosset Hospital
2021 – Nurse Manager, Pre-Op and Recovery Room and Ophthalmology, Syosset Hospital
2022 – Nurse Manager, Pre-Op and Recovery Room, Ophthalmology and Pain Management, Syosset Hospital
Current position – Director, Perioperative Services, Syosset Hospital

Nancy

1984 – Nurse Extern, Staten Island University Hospital
1985 – Licensed Practical Nurse, Float Team, Staten Island University Hospital
1986 – Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Staten Island University Hospital
2008 – Assistant Nurse Manager, PACU North, Staten Island University Hospital
2019 – Assistant Nurse Manager, Vent Unit, Staten Island University Hospital
2021 – Interim Nurse Manager of CEU, Staten Island University Hospital
Current position – Nurse Manager of CEU, Staten Island University Hospital

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Mentorship, desired career growth, and making a difference: Meet Christopher, emergency department registered nurse

May 05, 2026/in Career Paths, Featured Articles, Nursing /by mperlman

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Mentorship, desired career growth, and making a difference: Meet Christopher, emergency department registered nurse

At Northwell Health, our nursing team members demonstrate compassionate care for our patients every day. We foster our nurses’ professional journeys by offering educational opportunities and work experience to help them gain new skills and refine their expertise for continued success. Read on to learn more about Christopher, one of our dedicated registered nurses (RNs) at Northwell’s Mather Hospital.

Christopher began his career with Northwell in 2024 as an emergency department registered nurse (ED RN) and currently works in this role. He serves as a relief charge nurse and preceptor while also supporting the needs of his team at Mather Hospital’s new state-of-the-art emergency department. Christopher oversees operations on the night shift by managing patient flow, allocating resources, coordinating team members and addressing patient experience issues or concerns. He also oversees crisis response, facilitates communication within the department and upholds patient safety and quality standards with the goal of providing high-quality patient care.

As one of our many Truly Ambitious ED RNs, Christopher believes that Northwell has invested in his professional development through support from his leaders and mentorship opportunities. “I love the flexibility and the support that I receive from my team, and I am grateful that Northwell provides me with more opportunities to grow my career,” shared Christopher. As Christopher’s leaders have provided him with mentorship and opportunities to expand upon his current role, they also encouraged him to return to school for his master’s degree. With the help of Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program, Christopher will start classes this fall toward his degree in strategic hospital management.

Christopher’s team at Mather Hospital gives him the confidence and support he needs to take on new challenges and explore leadership opportunities within his role. “At Northwell, we can make a real difference in the lives of our patients, and that is incredibly fulfilling.”

Discover a career well cared for in nursing with Northwell today.

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