Kelly Krese, PT, D.P.T., NCS

Dr. Kelly Krese is an Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Midwestern University in Illinois. She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2015. She is a Board-Certified Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy and continues to practice clinically alongside her academic role. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Dr. Krese has extensive clinical experience working with neurologic populations in the acute inpatient rehabilitation setting at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, with a primary focus on individuals with traumatic brain injury and stroke. Her research focuses on combining noninvasive brain stimulation with rehabilitation interventions, including yoga-based exercise groups tailored to individuals with traumatic brain injuries and chronic pain.

Her professional roles have also included serving as a peer reviewer for scientific journals and engaging as a consultant educator for Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s Global Affiliate Program, supporting international partners in strengthening evidence-based, interdisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation practices for complex neurologic populations.

Dr. Krese’s career has been consistently grounded in her passion for teaching and mentoring. She was an adjunct faculty member in the DPT programs at Northwestern University and University of Illinois-Chicago and has delivered continuing education courses to national and international audiences. Her DPT teaching philosophy emphasizes the development of evidence-based clinical reasoning skills and cultivating a growth mindset.