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.