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Director of Clinical Education/Assistant Professor
Midwestern University-Glendale
Dr. Rita Ator is the Director of Clinical Education and an Assistant Professor within the DPT program at Midwestern University. She is also a PRN physical therapist for Purposefully Home home health care. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Illinois, Chicago in 1987. She received her transitional doctorate in Physical Therapy from Evidence in Motion in 2011. Additionally, she holds a certification in Athletic training for which she received her training at Eastern Illinois University with completion in 1985. She is currently accepted into the dual degree program at the University of Indianapolis for a Master’s in Aging Studies and Doctor of Health Science. Dr. Ator has worked primarily in outpatient orthopedics for 33 years, in home health physical therapy for 20 years, and in a subspecialty area of lymphedema for more than 20 years. She has been a clinical instructor for over 30 years, served as adjunct and guest faculty in the athletic training curriculum at North Central College for 20 years, and has lectured on a variety of orthopedic-related topics. She has served as facilitator and examiner for the athletic training certification from 1990 until its reorganization in early 2000s. Dr. Ator is a board-certified specialist in orthopedics, certified in manual therapy through IAMT, is dry needling certified, a certified Cancer Exercise Trainer through the American Academy of Sportsmedicine, and a certified Holistic Certified Manual Lymphedema practitioner. Rita is active in the American Physical Therapy Association and a Red Cross and American Cancer Society volunteer. Additionally, Rita is an avid hiker, walker/runner, and participates in multiple book clubs and studies.