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Senior Athletic Trainer - Rehab Coordinator Evanston Full time Days

Northwestern Medicine · Evanston, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Oct 5, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a clinical specialization or advanced training you've completed.

What they are checking: Whether they hold the recognized specialization the posting expects.

Tell me about a time you made a hard call that someone disagreed with.

What they are checking: Whether they stand by sound clinical judgment under pressure.

What would you do

A coach wants an athlete back for a big game, but your testing says no. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they protect the athlete and communicate firmly with coaches and families.

As a senior trainer, how would you supervise and develop other athletic trainers?

What they are checking: Whether they can lead clinically and raise the skill of the team.

How do you keep an athlete motivated during a long rehab?

What they are checking: Whether they address the mental side of recovery and adherence.

About the work

Walk me through how you decide an athlete is ready to return to play after an ACL reconstruction.

What they are checking: Whether they use objective criteria and protocol, not just time or pressure.

How do you coordinate care across the physician, physical therapist and athlete in a sports medicine department?

What they are checking: Whether they can run a care plan across several providers, as the coordinator role requires.

When would you refer an athlete to an outside specialist?

What they are checking: Whether they know their limits and make timely referrals.

Walk me through your evaluation of an acute ankle sprain on the sideline.

What they are checking: Whether they can assess quickly and rule out fractures with sound clinical rules.

How do you document evaluations and return-to-play decisions so they hold up later?

What they are checking: Whether they keep clear records for safety, liability and team communication.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

The Senior Athletic Trainer - Rehab Coordinator reflects the mission, vision, and values of Northwestern Medicine, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. The Senor Athletic Trainer - Rehab Coordinator provides athletic training and/or physical therapy services, as duly licensed, to patients under the direction of a physician and reports directly through the Athletic Training Services Supervisor to the Director of Athletic Training Services. This position is a recognized clinical specialist in athletic training and/or physical therapy practice within rehabilitation and coordinates the care for patients within the sports medicine department, including but not limited to clinical supervision of patient rehabilitation, performing evaluations, administering treatment and rehabilitation, making referrals to external clinicians, and making athletic participation and return to play decisions as appropriate and in accordance with established departmental protocol. Description • Patient Care • Provides athletic training and/or physical therpay services, as duly licensed, to patients under the direction of a physician • Possesses and maintains a recognized clinical specialization, or equivalent training or experience, in the specific focus of rehabilitation within athletic training or physical therapy • Creates and maintains a complete medical record • Evaluates, manages, and rehabilitates acute injuries and medical conditions • Provides ongoing care, maintenance, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions as indicated • Designates specific clinical time to collaborate with or supervise colleagues’ rehabilitation of patients’ injuries and/or illnesses • Provides emergency management, communication, and medical care through the creation and execution of emergency action plans • Determines participation status and executes with the unchallengeable authority to return and/or remove a patient to/from participation • Refers to internal and external specialists and sub-specialists as indicated • Provides coverage of athletic practices and competitions, which may include travel and non-traditional hours during mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays • Coordinates and/or completes components of pre-participation screening and physical examinations • Creates and executes an annual continuing education plan consistent with established guidelines to maintain professional licensure and certification • Communicates appropriate information regarding patient health and participation status across multidisciplinary and high-performance team members, including but not limited to, team physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists, athletics administration, coaches, academic support services, performance nutrition, sports performance, sports psychology and equipment staffs • Precepts professional and post-professional education of learners in programs including, but not limited to, athletic training, physical therapy, and medical education • Coordinates physician clinical visits, medical testing, and follow up care, including but not limited to, obtaining relevant patient history, obtaining vital signs and ECG, performing point of care testing, coordinating diagnostic imaging, and fitting durable medical equipment • Measures, evaluates, and interprets metrics of sports performance and sports science • Delivers educational materials to various stakeholders, including but not limited to, patients, coaches, parents, and administrators • Ensures patient’s rights by maintaining confidentiality and privacy during care. • Demonstrates patient centered care and excellent customer service in accordance with NM’s Patients First values. • Administrative • Develops and executes administrative duties as assigned and in compliance with departmental, university, athletic conference, and NCAA policy • Participates in development and execution of departmental policies and procedures within the specific focus of rehablitation • Completes quality improvement initiatives across the department within the specific focus of rehabilitation • Participates in program and departmental strategic planning • Develops and completes annual departmental and personal goals • Maintains, orders, and appropriately dispenses or administers medical supplies inventory, including but not limited to, durable medical equipment, therapeutic agents, and over the counter and prescription medication • Measures the effectiveness of clinical practice through various metrics, including but not limited to, patient rated outcome measures, patient satisfaction questionnaires, and functional assessments • Analyzes performance metrics and injury risk/rate trends to develop and execute programming adjustments as indicated • Participates in scholarly activities including, but not limited to, professional presentations, research, professional service opportunities, and quality improvement projects • Possess knowledge of and ensures compliance with rules and regulations governing or directing patient care and administrative tasks related to assigned duties and/or patient panel • Performs other clinical and administrative duties as assigned Required : • Current BOC Inc. certification as an Athletic Trainer • Licensed Athletic Trainer through IDFPR • Master’s degree in Athletic Training (if graduated after July 1st, 2020) • Bachelor’s degree (if graduated before July 1st, 2020) • Credentialing that signifies advanced practice, the successful completion of an accredited residency or fellowship in athletic training or physical therapy, or equivalent training acquired via work experience and/or education • 1-2 years of previous job-related experience Preferred : • Doctoral degree • Licensed Physical Therapist through IDFPR • 3-5 years of previous job-related experience Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception : New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.

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