Locations
Board Certified
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Research Interests
Colleen Fitzgerald, MD is currently researching pregnancy-related pain, female pelvic pain and pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.
Clinical Expertise
Colleen Fitzgerald, MD, has expertise providing care to patients with:
Featured Information
Ongoing Research
- BIRCWH – Building Interdisciplinary Careers in Women’s Health K12 HD055884 from the National Institute Of Child Health and Human Development, July 1, 2008-June 30, 2011, Principal Investigator.
- Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Falk Grant, September 1, 2008 – September 1, 2009.
- RIC Inner Strength Initiative, Post-surgical and Postpartum Pelvic Floor Study, Grant Funded by the Evergreen Invitational, Pritzker Foundation, awarded in May 2007, one year funding and May 2008 for year 2. Principal Investigator.
Completed Research
- Musculoskeletal characteristics of female patients with chronic pelvic pain: A blinded case comparison, Grant Funded by American Physical Therapy Association, Section on Women’s Health, awarded in July 2005, one year funding. Co-investigator.
- Urologic Pelvic Pain Collaborative Research Network (UPPCRN) Joint Task Force – NIH – Chronic Pelvic Pain/Interstitial Cystitis with Northwestern Department of Urology- Physical Therapy Pilot, Collaborator, 2006-2007.
Education & Training
Education
- Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois
- Doctor of Medicine, 1992-1996
Residencies
- Northwestern University Medical School/Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
- Resident, 1997-2000
- Northwestern University Medical School, Evanston, Illinois
- Intern, 1996-1997
Awards & Recognition
2008: Featured as a "Top Doc" in the March issue of Chicago Hospital News
2004 - Present: Medical Director, Women's Health Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
2000: Walter E. Heller Fellowship, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
2000: Rehabilitation Services Administration Award
1998: Meyer S. Gunther Award, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
1997: Outstanding Intern of the Year, Evanston Hospital, Evanston, Illinois
Recent or Important Publications
Papers
Tu FF, Holt J, Gonzales J, Fitzgerald CM. Physical therapy evaluation of patients with chronic pelvic pain: a controlled study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Mar; 198(3):272.e1-7.
Tu FF, Fitzgerald CM, Kuiken T, Farrell T, Norman Harden R.Vaginal Pressure-Pain Thresholds: Initial Validation and Reliability Assessment in Healthy Women. Clin J Pain. 2008 Jan; 24(1):45-50.
Tu FF, Fitzgerald CM, Kuiken T, Farrell T, Norman Harden R. Comparative measurement of pelvic floor pain sensitivity in chronic pelvic pain. Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Dec; 110(6):1244-8.
Fitzgerald CM, Le J, Back Pain in Pregnancy Requires Practitioner Creativity BioMechanics Magazine, December 2007.
“Rehabilitation After Total Joint Replacement for Osteoarthritis: an Evidence-Based Approach”, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation State of the Art Reviews, 15:1, VA Brander, C Fitzgerald Mullarkey, SD Stulberg, Feb 2001, p 175-197.
“Rehabilitation After Total Hip Arthroplasty: An Evidence-Based Approach”, Journal of Biomechanics, Vol VII, No 7, VA Brander, C Fitzgerald Mullarkey, LA Brown, SD Stulberg, July 2000, p 67-78.
Book Chapter
Fitzgerald CM, Hynes CK, “Low Back Pain and Pregnancy: Examination and Diagnostic Work-up in the Pregnant Patient” Slipman et al Interventional Spine: an Algorithmic Approach, Saunders, 2008, 1311-18.