Alumni Awards
The following awards celebrate and recognize the achievements of our distinguished alumni.
To nominate an alumnus for consideration:
- Fill out the award nomination form.
- Share the nominee's curriculum vitae and two letters of recommendations to emily.becker@northwestern.edu.
Current Winner (2025): Tricia Catalino, PT, DSc (Class of ’96)
Award Description: A Physical Therapist who has earned a degree (including certificate, BS, MPT, MS, DPT, PhD, etc.) from Northwestern University Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences and has made and/or continues to make contributions to the profession of Physical Therapy. This may occur in a variety of ways and the nominee may contribute to the physical therapy program by means of:
- Teaching (e.g. guest lecturer, TA, member of panel discussions, etc.)
- Promoting the University program (e.g. liaison for admissions/interviewing potential candidates, assisting at job fairs and/or career nights at area schools)
- Participation in Clinical Education (serving as clinical instructor or CCCE, mentoring students)
- Promoting the Alumni Association (e.g. member of the Board of Directors, class representative, committee member)
- Upholding the values and ideals of NUPTHMS through their contributions to the profession throughout their career
A good candidate will also have made meaningful contributions to the APTA nationally, as well as in their state chapter.
Nominees who promote the NUPT Alumni Association (e.g. member of the Board of Directors, class representative, committee member) or contribute directly to NUPT will be given weighted consideration.
Previous Recipients: 2023: Andrea Zujko ('02), 2022: Jennifer Gilbertson ('87), 2021: David Wessells (’99), 2020: Mark Hunter Hall (’97), 2019: Jean Kestner (’87), 2017: Paula Goga Eppenstein (’92), 2016: Rachel Tappan (’96), 2015: Bill Healey (’93), 2014: Joe Farrell (’76)
Inaugural Winners (2025): Left- Brianna Chesser, PT, MPT, EdD (Class of '00), Right- Brook Orvis, PT, DPT (Class of '18)
Award Description: The Community and Societal Impact Award honors a Northwestern University DPT graduate who has made significant contributions to community health, societal well-being, and advancing equity in rehabilitation and healthcare access. This award recognizes individuals who demonstrate leadership in service, advocacy, mentorship, and research, working to create sustainable and meaningful change in their communities and the profession.
Eligible nominees will have demonstrated outstanding contributions in one or more of the following areas:
- Public Health & Community Outreach- Creating initiatives that improve health education, rehabilitation awareness, and patient care access in underserved or marginalized populations.
- Health Equity & Access Expansion- Advocating for equity in healthcare policies, rehabilitation services, and professional workforce in physical therapy.
- Service to Underserved Populations- Engaging in pro bono services, disaster relief, humanitarian work, or expanding care for vulnerable groups.
- Education & Workforce Development- Mentoring and training students, clinicians, and faculty to advance health equity practices.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration for Societal Impact- Partnering with healthcare systems, public health organizations, and policymakers to address barriers to rehabilitation and wellness.
Why this award matters: it recognizes leaders who use their expertise in physical therapy to make a lasting impact on communities, healthcare systems, and public policy.
We would like to recognize previous recipients of two former awards that have been combined to create the Community & Societal Impact Award: 2023: Lee Ryder ('18), Tasha Weatherspoon ('98), 2022: Dawn Brown ('99), 2021: Karin Schumacher (’73), 2020: Patsy Lawton (’64), 2019: Rick Schurman (’77), 2018: Jennifer Henry (’05), 2017: Nate Coomer (’06), 2016: Susan Davis (’77), 2015: Toni Sander (’87), 2014: Demetra John (’77)
Current Winner: Donna Frownfelter, PT, DPT, RRT, MA, FAPTA
Full Description: The Distinguished Alum Award is offered from the Department of Physical Therapy & Human Movement Sciences and NU Physical Therapy Alumni Association to recognize an individual who has exhibited outstanding leadership and/or impact on the physical therapy profession throughout his or her career as shown by contributions to and/or promotion of PTHMS in scholarship, teaching, administration, or service. This individual is a physical therapist who has earned a degree (including certificate, BS, MPT, MS, DPT, PhD, etc.) from Northwestern University.
Previous Recipients: Robert Babbs, Jr., Sally C. Edelsberg, Joe Farrell, Marilyn Holt, Mark Kaufman
Current Winner (2025): Ryan Pelo (Class of '10)
Award Description: A Physical Therapist who has earned a degree (including certificate, BS, MPT, MS, DPT, PhD, etc.) from Northwestern University Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences and has made and/or continues to make contributions to the program in the area of research. The research, past or present, can be conducted at Northwestern or through an employer, professional organization (e.g. IPTA/APTA, etc.), or other educational institution(s). The nature and content of the research should improve the profession as a whole by contributing objective measurement and sound reasoning to the practice of Physical Therapy.
Previous Recipients: 2022: Jonathan Tsay ('18), 2021: Margaret Danilovich (’07), 2020: Jane Sulllivan (’81), 2019: Karen Mueller (’87), 2017: Marcie Harris Hayes (’86), 2016: Dr. Mary Massery (’77), 2015: Lois Hedman (’87), 2014: Alison Chang (’96)
Current Winner (2025): Renzo Mendoza, PT, DPT (Class of ’18)
Award Description: A Physical Therapist who has earned a degree (including certificate, BS, MPT, MS, DPT, PhD, etc.) from Northwestern University Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences within the past 10 years and has made and/or continues to make contributions to the profession of Physical Therapy. This may occur in a variety of ways. The nominee may contribute to a Physical Therapy program by means of:
- Teaching (e.g. guest lecturer, TA, member of panel discussions, etc.)
- Promoting the University program (e.g. liaison for admissions/interviewing potential candidates, assisting at job fairs and/or career nights at area schools)
- Participation in Clinical Education (e.g. serving as clinical education (e.g. serving as clinical instructor or CCCE, mentoring students).
A good candidate will also have made meaningful contributions to the APTA nationally, as well as in their state chapter.
Nominees who promote the NUPT Alumni Association (e.g. member of the Board of Directors, class representative, committee member) or contribute directly to NUPT will be given weighted consideration.
Previous Recipients: 2023: Meghan Lamothe ('17), 2022: Kristen Tinlin (’13), 2021: Colleen Ward (’15), 2020: Amanda Greene (’09), 2019: Mary Kate Casey (’13), 2018: Natalie Look Reed (’08), 2017: Laura Miller McPherson (’12), 2016: Dr. Justin Lantz (’12), 2015: Lindsey Plass (’12), 2014: Kristin Liebl (’08)
Robert Babbs, Jr., a 1957 Northwestern University physical therapy graduate, has significantly impacted the profession locally, nationally and globally. As an exceptional leader and mentor, he's influenced hundreds of colleagues throughout his career, earning recognition through APTA's Hall of Fame award, IPTA's Outstanding Physical Therapy award and Northwestern's Alumnus of the Year.
Sally C. Edelsberg, PT, MS, FAPTA, directed Northwestern University's physical therapy programs from 1972 to 1999, demonstrating exceptional leadership with a commitment to making physical therapy education accessible regardless of students' financial circumstances.