Alumni

The Northwestern University Physical Therapy Alumni Association facilitates a collegial relationship among our physical therapy graduates and promotes continued interest in, communication with and support of physical therapy education programs at Northwestern University. Learn more about our work and get in touch.

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Virtual Heart-to-Hearts Program

Virtual Heart to Hearts Logo
The popular new Virtual Heart-to-Hearts program connects alumni with our current PT students who are seeking to learn from alumni about their path and career, post-graduate training (residency and fellowships), strategies for interviewing, work/life balance, and much more. By finding time for a 15-30 minute chat, you can make a meaningful difference to a future PT, as well as learn about our students and the current state of your alma mater.
 
Please consider signing up for our new program. There is no hard time commitment, and we welcome any feedback you may have. Please send any thoughts, ideas, or questions to Vic Maurer (victor.maurer@northwestern.edu).

Alumni Weekend

Alumni Weekend is back and better than ever! Join us this Spring, April 19-20, 2024 for a weekend of connection, learning, and celebration.

We will have virtual options available for our PTHMS sponsored CEU courses.

For more information about the weekend, please visit our Alumni Weekend page.

REGISTER HERE 

Awards

Celebrate your fellow alumni by sending in a nomination for one of our four annual awards, celebrating achievements in the field, community service and research efforts.

VIEW AWARDS

Alumnus of the Year

Andrea Zujko (Class of ’02)
Pronouns: she/her

Andrea Zujko is this year's recipient of the NUPTHMS Alumnus of the Year Award. Andrea Zujko PT, DPT, OCS, COMT is a licensed and board-certified physical therapist, certified Pilates Instructor, and educator in the Dance Medicine field. Andrea graduated with her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Northwestern University in 2002. Post-graduation, Andrea received her COMT certification from NAIOMT in 2010 and became an Orthopedic Certified Specialist (OCS) through ABPTS in 2013. 

In 2002, Andrea joined Westside Dance Physical Therapy (WSDPT) where she is currently a senior physical therapist and the clinic manager of the practice. As part of her work, Andrea treats dancers with the New York City Ballet and the School of American Ballet. 

In 2012, Andrea became an adjunct professor and onsite PT with the Tisch School of the Arts Dance Department at NYU. In addition to providing onsite PT care and Pilates instruction, Andrea is currently teaching functional anatomy classes to the BFA dance majors. 

Since 2008, Andrea started teaching continuing education coursework through her involvement with WSDPT’s Dance Medicine Practicum. In 2018, she was recruited by Johns Hopkins Hospital to teach this program as part of the didactic portion of their Performing Arts Fellowship Program as well as a continuing education offering to healthcare professionals. In 2020, she decided to create the Dance Medicine Education Initiative, a new collaborative and comprehensive education company devoted to the assessment and treatment of dancers' bodies. 

Young Alumnus of the Year

Meghan Lamothe (Class of '17)
Pronouns: she/her

Meghan Lamothe is this year's recipient of the NUPTHMS Young Alumnus of the Year Award. Meghan currently works as a Clinical Specialist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. She is Coordinator, Faculty, & Mentor in the HSS Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program and also coordinates the HSS Rehab Concussion Program. She completed an Orthopedic Residency at USC in 2018 after graduating from NUPT in 2017. 

Donna Frownfelter Community Service Award

LCDR Lee Ryder (Class of ’18)
Pronouns: they/them 

Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Lee Ryder is the recipient of the Donna Frownfelter Community Service Award. Lee Ryder, PT, DPT, is a physical therapist and Board-Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist. Lee enjoyed five years serving as a clinical physical therapist with the Indian Health Service in Arizona, and now works as a Public Health Analyst with the Health Resources and Services Administration in Chicago, IL. Lee received their Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Loyola University Chicago in 2015, their Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Northwestern University in 2018, and is currently pursuing their Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Health Behavior Health Promotion from the University of Arizona. Aside from their clinical experience, they serve as an advocate and educator for topics related to LGBTQ+ and gender-inclusive healthcare. Lee is a self-described quirky Leo, amateur guitarist, and lover of ice cream and pizza. In their free time, you’ll find them enjoying the outdoors, exploring local happy hour deals, and spending time with their wife Cassandra and puppies Aspen and Juniper. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Achievement Award

Tasha Weatherspoon (Class of ’98)
Pronouns: she/her 

Tasha Weatherspoon is this year's recipient of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Achievement Award. Tasha Weatherspoon, PT, DPT, CERB graduated in 1998 from Northwestern University Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences (NUPTHMS) with a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy. She earned a doctorate degree and a certificate in Rehabilitation Administration from University of Montana in 2022. She has clinical experience in acute care, women's health, outpatient, SNFs, Travel PT, and home health. She has participated as Associated Faculty at NUPTHMS in the following courses: Issues Across the Lifespan, Foundations I & II, Professional Role Development, Prosthetics, and provided Patient Management Field Trips in Home Care Setting. She has written a chapter called Home Care Setting in an e-book by Dr. Carole B. Lewis and others entitled Physical Therapy for the Older Adult. She currently serves as President of the NUPTHMS Alumni Board of Directors. Tasha is also a member of the Editorial Board of Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation. She enjoys participating in numerous career panels to middle and high schoolers to increase awareness about Physical Therapy. 

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Board of Directors

See a list of our current 15 elected members who serve as the official voice of the Northwestern University Physical Therapy Alumni Association.
SEE THE CURRENT BOARD

Newsletter

Sign up to receive our newsletter, share news about your professional and personal pursuits and achievements or get in touch with our board.
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Events

Browse our calendar to see upcoming events and conferences.VIEW CALENDAR

Resources & Quick Links

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