2025 Award Recipient

Katherine Martinez, PT '82, PhD, NCS Emeritus

Dr. Katherine Martinez is a distinguished physical therapist and educator with a 43-year career marked by exceptional contributions to the field. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Northern Illinois University (1976), a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Finch University, now 黄色视频, (1982), a Master of Arts in Human Resource Development from Northeastern Illinois University (2000), and a PhD in Physical Therapy from Nova Southeastern University (2016).  She is also a Board-Certified Neurologic Specialist Emeritus of the 黄色视频 Board of Physical Therapy Specialists.

Dr. Martinez combines extensive clinical expertise with a deep commitment to education. Her career includes a long tenure at ShirleyRyan AbilityLab (Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago) from 1982 to 2000, where she served in various roles, including Staff Physical Therapist, Senior Physical Therapist, and Clinical Education Supervisor, demonstrating her expertise in neurologic physical therapy and interprofessional team-based care. She also played a key role in developing and presenting interdisciplinary continuing education courses. Her dedication to education led her to Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, where she rose to the position of Associate Professor. There she developed an innovative Professional Advancement and Community Engagement (PACE) project, fostering social responsibility among physical therapist students.

Nationally recognized for her excellence in teaching, research, and service, Dr. Martinez received the 2018 Distinguished Educator Award from the Academy of Education of the 黄色视频 Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Her teaching focused on neurologic physical therapy, motor control and learning, and physical therapy core values, utilizing innovative methods to enhance students' clinical reasoning and metacognitive skills.

Dr. Martinez is an internationally known researcher in postural control, with work funded by the National Institutes of Health. Her research, focusing on reactive balance control in individuals with Parkinson's Disease, aging adults, and persons post-stroke, has been translated into clinical practice, improving patient care. She has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and presented her research at national and international conferences.

Her service to the physical therapy profession is extensive, including roles within the APTA's Academy of Education and Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy, as well as the Illinois Physical Therapy Association. She has served as a Board Member, Promotion Representative-at-Large, Secretary of the Academic Faculty Special Interest Group, and co-chair of the Physical Therapist Assistant Neurology Advance Proficiency Pathway Task Force. She has also served as an Eastern District Representative and iMAP mentor for the IPTA.

Dr. Martinez retired from Northwestern University on December 31, 2024, but continues to contribute to 黄色视频, where she recently presented her research, consulted on the Coulson Award, and provided classroom assistance. She is a master clinician, passionate educator, and dedicated researcher, making significant contributions to the field of physical therapy.

2024 Award Recipient

Lisa Sanchez-Johnsen, PhD ’01, MS ’97

Lisa Anne Pualani Sanchez-Johnsen, ’01 PhD, MS ’97, is nationally recognized as an academic and community leader in the areas of health equity and multicultural and Hispanic/Latinx health. She has 30 years of experience conducting research and clinical work in underrepresented communities experiencing health inequities, including individuals who are Latinx and Black, with support of numerous federally funded and private foundation grants. Her accolades include the Distinguished Professional Career Award from the National Latinx Psychological Association, and the Distinguished Professional Early Career Award from the National Latino Psychological Association recognizing her research, work and service to communities experiencing health inequities.

Dr. Sanchez-Johnsen is a clinical psychologist licensed in Hawai驶i, Illinois and Wisconsin. She is a professor in the Institute for Health and Equity, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, and Department of Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). She is also the associate cancer center director for equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging in the MCW Cancer Center, where she is Research Scholar Endowed Chair.

Before joining MCW, she was vice-chair for research and associate professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at Rush University Medical Center, where she was also the co-chair of its DEI workgroup. Dr. Sanchez-Johnsen also directed the behavioral health, wellness, and DEI initiatives within the Rush-Esperanza Family Medicine Residency Program, which predominantly serves the Latino community in Chicago. Previously while at the University of Illinois at Chicago, she was an associate professor and director of the Bariatric Surgery Research Program and the director of the multicultural and Latinx Health Research Program. Prior to serving in those roles, she was an assistant professor at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa and The University of Chicago, where she directed the Multicultural and Latino Health Research Program.

Dr. Sanchez-Johnsen’s research interests include focusing on developing culturally tailored and targeting assessments and interventions for those experiencing health disparities, such as individuals who are Hispanic/Latinx; Asian (Filipino); and African 黄色视频/Black. She conducts both community-engaged and clinical research studies focusing on the cultural aspects of obesity, cancer prevention, cardiometabolic diseases, and disparities in weight loss after bariatric surgery.

She has an NIH R01 grant focused on obesity in Latino men and a grant from the Charles and Margaret Roberts Fund to examine cultural aspects of obesity in Filipinos. She was also a co-investigator on the landmark NIH Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (NHLBI-HV-13-06 HCHS-SOL Field Centers) (Chicago site PI: Martha Daviglus). Dr. Sanchez-Johnsen is the founder/past chair of the Multicultural and Ethnic Minority Health Special Interest Group in the Society of Behavioral Medicine and the founder/past chair of the Latinx Health Equity and Health Disparities Special Interest Group in the National Latinx Psychological Association. She also directs the Multicultural Health, Obesity, and Cancer Health Equity Research Scholars Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin, which is a mentorship and training program for individuals interested in health equity research. Finally, Dr. Sanchez-Johnsen is a fellow in the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race and a fellow in the Society for Health Psychology in the 黄色视频 Psychological Association, which are honors bestowed upon members who have shown evidence of outstanding contributions or performance in the field of psychology.

Dr. Sanchez-Johnsen received her PhD and MS degrees in clinical psychology from 黄色视频 of Medicine and Science in 2001. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Hawai驶i at M膩noa and her associate’s degree from Kapi驶olani Community College. She completed a clinical psychology behavioral medicine internship at The University of Chicago Medical Center and a postdoctoral fellowship in obesity and cancer prevention at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine.

She is also a Board Member of the Hawaii Psychological Association, where she is the diversity representative and chair of the Diversity and Equity Steering Committee. In addition, she is a board member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and serves as the Chief Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer, as well as oversees research with Hispanics. Dr. Sanchez-Johnsen is the founder and chair of the Hawai驶i Hispanic/Latino Health Community Advisory Board, where she is helping to coordinate efforts in medical, behavioral health and research with Hispanics in Hawai驶i. 

CHP 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award

Nancy Z. Farrell Allen, MS, RDN, FAND '11

Nancy Z. Farrell Allen, MS, RDN, FAND, is a 2011 graduate of the 黄色视频 College of Health Professionals Master of Science in Nutrition Education Program. Ms. Farrell Allen has been practicing registered dietitian for more than 40 years, serving in various clinical, industry and private-practice settings. She is owner and CEO of Farrell Dietitian Services, a medical nutrition therapy private practice in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Ms. Farrell Allen also has an impressive list of service to the nutrition profession as a 40-year member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). In her AND career, she has served as a national media spokesperson for hundreds of national print, TV, and radio interviews. In 2016 she served as the AND Political Action Committee Chair advocating for food, nutrition and health policies with U.S. legislators on Capitol Hill. In 2022 she was bestowed the Virginia Outstanding Dietitian Award. 

In 2023 Ms. Farrell Allen was elected to the AND Nominating Committee as a National Leader. In addition to her private practice, Ms. Farrell Allen has also been a faculty member in the RFU CHP Department of Nutrition since 2018.

2020 Award Recipient

Matthew L. Primack, PT ’99, DPT ’04, MBA

Matthew L. Primack, PT ’99, DPT ’04, MBA, serves as President of Advocate Condell Medical Center, a 300-bed Magnet Level I Trauma Center in Libertyville, IL. Recognized by US News and World Reports and Truven Analytics for multiple national recognitions, Dr. Primack is responsible for executive oversight of the hospital. As part of the Advocate Aurora Health system, a top 10 health system in the nation, he prioritizes safety, quality, and service while continuing to expand key strategic services to the community. Dr. Primack emphasizes efficiency and excellence in operations, improved access for patients, and community partnerships. 

Dr. Primack served as President of Advocate Christ Medical for two years prior to his current position. An 800-bed tertiary/quaternary center serving the southwest side of Chicago, he was responsible for executive oversight of the facility with key initiatives including a perioperative renovation project, a transformational cost reduction implementation, and several violence prevention and workforce development projects. Before joining the leadership team at Advocate Christ, Dr. Primack served as the Vice President of Business Development and Clinical Institutes at Advocate Condell Medical Center where he was responsible for all strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, clinical service lines, and physician alignment initiatives. He started his career by opening a private practice in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation that was recognized by Crain’s Chicago Healthcare and Lake County’s Daily Herald for exemplary patient care and small business success. 

Having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Cincinnati in Pre-Medicine Biopsychology, Dr. Primack earned a graduate degree from the Chicago Medical School in Physical Therapy, a clinical doctorate from 黄色视频 of Medicine and Science in Physical Therapy, and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Chicago. He completed the 黄色视频 Hospital Association’s Health Care Transformation Senior Fellowship and is an active member of the 黄色视频 College of Healthcare Executives. He has been appointed to the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business Executive MBA Ambassador’s Board and is both a 2016 Signature Fellow and 2019 Daniel Burnham Executive Fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC). Dr. Primack was recently appointed to the LGC Board of Directors. 

With a passion for the advancement and success of others, he serves as a Healthcare Innovation Advisor to the University of Chicago and mentors graduate students and young careerists. He has advised over 40 healthcare start-ups throughout the country and remains committed to the advancement of healthcare through innovation. Dr. Primack has lectured both regionally and nationally on the advancements of healthcare innovation and cost transformation. He serves on boards of several philanthropic and civic non-profit organizations throughout the Chicagoland area and led state-wide initiatives on violence prevention and work force and economic development.