Our Team
Kate Blankshain PT, DPT, CF-L1
Andersonville | Highland Park
Pronouns: she/her
Background: Kate founded Outlier Physical Therapy (formerly Rally PT) in 2017, after graduating from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in 2016. Frustrated with an increasingly high-volume and impersonal healthcare system, she was inspired to build a practice that could provide more personalized physical therapy. Kate’s vision for Outlier Physical Therapy was to create a practice where she and her team could get to know their patients, listen to their concerns and goals, be their advocates, and deliver uninterrupted attention and quality care to each client.
Before becoming a physical therapist, Kate worked in educational publishing for several years. She was a competitive gymnast for 12 years and played collegiate softball at Williams College. Kate has been participating in CrossFit since 2016 and is a CrossFit L1 trainer. She currently coaches CrossFit gymnastics classes at Hardware Strength & Conditioning in Andersonville.
Outside the clinic, Kate coaches physical therapists through practice ownership with Full Draw Consulting. Kate is also an author for Spine Health.
Specialties: CrossFit and weightlifting rehab, gymnastics, softball, chronic low back pain
John Denlinger PT, DPT
Andersonville
Pronouns: he/him
Background: John has been working in outpatient orthopedics since his graduation from University of Illinois at Chicago in 2018. He grew up with a love for baseball, which has helped guide him in his career towards a special interest in the shoulder and treating overhead athletes of all kinds.
Over the past 2 years, John has expanded his skillset by taking courses in trigger point dry needling. He is excited with the results he has already gotten and looks forward to offering this adjunct treatment to his patients at Outlier.
John takes great pride in establishing a connection with his patients and providing the education and guidance in order to empower them to improve themselves. Instilling confidence in his patients to help them gain back their independence is something that never gets old.
John has spent the majority of his life in the Chicago area. He grew up in the western suburbs and has lived on the north side of the city since 2017 with wife, Maggie, and their cat, Stanley. When he’s not working, he enjoys weightlifting, golfing, camping, and finding the best burgers in Chicago.
Specialties: overhead athletes, golfers, shoulder pain, trigger point dry needling, post operative physical therapy, return to sport
Sarah Hughes PT, DPT, OCS, CF-L2
Andersonville | Highland Park
Pronouns: she/her
Background: Sarah has been practicing physical therapy since 2007. She recently relocated to Chicago from Seattle, WA, where she owns Arrow Physical Therapy. As a former ballet dancer, Sarah loves working with dance athletes and performing artists. As a current CrossFit and barbell athlete, she implements weightlifting and functional fitness strategies with her patients of all backgrounds . She has been coaching CrossFit since 2014 and also offers courses to physical therapists on the rehab and wellness of these athletes through Herman & Wallace.
Sarah works alongside Kate as a business consultant to other physical therapists starting their own private practices. Together they teach courses and coach through their company Full Draw Consulting. Sarah has also lectured to professional PT conferences on the topics of business ownership and cash practice in healthcare.
Specialties: CrossFit and weightlifting rehab (CrossFit L2); hip impingement and labral tears; post-operative physical therapy; dance rehab
Lauren Parsons PT, DPT, CLT
Andersonville
Pronouns: she/her/they/them
Background: Lauren has 12 years of experience in outpatient orthopedics. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, she attended Mississippi State University where she was a student athletic trainer for the volleyball and baseball teams. She received her doctorate of physical therapy in 2009 from the University of Tennessee.
As a member of the LGBTQIA community, Lauren has presented “ LGBTQIA “Queer“ culture education for the healthcare provider” to the Illinois Physical Therapy Association, the Tennessee Physical Therapy Association, and was invited to present at the Revitalize conference for IPTA/WPTA meeting in 2020. Lauren is passionate about contributing to the education of our healthcare system in order to create safe and inclusive physical therapy to all LGBTQIA individuals.
Specialties: endurance sports, running, softball, rugby, post-operative physical therapy, lymphedema (manual lymphatic drainage massage and compression wrapping)
Nicole Zebrowski PT, DPT, OCS
Highland Park
Pronouns: she/her
Background: Nikki has been practicing physical therapy since 2016, when she graduated with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Originally from New England, Nikki recently relocated from Boston to Chicago. As a former competitive soccer goalkeeper and current all-around sports fan, Nikki enjoys cheering on her favorite athletes which include all of her patients who are working towards getting back to the things they love—whether it’s returning to their field of play, getting back to the gym, or participating in life with friends and family.
In 2021, Nikki became recognized as a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, a designation that is earned after demonstrating extensive clinical experience and proficiency in the treatment of orthopedic conditions. Nikki is also passionate about providing inclusive and validating care for people of all backgrounds and identities and creating a safe, affirming, and trusting healthcare space in which your individual concerns are heard and understood. When she’s not in the clinic, Nikki is an avid live music goer and enjoys cooking, photography, travel, and spending time with her partner and their two pets.
Specialties: general orthopedics, pelvic health and postpartum care, urinary incontinence, foot and ankle injuries, return to sport, post-operative rehabilitation