Our People
When we say “community,” we don’t just mean the broader Hampton Roads community. It takes a community of talented people to bring everything together. Here are just a few of the people that keep ODU Community Care up and running.
Clinical Providers
Deanna Robin, FNP-C
NP Provider Lead MHC
Deanna will be joining us as clinical faculty on the ODU Community Care Mobile Van and other clinics. She comes to us with over 30 years in healthcare experience including pediatric emergency medicine, emergency medicine, urgent care and home health. Deanna completed her ADN at William Rainey Harper College and her BSN and MSN at Chamberlain University. Her passion is helping patients learn about their health and how to care for themselves. She enjoys working with new nursing students and sharing her experiences and excitement for learning. We are working on Deanna’s ODU email account, coming soon. In the meantime, please join me in welcoming her to the ODU Nursing Family.
Grace Gustin, MSW
Behavioral Health Provider
She is the lead Clinical Social Worker for ODU Community Care Clinic at PiN and manages all telehealth activities throughout our clinics. Grace additionally supervises Human Service and Social Work students within our clinics. She has had the amazing opportunity to have been working with disadvantages populations, particularly the homeless population for 7 years. She has a passion for caring for those experiencing the spectrum of homelessness while educating inter-professional clinical students to care for vulnerable populations.
Emily Horvath, DNP, FNP-BC
NP Provider Lead PiN Clinic & FNP Clinical Coordinator
Dr. Emily is the Director of Clinical Education of the Family Nurse Practitioner Program and the lead nurse practitioner for ODU Community Cares at PiN, a university and homelessness ministry community partnership clinic. She was instrumental in the development and implementation of our Nurse-Led Integrated clinic at PiN. She cares for those experiencing the spectrum of homelessness while educating inter-professional clinical students to care for vulnerable populations.
Key Faculty and Staff
Carolyn Rutledge, PhD, FNP-BC
Project Director
Carolyn Rutledge is a Professor of Nursing at ODU. She is the project director of ODU Community Care and the Co-Director of the Center for Telehealth (C-TIER). Professor Rutledge has been a Family Nurse Practitioner for 35 years. In 2022, she was inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN). In 2014, she received the SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Award for Virginia.
Tammy Speerhas, DNP, FNP-C, CEN
Clinic Director
She is the Director of the Old Dominion University Community Care Initiative. She will oversee the Nurse Led-Patient Run clinics, including care on the new Mobile Health Unit that will target care in the South Hampton County area. Her nursing background includes emergency medicine, urgent care, administration, geriatrics, and pediatrics. She is passionate about providing care to underserved populations, as well as growing and educating students in the healthcare arena. In her free time, she enjoys golfing, hiking, and gardening.
Tina Gustin,
DNP, CNS
Telehealth Director
Tina has over 35-years of advanced practice nursing experience. She is currently an Associate Professor at Old Dominion University (ODU) School of Nursing where she teaches in the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program. Her most recent appointment was as the Co-Director of the college’s Center for Telehealth Innovation, Education, and Research (C-TIER). The center serves as a telehealth learning hub and research center not only for the state but also the United States. She is the clinical manager for the Pediatric Telehealth program at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk Virginia. Dr. Gustin has been responsible for the development of this new program and assuring clinical competence of the telehealth providers. She is the PI and Co-PI for several Health and Human Services Administration (HRSA) grants totally over 6 million dollars. These grants have aimed at reaching the rural and underserved though telehealth and interprofessional collaboration. Dr. Gustin was instrumental in the development and guidance of the grants Nurse-Led Integrated Clinic housed at the People in Need (PiN) ministry aimed at caring for those living in homeless in the City of Virginia Beach. Dr. Gustin has extensively published and presented on both interprofessional team-based care and preparing providers for telehealth both nationally and internationally. She served on the American Nurses Association task force for technology and was most recently elected to the Center for Telehealth and eHealth Law (CTeL) Advisory Board, she is the telehealth advisor for the Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP) that aims to connect pediatric providers with behavioral providers state wide. She also serves as a board member for PiN. She has been invited to several nursing and medical schools to assist in the development of a telehealth curriculum and to present her work.
Janice Hawkins PhD, CNS
Student Scholars Program Coordinator
Dr. Hawkins is the Interim Chair of Advanced Practice Nursing and Director of the Nurse Executive DNP Program at Old Dominion University. She coordinates the Student Scholars selected for our Community Care Clinic. As a retired Army Nurse, Dr. Hawkins is interested in veteran healthcare outreach. Her nursing background is in community health and maternal child nursing where she became an advocate for marginalized populations. In 2023, she was she was inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).
Diana Cartagena, PhD, CPNP-PC
Coordinator of Cultural & Linguistic services/education
Dr. Cartagena is an assistant professor and director of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program at Old Dominion University in Virginia. As a PNP with over 25 years of clinical experience, and through completion of her PhD studies, she has developed a significant understanding of factors Hispanic families. Her research focus is centered around the identification and promotion of effective breastfeeding practices, and the identification of factors contributing to adverse neonatal outcomes in early childhood, especially among the Hispanic population. Her doctoral research was focused on gaining an increased understanding of factors contributing to maternal feeding practices, primarily looking at breastfeeding disparities and potential overfeeding research supported extant evidence for the persistently inadequate exclusive breastfeeding
introduction of age-inappropriate foods, factors potentially contributing to adverse health outcomes in infancy and later in life. She has disseminated findings of her research in peer-reviewed journals and national conferences.
Ted Gournelos,
PhD, MFA, MBA
Marketing
Dr. Gournelos is a communication scholar and practitioner that works in multimedia and convergence platforms from a strategic and critical perspective. He teaches media, theory, writing, and production, as well as marketing, public relations, and intercultural communication and is the Executive Director of the student agency ROAR. His consulting work through STORY | STRATEGY helps non-profits, social entrepreneurs, and startups design business strategy and strategic communications plans as well as effective messaging on the news, in digital media, and in public speaking. His media appearances and public talks (from morning shows to primetime news to TED Global) often relate to the role that media (especially digital and social media) impact our daily lives, but also touch on interpersonal relationships, popular culture, media and the law, and advertising.
Kimberly Freisenbruch, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CCM
Director of Clinical Education, PMHNP Program
Kimberly Freisenbruch is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) which she received from Old Dominion University, where she was one of the only students to have ever completed both her masters and doctoral degrees at the same time.
Dr. Freisenbruch is passionate about providing mental health care and specializes in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). She has conducted research on equine-assisted psychotherapy and its effectiveness in treating PTSD and TBI. She has presented at conferences and has been honored with awards for her research. She is an inductee of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and is currently serving as the Governance Chair for the Epsilon Chi chapter at Old Dominion University, where she is also the Director of Clinical Education for the PMHNP program.
Jessica Parrott DNP, CPNP-PC, CNE
PNP Track Coordinator
Dr. Jessica Parrott is originally from the Washington, D.C. area and has been in Hampton Roads, VA for 25 years. She is a trifecta graduate from Old Dominion University, receiving her bachelor’s in nursing, master’s in nursing and doctorate in nursing practice degrees all from ODU. Dr. Parrott completed her master’s in nursing with a focus on the pediatric nurse practitioner role and additionally received a postgraduate certificate in nursing education. Dr. Parrott is dually certified as a pediatric nurse practitioner and nurse educator. She is currently an Assistant Professor at ODU, teaching in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. Dr. Parrott also has an extensive background in undergraduate and graduate nursing education, educational leadership, and accreditation. Dr. Parrott has been a nurse practitioner for almost 20 years in pediatric primary care and pediatric urgent care settings. She currently practices with Children Hospital of the King’s Daughters (CHKD) Division of Urgent Care and is a member of the inter-professional Quality Improvement Committee. Additionally, Dr. Parrott is adjunct faculty for Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS). Dr. Parrott has a practice, research, and grant background focusing on underserved/underrepresented groups in healthcare, inter-professional practice and education, and quality improvement to include systematic evaluation.
Tinnikka Robertson-Jones, DNP, CNS
Undergraduate Coordinator
She serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University (ODU) in the Undergraduate School of Nursing. Dr. Robertson-Jones has over 18 years of experience in the healthcare field with a focus on clinical practice, community and globalhealth, health disparities, education, and research. She is originally from Detroit Michigan and received her Associate Degree in Nursing from Henry Ford Community College, Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from the University of Detroit Mercy, Master of Science in Nursing as well as an advance practice degree as an Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist from Eastern Michigan University, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Chatham University. She is board certified as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. Dr. Robertson-Jones is also a Certified Nurse Educator through the National League for Nursing. Her clinical practice background includes, medical surgical nursing, infectious disease, post anesthesia care (PACU) and Cardiovascular Intensive Care (CVICU). Dr. Robertson-Jones is passionate about nursing
and education. She believes to whom much is given, much is required, and it is imperative to always continue to empower and equip others for optimal outcomes. Her research interest includes new graduate nurses’ transition to practice, health disparities, health literacy and global/community health initiatives. Dr. Robertson-Jones serves as a Co-PI for the HRSA grant that is creating the mobile van. Her primary responsibilities are as the undergraduate faculty liaison, with a focus on facilitating the onboarding, training, coordination, and evaluation of undergraduate students experiential learning experiences with ODU Community Cares, primary patient care services.
Michele Bordelon, MSEd
Project Coordinator
Ms. Bordelon has worked with the ODU School of Nursing since 2010 with a focus on Telehealth education programming, develop and grant project management. She has a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science and Wellness from ODU. As the Grant Project Coordinator, her role is to coordinate meetings and educational activities. track data, arrange SP encounters and Clinical rotations. She also oversees the placement of students, coordinates HRSA grant reports and supports Telehealth education programs.
Kelli Garber, MSN, DNP
Clinical Assistant Professor, Director of the DNP Advanced Practice Program
Dr. Garber is a Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner with over 27 years of experience including private practice, school-based health, and virtual care. Dr. Garber is a published author and an accomplished presenter on the topics of telehealth best practices, APRN telehealth practice, telehealth policy, telehealth education, and school-based telehealth. Prior to joining ODU, she was a seminal member of the Medical University of South Carolina School-based telehealth program, contributing to the development and expansion of the statewide program in SC.
Dr. Garber proudly serves as a Member-at-Large on the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) Executive Board and as a member of the South Carolina Board of Nursing. She received her BSN at Johns Hopkins University, MSN at the University of Maryland, and DNP from Old Dominion University.
Katia Hall, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CNE
PMHNP Program Director, Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Katia (Kah-tee-uh) Hall began her journey at Virginia Wesleyan University where she graduated with a BA in Biology in 2008. From there she attended Sentara College of Health Sciences for her Diploma in Nursing, and worked as a Registered Nurse for three years in Mother-Baby/Nursery Services before going back to school to become a Nurse Practitioner. She attended Old Dominion University and earned a Master of Science in Nursing in 2013. She is Board Certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the Virginia Board of Nursing, and worked for five years as a Family Nurse Practitioner in various specialties to include: Pain Management, Pediatrics, Family Practice, and Psychiatry. The latter prompted her to return to school for a Post-Masters Certificate at George Washington University, where she graduated in 2018 and became board certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, again by the ANCC. She currently owns and practices at Alpha Psychiatric Services in Chesapeake, Virginia. Dr Katia graduated from Frontier Nursing University in December 2019 with her DNP and taught in the PMHNP Program for three years.
Amanda Hudgins, FNP-BC
Clinic Team Member, NP
She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University where she serves as adjunct factuly in the School of Nursing FNP Progream and the Lead Provider for the Mobile Medical Clinic. Amanda has 25 years of experience in healthcare mostly working with underserved population in Southwest Virginia. As an RN, she worked in critical care, case management along with family and specialty outpatient clinics. ODU is Amanda’s alma mater. She received her BSN in 2014, MSN in the FNP Program in 2018, and recently graduated with her DNP in 2023. Her provider background includes primary care, retail health, occupational health, and functional medicine. She is passionate about improving health and access to care in underserved populations. Amanda enjoys fitness, reading and spending time with her family and friends.
Frankie Speerhas
Healthcare Coordinator
Frankie has a background in customer service as well as medical billing and coding. She’s been working with the underserved population since 2013 both abroad in Mexico and locally. She serves ODU Community Care as the Healthcare Coordinator doing in-person and behind-the-scenes work for our three locations. Her primary job site is at the Housing Resource Center site where she manages patient registration and check-in. When she’s not in the clinic, you can find her running reports and pulling data for our grant team, helping to secure funding for ODU Community Care’s current and future endeavors.
Interprofessional Faculty
Corrin Gillis Ph.D., SLP
Director of Center for Interprofessional Education
Dr. Corrin is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist, and an Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Following completion of her Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Gillis (formerly Richels) has authored/co-authored 20 peer-reviewed articles, and 5 invited book chapters as well as numerous national and international presentations on topics related to preschoolers who stutter and preschoolers with hearing loss. Since 2018, she has served the Coordinating Committee of ASHA’s SIG 4: Fluency and Fluency Disorders as Editor of Perspectives and Professional Development Manager. Additionally, Dr. Gillis has been actively working in implementation of inter-professional education and practice to reduce health disparities since 2012. Most recently, Dr. Gillis has been appointed as the Director of Inter-professional Healthcare Practice, Education, and Research (I-hear) to promote inter-professional efforts across the university that address health disparities.
Kristy Carlisle Ph.D.,LPC-R (VA), HS-BCP
Undergraduate Program Director
Dr. Kristy Carlisle is an Associate Professor in Old Dominion University’s (ODU) Counseling and Human Services Department where she is the Human Services Program Director and the Chief Editor of Journal of Human Services Scholarship and Interprofessional Collaboration. She has work experience as a PK-12 teacher, school counselor, mental health counselor, and case manager/supervisor; and she has served child, adolescent, and adult populations in school, inpatient residential, and community mental health settings. Her research interests include addictions & addictions education, crisis & trauma education, and interprofessional collaboration & education (IPC/IPE).
Tom Campbell Ph.D., LAT, ATC
Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Tom Campbell currently serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at Old Dominion University where he acts as the Director of Clinical Education for the Master of Science of Athletic Training program. Tom received his Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania in 2012, then went on to receive his Master of Science degree in Athletic Training from ESU in 2013. Most recently, Tom was employed by Bridgewater College where he acted as an Assistant Athletic Trainer then a Visiting Assistant Professor. Tom’s primary research interests include the identification of concussion biomarkers and the improvement of concussion prevention, diagnosis, and management practices. Originally from Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, Tom currently resides in Moyock, North Carolina.
Michelle Boulanger Thompson PhD, MS, OTR/L, QMHP
Assistant Professor - Occupational Therapy
Michelle Thompson is an Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy. She has practiced as a occupational therapist for 34 years, working on community-based interdisciplinary teams with individuals with disabilities and their families across the lifespan in early intervention (birth to age 3), public schools (ages 2-22), and adult home health. She serves on the Board of Directors for Mosaic, a national organization supporting community living needs for adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), serves in a leadership and research role for the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities’ (AAIDD) Creative Arts special interest network, and serves on the Virginia Division on Early Childhood’s (VA-DEC) leadership board. Dr. Thompson’s research interests include the importance of play and creativity across the lifespan, parent/caregiver empowerment, benefits of assistive technology (AT), and the importance of belonging and community for individuals with disabilities and their families. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her husband and dogs, Deacon and Cali.
Anne Marie Perrotti PhD, CCC-SLP
Associate Professor
Dr. Anne Marie Perrotti is a certified speech-language pathologist with a PhD in Special Education who is passionate about transformative and equitable education and research. As an Associate Professor at Old Dominion University, she dedicates her research to bridging perspectives using interprofessional innovation and instructional design for the development, deployment, and evaluation of programs created for special learning populations. Her focus is on STEAM programs facilitating work-readiness skills for at-risk youth in the school-to-prison pipeline and people who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She has won two teaching awards and is grateful for the opportunity to discover new knowledge and possibilities by interacting with her students every day.
Adaira Howell, RDH, BSDH, MS
Lecturer and Community Outreach Coordinator - Dental Hygiene
Adaira Howell has experience in the field as an educator, researcher, and clinical dental hygienist. Adaira is a published author in the Journal of Dental Hygiene. Her research focuses on increasing the access to dental care for the underserved population. She has a true passion for serving others and strives to create a community that focuses improving health equity for all.