ODU College of Health Sciences

10/22/2026

Our hearts go out to the family, friends and loved ones of our fellow Monarch whose life was tragically lost yesterday. We know this loss is being felt throughout the Old Dominion University community, and we grieve alongside you.

We live in a world where we’re more connected than ever, yet it’s still possible to feel alone. We see each other in classrooms, pass one another on campus and stay connected through our devices, but we don’t always know what someone else may be going through.

To our students: Your faculty, advisors, staff and college leadership care about you, not just as students, but as people. When we ask how you’re doing, we genuinely want to know. And we encourage everyone in our college community to take the time to check in with one another, listen and offer support.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please know there are people and resources available to help. We’ve included information about counseling, crisis support and other services for students, faculty and staff. We encourage you to share these resources with classmates, colleagues and friends who may need them.

Let’s look out for one another, Monarchs. 💙

10/09/2026

10/06/2026

Please join us in celebrating Shelly Beaver, PhD, CTRS, who was promoted to Teaching Professor, and Mira H. Mariano, PT, PhD, who was promoted to Clinical Associate Professor.

Faculty members were recognized at Old Dominion University’s Promotion and Tenure Celebration Dinner, which honors faculty members from across the university for their accomplishments and contributions.

09/14/2026

The Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award recognizes a full-time faculty member for excellence in teaching. This year’s recipient is Phil Sabatini, a master lecturer in the School of Exercise Science whose engaging, hands-on approach helps students connect complex concepts in exercise science to their real-world applications.

Former student Killian Ferrell, M.S., CSCS, said, “His lessons are equal parts informative and empowering, rooted in both the science of human movement and the art of coaching. His example established the standard for the educator, mentor, and leader I strive to become, and his continued support has reinforced those lessons well beyond my time as his student.”

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Each fall, the Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Ellmer College of Health Sciences at Old Dominion University celebrates the faculty, staff, alumni and community partners who make our college such a special place to learn, work and grow.

09/13/2026

The Outstanding Faculty Professional Service Award recognizes a full-time faculty member for exemplary service. This year’s recipient is Thomas Campbell, Ph.D., whose service reaches across ODU, Hampton Roads and the athletic training profession.

Tammy Speerhas, D.N.P., chief operating officer of ODU Community Care, wrote, “Dr. Campbell exemplifies the spirit of service that this award recognizes. He is a dedicated servant leader whose contributions have made a lasting impact on our patients, our students, and our community.”

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Each fall, the Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Ellmer College of Health Sciences at Old Dominion University celebrates the faculty, staff, alumni and community partners who make our college such a special place to learn, work and grow

09/12/2026

The Outstanding Doctoral Mentor Award recognizes an employee with a sustained record of mentoring doctoral students in the Ellmer College of Health Sciences. This year’s recipient is Leryn Reynolds, Ph.D., whose mentorship helps students build research and teaching skills, develop independence and prepare for careers while recognizing the very human challenges that can come with graduate education.

Current doctoral student Taskina Akhter experienced that support firsthand during a difficult first year. “I strongly believe that her efforts were crucial in helping me persevere through that challenging time and continue my academic journey,” Akhter wrote. “Her commitment and enthusiasm are truly inspiring.”

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Each fall, the Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Ellmer College of Health Sciences at Old Dominion University celebrates the faculty, staff, alumni and community partners who make our college such a special place to learn, work and grow.

09/10/2026

Congratulations to the Ellmer College of Health Sciences faculty members whose research is receiving support through the inaugural BRANCH Grant program!

Three projects led by ECHS researchers were selected for funding, bringing together experts from across Old Dominion University and partner institutions to tackle challenges in health care.

🦷 Denise McKinney and Melissa Sullivan of the Gene W. Hirschfeld School of Dental Hygiene are part of a team exploring ways to improve access to preventive dental care for low-income pregnant women.

👶 Sonia Khurana of the School of Rehabilitation Sciences is leading TeleTummy, a pilot study testing a telehealth coaching intervention designed to support tummy time and early motor development for preterm infants.

🔬 Robert Bruno and Patrick Sachs of the School of Medical Diagnostics and Translational Sciences are studying how the environment surrounding mammary stem cells can influence their behavior, research with potential implications for understanding cancer.

BRANCH, which stands for Building Research Alliance for Nursing, Clinical and Health Sciences, was created by Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Office of Research at Old Dominion University to support collaborative research across health disciplines.

We’ll be sharing more about these projects and the researchers behind them soon. Congratulations to our ECHS faculty and their collaborators!

09/10/2026

The Outstanding Alumni Award recognizes an Ellmer College of Health Sciences graduate for distinguished professional accomplishments and service. This year’s recipient is Mitch Callis (M.S.Ed. ’83), whose more than 40-year career in athletic training has included work with the Philadelphia Phillies, Norfolk State University and Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, where he now oversees athletic training outreach across the region.

Ryan McCann, Ph.D., wrote, “His efforts have not only affected countless athletes, patients, and students, but also helped advance the entire athletic training profession.”

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Each fall, the Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Ellmer College of Health Sciences at Old Dominion University celebrates the faculty, staff, alumni and community partners who make our college such a special place to learn, work and grow.

09/09/2026

The Outstanding Use of Technology in Teaching Award recognizes a full-time faculty member who excels in using technology-based instruction. This year’s recipient is Eva Maddox, Ph.D., whose approach to technology focuses not simply on using new tools, but teaching students how to question, evaluate and apply them responsibly.

Dr. Maddox has developed AI-supported learning tools, incorporated emerging technology into exercise science courses and helped both students and fellow faculty build their skills. Former student Cheyenne Kandiyeli (B.S. ’26) wrote, “This reflects something that runs through all of Dr. Maddox’s teaching: she uses technology to push students toward deeper understanding, not to make things easier to bypass.”

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Each fall, the Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Ellmer College of Health Sciences at Old Dominion University celebrates the faculty, staff, alumni and community partners who make our college such a special place to learn, work and grow.

09/08/2026

The Outstanding Staff Award recognizes non-teaching personnel for outstanding dedication, competence, performance and customer service. This year’s recipient is Alex Vine, a fiscal technician whose work behind the scenes helps keep some very important pieces of the Ellmer College of Health Sciences running smoothly.

Christopher Rhea, Ph.D., associate dean for research and innovation, summed it up simply: “He is an absolutely delightful colleague with whom to work. He is always helpful and eager to search for solutions, no matter the complexity or time sensitivity of the task.”

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Each fall, the Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Ellmer College of Health Sciences at Old Dominion University celebrates the faculty, staff, alumni and community partners who make our college such a special place to learn, work and grow.