Thagard Health Center Staff

Senior Administrative

Lesley K. Sacher, MHA, FACHE, FACHA, Director, Thagard Student Health Center

Lesley Sacher joined Florida State University in 1999 as director of Thagard Student Health Center. She is an experienced healthcare executive with more than 35 years of experience in managing complex ambulatory and inpatient facilities. Ms. Sacher holds her master's degree in health care administration from Ohio University. She completed a year-long training in Health Care Executive Leadership training at Case Western Reserve University. She is a Fellow in the American College Health Association, and a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. She has served as president of the Southern College Health Association and is Past President of the American College Health Association for the 2008/2009 academic year.

Her specialty areas are the use of technology in medical settings, accreditation and quality improvement programs within a customer service perspective. Under her leadership, Thagard has set a vision for itself that includes being a recognized leader and pioneer in the field of college health, committed to meeting the changing needs of the campus community.

Michael A. Peterson, BS, Associate Director/CIO, Thagard Student Health Center

Michael “Pete” Peterson joined Florida State University in 2000 as Thagard Student Health Center's technology coordinator. Prior to coming to Florida State University, Mr. Peterson served in the United States Air Force for eight years. He is an experienced healthcare executive with more than 13 years of experience in healthcare and accounting. Mr. Peterson holds his bachelor's degree in accounting from Park University and an associate degree in health care management from the Community College of the Air Force. His specialty areas include the streamlining of business processes, cost analysis, and the planning of new generation healthcare services utilizing technology. In 2005, Mr. Peterson was promoted to Assistant Director responsible for the fiscal and technological functions of the Health Center.. In 2008 he introduced the Electronic Medical Record into the Health Center’s system of care.

Scott Otte, CPA, Associate Director/CFO, Thagard Student Health Center

Mr. Scott Otte joined Thagard Student Health Center in January 2008 as Chief Financial Officer. He received a B.S. in Accounting from the University of South Florida. He is a State of Florida Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Prior to coming to FSU, Mr. Otte was Assistant Controller at Tallahassee Community College. Mr. Otte has over 15 years of professional experience in post secondary education institutions.

Celeste Paquette, MD, Medical Director, Thagard Student Health Center

Dr. Paquette, Medical Director, has been with TSHC since March, 1987. Before joining Thagard, she spent five years in private practice. Specializing in pediatrics, Dr. Paquette is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics. She received her bachelor's from Florida State University and her medical degree from the University of Florida. Dr. Paquette completed her internship and residency at the University of Alabama-Birmingham Children's Hospital. She is an active member of the Florida Medical Association and the Capital Medical Society.

Barbara Childers, RN, Director of Nursing

Barbara Childers RN rejoined Thagard Student Health Center in 2000, having previously worked at TSHC from 1974-1976. She is an experienced Director of Nursing with more than 35 years experience in nursing and healthcare management. Her specialty areas include directing clinic operations, leading nursing teams to provide optimal services, and promoting evidence based nursing practice.                  

Ms. Childers received her nursing degree in 1974 from the current Palm Beach State College, and in 1985 went on to obtain certification and licensure in radiologic technology.  She currently holds an active Florida Registered Nurse License.   Ms. Childers is the Thagard Student Health Center’s Infection Control Officer, an Executive Team member, the chairperson of the Staff Development Committee, and directs the Campus Influenza Vaccination program.  

Judy Russell, Human Resource Director, Thagard Student Health Center

Judy Russell has been Human Resource Director at Thagard Student Health Center since 1994. In 2003 she assumed the additional responsibility as assistant to the director working on special projects and assisting with the day to day administrative operations for the psychiatry clinic. Prior to coming to TSHC, she worked for the University Human Resources Department for nearly 20 years. Judy has also received several STAR awards and other awards of recognition and special achievement from the Division of Student Affairs and the Division of Finance and Administration for special projects and university-wide committee work.

Glen Yaege, Assistant Director, Environment of Care, Thagard Student Health Center

Glen Yaege has been with Thagard Student Health Center since 2000 as the Assistant Director, Environment of Care. He is retired from the USAF and has more than 30 years of management experience in healthcare administration at a variety of medical facilities ranging from ambulatory clinics, regional hospitals, aeromedical staging facility, research laboratory and a large medical center. His emphasis has been in facility management, medical design and construction, medical supply, personnel and medical readiness. He received his undergraduate degree from Baylor University and master's from Pepperdine University.

Joni Jones, BS, RT (R)(CT)(MR), Radiology Manager / QI and Accrediation Coordinator

Joni Jones, BS, RT (R)(CT)(MR), joined the TSHC team in 1999 after spending nine years as the director of a large CT, MRI, DEXA imaging facility.  Prior to that she was the senior MRI technologist at Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center and a CT and MRI technologist for seven years.  Ms. Jones received her degrees from Tallahassee Community College and Florida State University and her Certificate in Radiologic Technology from Baptist Medical Center School of Radiologic Technology in Jacksonville, Florida. She is a registered Radiologic Technologist and received her Computerized Tomography Advanced Certification and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Advanced Certification in 1999.  Ms. Jones is a member of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and the American Society of Radiology Technologists (ASRT).

Triage - 1st Floor

Heather Mercer, RN, Triage & Allergy Clinic Supervisor

Ms. Mercer attended Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Fla., and received her A.A. degree in Nursing. In addition to her general nursing experience, she has worked in the areas of Home Health Care, Neurology and Pediatrics. Ms. Mercer joined the Thagard Student Health Center staff in 2008.

Garnet - 1st Floor

Linda Palmer, RN Supervisor

Linda Palmer, RN, BSN, received her bachelor's degree in nursing from University of Southern Mississippi.  After spending 13 years in student health at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, MS and nine years at Stetson University in Deland, FL, Ms. Palmer joined TSHC. She is a member of ACHA, SCHA, FCHA Member of FNA/ ANA and has been certified in College Health Nursing from 1991-2001

Lane Curington, ARNP-C

In addition to being a certified family nurse practitioner, Lane Curington, ARNP-C, is certified in emergency nursing and is a certified instructor of trauma and pediatric nursing as well as advanced cardiac life support.  She specializes in emergency medicine and has been with TSHC since 2000.  Ms. Curington received her bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing from Florida State University.

Clarissa Weddington, MD

Clarissa Weddington, MD has been a member of the TSHC team since 2009. She received her BS in Biology from Florida State University and her Medical Degree Florida State University, PIMS and University of Florida, followed by residency at Tallahassee Memorial Family Practice Residency Program.   Dr. Weddington has been board certified in Family Practice since 1996.

Gold - 2nd Floor

Cathy Molitaris, RN Supervisor

Ms. Molitaris attended Florida State University and received her BSN in Nursing. Prior to joining the Thagard Student Health Center staff in 2007, she worked in the areas of Nurse Consulting, Community Health and Medical/Surgical Nursing.

Virginia Cardenas, ARNP-C

Virginia Cardenas, ARNP-C has been a member of the TSHC team since 2003. Prior to joining the staff at TSHC, Ms. Cardenas worked as a Family Practitioner at Florida A&M University.  She is a certified nurse practitioner and is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the Florida Nurses Association. Ms. Cardenas received her BSN from Arellano University in Manila, Philippines and her Master’s degree in nursing and Advance Registered Nurse Practitioner training at Florida State University.

Sarah Cotton, PA-C

Ms. Cotton attended the University of Florida and received her Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree in Family Practice. She is certified by the National Association of Physicians Assistants and joined the Thagard Student Health Center clinical staff in 2010. Prior to working for the health center, Ms. Cotton worked in private family practice.

Adriana Gioia, MD Physician

Adriana Gioia, MD a graduate of the University of Miami School of Medicine, specializes in family medicine.  She completed her residency at Shands University Hospital and internship at Jackson Memorial Hospital.  Before joining the TSHC team in 2003, Dr. Gioia worked in urgent care for several years.  She is Board Certified by the American Board of Family Practice.

Anna Klassen, ARNP-C

Ms. Klassen has been a member of TSHC team since 1991. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Widener University in Pennsylvania and her master’s nursing degree from University of California, Los Angeles. Ms. Klassen is a certified family nurse practitioner (ANCC) and is a member of the Florida Nurses Academy.

Veta Mobley-Johnson, MD, Physician

Board Certified by the American Board of Family Practice, Dr. Mobley-Johnson has been with TSHC since 2002. She received her BS from Florida A&M University and her medical degree from Mercer University School of Medicine in Georgia. Dr. Mobley-Johnson completed her internship and residency at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. A member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, she specializes in family medicine.

Meena Shahane, MD, Physician

Meena Shahane, MD has been a member of the TSHC team since 1991. Specializing in pediatrics, she received her medical degree from B.J. College in India.  Dr. Shahane completed her internship at Civil Hospital in India and her residency at Miami Children’s Hospital.

Psychiatric - 3rd Floor

Patricia Hubbird, RN Supervisor

Patricia Hubbard, RN-BSN, gained experience in areas ranging from healthcare administration, nursing instruction, school nursing, medical surgical nursing and also served as a Red Cross volunteer RN in Okinawa Japan. Since joining Thagard Student Health Center in 2003, She has worked as a Triage Nurse and Garnet Clinic Supervisor and is currently serving as the Psychiatric Supervisor. Ms. Hubbird received her nursing degree from Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Ga., and is a member of the National Association of School Nurses and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. 

Leslie Parsons, D.O., Psychiatric Director

Dr. Parsons attended Southeastern University of the Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort-Lauderdale-Davie, Fla. In addition to completing her training at both the University Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fla., and Shands Teaching Hospital and V.A. Hospital in Gainesville, Fla., she also completed a Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Florida. Dr. Parsons is Board Certified in both Forensic and General Psychiatry and is also Board Certified in Addiction Medicine by the American Board of Addiction Medicine. 

Her work experience in psychiatry includes: adult and child psychiatry, addiction medicine, inpatient and outpatient psychiatry, forensic consulting and evaluation, chemical dependency, and treatment of dually diagnosed patients. Dr. Parsons joined the Thagard Student Health Center clinical staff in 2005 and became the Medical Director of the Psychiatry Clinic in 2010.

Dian Picou, MD, Psychiatrist

Dr. Picou received her MD degree from the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University in New York City and completed her training at various hospitals affiliated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y. She is Board Certified in Adult Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. DR. Picou worked with chronically and persistently mentally ill patients at various inpatient and partial hospitalization facilities in the southeast, prior to joining the clinical staff at Thagard Student Health Center in 2003.

Dr. Sara Tirumalasetty, MD, Psychiatrist

Dr. Tirumalasetty, who prefers being called Dr. Sara, attended the Guntur Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. Dr. Sara completed her training in Indianapolis, Ind., at Indiana University and Purdue University at Indianapolis, also known as IUPUI, and is a Board Certified General Psychiatrist. After completing her training, Dr. Sara worked at the Florida State Hospital for 10 years before joining the clinical staff here at Thagard Student Health Center in 2004

Vicki Spitzer, Psychiatric ARNP

Ms. Spitzer attended Georgia State University in Atlanta, Ga., and received her ARNP degree in Psychiatry. She is certified in Group Psychotherapy by the American Group Psychotherapy Association and is a charter member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. Ms. Spitzer worked in private practice in the local community for 25 years, specializing in the areas of ADHD/ADD, OCD and mood and anxiety disorders. She joined the Thagard Student Health center staff in 2009.

Howard Rubin Psychiatric ARNP

Women's Care - 4th Floor

Latricia Simmons, RN/BSN, Women’s Clinic Supervisor

Ms. Simmons attended Florida A & M University and received her BSN in Nursing. Prior to joining the Thagard Student Health Center staff in 2009, she worked in the areas of Hospice and Resident Care.

Jo Davis, ARNP-C

Jo Davis, ARNP-C returned as a member of the TSHC team in 1999.   She previously worked at TSHC for 18 years before going into private practice in women’s health for 10 years.  Ms. Davis is a certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and was Colposcopy trained at Harvard Medical School after receiving her nursing degrees from Florida State University.  She is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the Council of Advanced practice Nurses, Florida Nurses Association, and the American Nurses Association.

Evan Dussia, II, MD, Gynecologist

Evan Dussia, II, MD, has been a member of the TSHC team as a gynecologist since 2001.  He received his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine.  He completed his internship at Grady Memorial Hospital in Georgia and was the Administrative Chief Resident at Jacksonville Health Education Program, Obstetrics and Gynecology.  Dr. Dussia is Board Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Sandy Kuhn, ARNP-C

Sandy Kuhn, ARNP-C, has been a member of the TSHC team since 1998.  She received her nursing degree from Santa Barbara City College in California and her ARNP training at the University of Texas Science Center.   Ms. Kuhn is NCC certified in Women's Health Care and is trained to do colposcopies 

Alice Laxton, ARNP

Alice Laxton, ARNP, has been a member of the TSHC team since 1993. She earned her BSN from University of Florida, attended the University of Florida’s College of Nursing Masters Program in Women and Infant’s Health Care and is a licensed as ARNP. She worked as an ARNP in Ocala, Florida for five years before joining the staff at Thagard. Ms. Laxton is currently a member of the Florida Nurses Association and the Tallahassee Council of Advance Practice Nurses.

Dorothy McMurry, ARNP-C

Dorothy McMurry, ARNP-C, has been a member of the TSHC team since 2002.  She received her Diploma in Nursing from George Brown College in Toronto, Canada and both her BSN and MSN from Florida State University.  She is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner, and Colposcopy trained by the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology.  Ms. McMurry was in private practice for 15 years before joining the TSHC team.  She is a member of Florida Nurses Association, American Nurses Association and the Tallahassee Council of Advance Practice Nurses.

Patricia Prince, ARNP-C

Patricia Prince, ARNP-C, has been a member of the TSHC team since 2001.  A certified Family Nurse Practitioner, she received Colposcopy training at Harvard Medical School and her nursing degrees from Georgia Southwestern University, the University of North Florida and Georgia Southern University.  Ms. Prince is a member of the Florida Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association

Candace Wells, ARNP

Candace Wells, ARNP, has been a member of the TSHC team since 2000.  Prior to joining the staff at TSHC, she worked in private practice for 20 years, public health for six years and hospital nursing for 3 years.  Ms. Wells received her RN from Tallahassee Community College, BSN from Florida State University, and MSN from University of Southern Indiana.  She is certified as a Women’s Health and Family Practice Nurse practitioner, Colposcopy trained, and a member of the American society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology, Florida Nurses Association, the Tallahassee Council of Advance Practice Nurses, and Sigma Theta International Honor Society of Nursing.

Health Promotion - 4th Floor

Amy Magnuson, PhD, RD, LD/N, Health Promotion Director & Nutritionist

Amy Magnuson, PhD, MS, RD, LD/N has been a member of TSHC since 2003 and is Amy Magnuson, PhD, MS, RD, LD/N has been a member of TSHC since 2003 and is also an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences (NFES). Amy is currently involved in research of evidence-based methods to reduce health risks and promote good health for college students. Amy was in private practice and worked as the Sports Nutritionist for the FSU Athletics Department prior to coming to TSHC. She is a member of the American College Health Association, American Dietetic Association and Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutritionists (SCAN). Dr. Magnuson received all three of her degrees from Florida State University.

Heather Fisher, MS, RD, LD/N, Nutritionist

Heather Fisher is a licensed and Registered Dietitian and has been practicing dietetics for thirteen years. She has experience providing nutrition education and counseling in the areas of eating disorders, weight management, diabetes, hypertension, heart and kidney disease, and women, infant and child nutrition. Ms. Fisher received her degrees from Florida State University and joined TSHC in 2004. She is an advisor to a peer health education group, Students Understanding Nutrition Now (SUNN). She serves as the coordinator of the eating disorder treatment team at TSHC. She is an active member of the state and local affiliations of the American Dietetic Association. She has served as President Elect, President, and Membership Chair of the Tallahassee Dietetic Association and is the incoming 2010-2012 Secretary of the Florida Dietetic Association.

Kevin T. Frentz, PhD, Health Educator/ Health and Human Services Specialist

Kevin T. Frentz, PhD, who directs the FSU smoking cessation program, has been with TSHC since 1999.  His main focus is tobacco use prevention programs and the expansion of the Health Promotion Department into the area of Curriculum Infusion through the utilization of multimedia technologies. He also serves as the advisor for Breathe Easy Registered Student Organization, the chair for the Breathe Easy Initiative Advisory Committee, a member of the Healthy Campus 2020 Committee, and is the principal Investigator for the Breathe Easy Tobacco Use Prevention Grant.  He received his doctoral degree in higher education from Florida State University.

Ancillary 

Wendy Braswell, MT-ASCP Quest Lab Manager

Ms. Braswell received her Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University and is certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists as a Medical Technologist. She manages all in-house operations for Quest Labs.

Tyressa Judge, PT, Physical Therapy Manager

Tyressa Judge, PT, manages the Physical Therapy department.  Ms. Judge initiated the FSU physical therapy program in 1997 for students, faculty, and staff.  She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and is a certified Sportsmetrics trainer.  Ms. Judge received her degrees from the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama-Birmingham and was an adjunct faculty member at the University of Alabama-Birmingham from 1983 to 1984 and Florida A&M University from 1997 to 1999.