Medical Services Staff

Callie Avis

Nurse Practitioner

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Callie Avis joined the Schacht Center Health and Wellness staff in the fall of 2021. Callie received a B.A. in environmental studies from The College of Holy Cross in Worcester MA, a B.S. at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and an M.S.N. at Minnesota State University. She is certified as a family nurse practitioner by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and is licensed in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island as an Advanced Practice Nurse with prescriptive privileges. Prior to joining the Schacht Health and Wellness Center, she worked as an RN on an AIDS unit at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD and in a community health clinic in St. Paul, MN working mostly with undocumented immigrants. As an Advanced Practice Nurse, Callie worked as a member of the National Health Services Corps in Federally Qualified Health Centers and most recently at Brown University Health Services supporting the physical and mental health of students. She is a returned Peace Corps volunteer (Ghana, ’02-04). Callie has special interests in the care of gender diverse patients, reproductive health, preventative care, and mental and behavioral health. She is currently pursuing a certification through the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine (BHI) at Massachusetts General Hospital in its Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) program. You will find her outside of work caring for her 2 children who she and her husband are raising to be inclusive members of our world.

Hannah Cesario

Medical Assistant

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Hannah is a Registered Medical Assistant at the Schacht Center and plays a key role in helping to support clinical processes including scheduling, medication refills, lab support, measuring vital signs, performing EKGs, administering immunizations, and more. Hannah received her Medical Assistant Certification in 2010. For the first four years of her career, she worked at Holyoke Medical Center in the Emergency Department and the Intensive Care Unit. Hannah then went on to work in Primary Care for Baystate Family Medicine for seven years before coming to Smith in 2021. Hannah brings her amiable presence and her cheerful efficiency to all she undertakes. Her warm demeanor and willingness to be of service are greatly appreciated by students and staff alike. A Northampton native, Hannah now resides in Chesterfield with her family, including her two young children. In her free time, Hannah enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, and spending time with her family and her pets.

Leah Carrasquillo

Nurse Practitioner

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Leah Nero Carrasquillo received a bachelor’s degree from Union College in 2002 in international political science and Spanish, with a focus on human rights. Her undergraduate study included research and field work with Romani populations in Spain, and internships at the Washington Office on Latin America and at the US Department of State, Office of Human Rights Country Reports and Asylum Affairs. She then pursued a growing interest in public health through research work involving patients with HIV and Hepatitis C at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical School. Leah continued her studies at Yale University, obtaining a Master’s of Science in Nursing in 2007 as a Family Nurse Practitioner. At Yale, she completed a clinical rotation in Oaxaca, Mexico in rural community health, researched diabetes prevention in Mexican-American women, and was part of an ovarian cancer research team. She worked in community health, migrant worker health, and adolescent and adult internal medicine before joining Smith College Health Services in 2011. In addition to her work at the Schacht Center, Leah has been a lecturer in the Smith College Women’s Medical Issues course on health promotion and chronic disease prevention. Leah has been involved in the local community as a volunteer Health Care Coordinator for the Welcome Home Northampton Refugee Resettlement Project and for the Just Tryan It Triathlon to benefit pediatric cancer families. Leah is also on staff at Cooley Dickinson Medical Group in primary care as well as at Cooley Dickinson Urgent Care, and serves on her town Board of Health. Leah is honored to partner with patients and to collaborate through education and empowerment to plan their optimal care. Leah is passionate about always making respect for patients of all genders, races, ethnicities, beliefs, and backgrounds central to the care she provides. In her spare time, Leah enjoys writing and traveling. Leah grew up on a horse and dairy farm in Vermont, and still loves to be outside gardening, skiing, kayaking, hiking and exploring with her three children and two rescue dogs.

Elizabeth Devine, MS, RDN, LDN

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

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Elizabeth became a registered and licensed dietitian as a second career in 2010. Since then she has worked at UMass Dining, earning a national award for her healthy protein promotion in 2013; been a board member of the Western Area Massachusetts Dietetic Association, receiving the special recognition award in 2014; and maintained a private practice specializing in sports, wellness, and plant-based nutrition. Elizabeth also directs the Student Nutritionist Program at UMass Amherst, a comprehensive service and learning program which offers both training and experience for nutrition students as well as complimentary nutrition education and counseling for the campus community.

In her role as a dietitian, Elizabeth feels fortunate to be able to integrate all the things she truly enjoys – teaching, research, connecting with others, food, and health – while also honoring her own roots. Above all else, she strives to inspire and empower clients to achieve their nutrition- and lifestyle-related goals by taking an evidence-based and root-cause approach, working collaboratively to make changes both practical and sustainable. She believes that you are the expert on your life, and is happy to join you wherever you are on your nutrition journey. Elizabeth’s professional interests include sports nutrition for the female athlete; nutrition for health and longevity; and the intersection of eating disorders, gastrointestinal and mental health, and our experience of embodiment. 

Outside of work, Elizabeth is a lifelong runner and outdoor enthusiast. She enjoys spending time with friends and family (including her two children and two dogs), plant-based cooking and baking, and reading.

Tara Dumont, MD

College Physician, Medical Director of Pelham Medical Services

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Tara Dumont, MD is a board certified internal medicine physician with a passion for primary care. She graduated from Princeton University in 2001 with degrees in molecular biology and public policy. She completed medical school and residency training at the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Her residency experience was highlighted by practicing on the front lines of the tuberculosis and AIDS epidemic in Botswana, Africa. Prior to joining Smith, she was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine and Medical Director of the Women’s Health Unit at Boston Medical Center. There, she cared for diverse and impoverished communities and led the integration of mental health management into primary care practice. She has contributed to original primary care research that has been published in peer-reviewed journals and featured in the popular press. In addition to providing comprehensive primary care, she offers clinical expertise in mental health disorders, gender affirming care, breast disease, gynecological care and COVID-19 management. She loves exploring and traveling and can be found hiking, biking and skiing with her family and friends.

Kris Evans, LICSW

Director, Schacht Center for Health & Wellness

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A licensed independent clinical social worker, Evans earned her bachelor’s degree at Wittenberg University, her masters at the University of Tennessee, and is completing her doctorate at the Smith College School for Social Work. She has a breadth of experience as a therapist, program director, community consultant and clinical educator. Kris’s approach to psychotherapy is informed by contemporary psychodynamic and trauma theories in a social justice frame. Her work focuses on helping individuals who have experienced relational and structural trauma, working with gender and sexuality identity, and navigating significant life transitions.

Lev Fein

Clinical Assistant

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Lev is a clinical assistant at the Schacht Center and has an essential role in coordinating and implementing administrative tasks including appointment scheduling, referrals, records requests, and supporting all aspects of clinical operations at Schacht. Furthermore, theirs is the compassionate voice or friendly face that students often first come into contact with upon engaging with the Schacht Center. Lev is originally from New York City, and comes to this role with an associate of arts degree from Rockland Community College and a bachelor of arts degree from Smith College. During their time at Smith, Lev was a psychology major and a Jewish Studies minor, and conducted undergraduate research at Somnuero Sleep Lab studying the role of sleep in emotional memory processing. Beginning in 2023, Lev is also an MSW candidate at the Smith School for Social Work. Lev is also engaged in the community as a Hebrew/Yiddish Sunday School Teacher. Lev carries a breadth of cultural and linguistic competency, and is fluent in English, Spanish, Hebrew, and Yiddish. Lev is highly committed to social justice, especially focusing on the college experience of marginalized groups. When not working or studying, Lev is often reading and taking photographs, and they have a particular penchant and aptitude for capturing black and white film images.

Cristina Fox

EHR Specialist

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Cristina Fox obtained her bachelor of science in health psychology and business at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences in Boston. Before coming to Smith in 2010, Cristina worked as an administrator, customer service representative, and appeals coordinator for multiple health insurance corporations, as well as in human services roles. During her time at Smith, Cristina has provided comprehensive administrative support for the Schacht Center, including in records system coordination and information technology, and is the electronic health record super user. Cristina provides detailed database management, data collection, and reporting. Cristina creates and updates physical records and digital files to maintain current, accurate, and thorough compliance documentation to help support our services and our students.

Sarah Karol, RN

Staff Nurse

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As a staff nurse, Sarah Karol provides nursing care and triage to help students with well being, recovery from acute injuries and illnesses, health maintenance, education in self care, medication management, and more. A Northern Californian happily transplanted to Northampton, Sarah obtained a B.A. from Smith College in chemistry and worked in public libraries before moving into nursing. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from UMass Amherst in 2016. She has worked on a Medical/Surgical unit at Cooley Dickinson Hospital and at a primary care office in Amherst. She joined the Schacht Center as a Registered Nurse in 2021. Sarah loves working in college health, and leads with a gentle, compassionate, amiable, and inclusive approach to care. Sarah and her family live in Florence. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exploring New England, swimming, Zumba, and watching old movies.

Christina Kellogg

Clinical Assistant

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Christina serves as a clinical assistant at the Schacht Center, interfacing with students for appointment scheduling, referrals, records requests, and to support other administrative functions and clinical operations. Christina has nearly twenty years of experience in the healthcare field, beginning with her Phlebotomy studies at Porter and Chester in 2004. Christina is a NHA Certified Phlebotomist and has worked in inpatient and outpatient settings at Cooley Dickinson over the last two decades. Christina came to Smith in 2021 to help support the COVID test site, and moved into a full-time role at the Schacht Center in 2022. Christina brings her upbeat energy and organizational savvy to all of her tasks and interactions. Christina is often the first point of contact for students reaching out to the Schacht Center, and she is much appreciated for her approachable, helpful, welcoming manner. When she is not at work, Christina can often be found outdoors, engaging with her family and her community. Christina is a lifelong Easthampton resident, and she and her daughter serve as volunteer youth cheerleading coaches in town. Christina enjoys traveling, watching her three children participate in their extracurricular activities, and going on hikes with her family.

Premila Nair

Nurse Practitioner

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Premila Nair received her bachelor of arts in English, history and political science from the National University of Singapore; her master of science degree in nursing from Pace University; and her post-master’s certification as a nurse practitioner from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She came to health care after a career as a refugee advocate and teacher. Refugee work in the Sudan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Costa Rica gave her firsthand experience with the profound impact health-care providers could have on the well-being of individuals and families and led her to change her career path. Before working in college health, she was a National Health Service scholar and served in an inner-city community health center. She continues those ties by filling in as a volunteer medical provider in a local Survival Center. She maintains a strong professional interest in health care for underserved and traditionally marginalized groups (including refugee and immigrant populations), particularly relating to issues of women’s health and accessibility to services.

Katie Oleksak, Lic AC

Licensed Acupuncturist

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Katie Oleksak always had an interest in alternative medicine and knew that her profession would somehow be related to healthcare. Not knowing exactly how this would manifest, she began researching educational opportunities and learned about the New England School of Acupuncture (NESA). She received both a master of acupuncture (2011) at NESA and a master of science in pain, research, education and policy from Tufts University School of Medicine in 2011. She also studied at the Boston School of Herbal Studies apprenticeship program with a certificate in herbal medicine. She has more than a decade of experience working at natural food stores with an interest in herbal medicine and supplements for both preventative care and treatment of a wide range of acute and chronic conditions. Katie feels strongly about the integration of acupuncture, diet, nutrition and alternative therapies for overall health and wellness. She values supporting local businesses in her community, agriculture and using food as medicine. She is known to provide simple, effective and powerful acupuncture treatments to her patients for a variety of ailments including but not limited to: stress, anxiety, insomnia, pain, allergies, digestive issues, migraines and hormonal imbalance.

Susan Roach, RN

Staff Nurse

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Susan Roach, RN, received a bachelor’s of science in nursing degree from Northeastern University in 1984. After graduation, she stayed in the Boston area working at Beth Israel Hospital as a labor and delivery nurse. In 1990, she relocated back to her grandmother's historic home in her native Northampton, which she has tirelessly restored. Sue has worked at Baystate Medical Center and at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in their Maternal/Child Health units. In 1994, she started her career at Smith College Health Services as a staff nurse, and has provided exceptional care to Smith students for many years. In addition to working at Smith, during the summers, Sue has also served as a camp nurse to provide healthcare support to summer camp participants on campus, and off campus through the YMCA and Camp Wingate*Kirkland. In her over 25 years caring for Smith students, Sue has established a well-earned reputation as a thoughtful caretaker and enthusiastic advocate for student and campus community health. Sue was the recipient of a 2018 Spotlight Award for Healthcare Excellence on campus, and has been on the frontlines throughout the COVID pandemic providing testing and care. Sue is passionate about helping students to help themselves, and always keeps kindness, timeliness, and a keen sense of humor central to her care. In her spare time, Sue is a skilled gardener, upholsterer, and woodworker. She enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband, her three adult children and her dog.

Kaitlin Rooks, RN

Director of Medical Operations

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Kaitlin began her passion for nursing care while working in pediatrics at Baystate Medical Center in 2005. While attending college, she spent her summers working at Camp Greylock as a camp nurse. She completed a semester-long internship program at Boston Medical Center in pediatrics and obtained her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at Endicott College in 2009. Kaitlin then managed two short term rehabilitative units, where she focused on process improvement projects, patient and staff education and empowering the teams she worked with. In 2015, she managed the medical clinic at Mercy LIFE PACE where she supervised the medical and nursing teams in order to provide high-quality, interdisciplinary care to help keep low-income, medically complex patients living in their own home. As a Director of Resident Care at Armbrook, Kaitlin supervised the nursing staff and coordinated the care of the residents, while faced with the COVID-19 pandemic. Kaitlin began working at Smith College in October of 2021, and is interested in promoting public health and supporting innovative solutions to help meet the diverse needs of Smith Students. Kaitlin also serves on her local Board of Health, and was nominated the 2021 Citizen of the Year for her extensive community engagement and improving access to COVID vaccines in the area. She also serves on a Grant Search Committee which sources funding for community projects. In her spare time, Kaitlin enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and rescue dog Juno.

Meghan Tomalin, RN

Staff Nurse

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A native of the Pioneer Valley, Meghan obtained her nursing education through Greenfield Community College and UMASS Amherst, graduating with a bachelor’s of science in nursing in 2006. Meghan began her nursing career at Baystate Medical Center in medical care and oncology, where she thrived in the fast-paced environment and valued working with a diverse patient population. For nearly 10 years in a hospital setting, she was at the bedside, honored and privileged to care for those in their most vulnerable moments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Meghan began serving the local community as the Public Health Liaison and Contact Tracer for the Northampton Public Schools. Meghan was instrumental in trying to help track and contain local COVID cases, and in protecting the health of the community. Meghan came to Smith in early 2021, and enjoys the opportunity for patient teaching and empowerment. As a staff nurse, she brings her strengths in both direct care and public health as she engages with students regarding how they can become their own health advocate, and as she considers student health in the context of public health and health promotion on campus. Meghan is revered by the Schacht Center team as a steady, calm presence and a thoughtful clinician. Meghan also continues to work per diem in the Northampton Public Schools in the School Health Offices. Meghan and her husband are the busy parents of 3 children that keep them on their toes! They enjoy hiking as a family year-round, and they all know well the healing properties that can be found, every season, in the great outdoors.