Tyrell Baggett

MBA, CCMA, CPT

Tyrell Baggett serves as the Practice Manager for the THRIVE Program at the UNC Physicians Network. Tyrell completed his undergraduate degree in Business Administration in Health Services and a Master’s in Business Administration, concentration in Healthcare Administration at Strayer University. He has previous experience in operations, clinical care, and executing patient care experience. He is inspired by the mission of the Avalon Network and is motivated to drive the THRIVE Program to the next level in strategic forecast planning and lean operational workflows to imprint health and resilience in the delivery of services for Veterans around the country and witness the impact the THRIVE Program has on Veterans, and their families, and their communities.

Chad Christensen

Chad serves as the THRIVE Program's Intake Coordinator and is the first point of contact for the veterans and first responders as they navigate the process for enrolling into the program. Originally from Chicago, he has been a North Carolina resident for more than a decade, living in Durham after completing his enlistment in the United States Marine Corps. He has a degree in Communications from Northeastern Illinois University and is proud to be apart of the work that the entire THRIVE Program team commits to, every day, for our front-line heroes.

Brittany Lanier

M.ED, ASCM CEP

Brittany Lanier serves as the Assistant Director of Clinic Operations for Transforming Health and Resilience in Veterans (THRIVE) Program. Brittany’s background is in Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and she is a Certified Exercise Physiologist. She is responsible for day-to-day clinic operations, staffing, and scheduling. Brittany completed her undergraduate degree in Sport Medicine at Radford University and Master’s in Exercise Science at Tennessee State University. Brittany enjoys working with Veterans and First Responders at the THRIVE Program, and watching them progress towards their goals and the pride the have from achieving their accomplishments.

Marcus Peoples

BS, Army Veteran

Marcus Peoples serves as the Clinical Navigator for the Transforming Health and Resilience in Veterans (THRIVE) Program. As the Clinical Navigator, he is responsible for providing Veterans with program information, screening Veterans for eligibility and collecting program documents.

Marcus is excited for the opportunity to continue serving our military and first responder communities. He hopes that his personal experiences as a Veteran allows him to make the necessary connections to ease whatever concerns and anxiety that our clients may have when seeking to learn more about the THRIVE Program.

Sam Rodriguez

BS, MSG (Ret.)

Master Sergeant (Retired) Sam Rodriguez serves as the THRIVE Program’s Veteran Outreach and Program Coordinator. He is dedicated to connecting military Veterans, first responders, and their families to the benefits of the THRIVE Program. Sam graduated from Campbell University in 2004 with a B.S. in Health Sciences and a minor in Biology, while serving on active duty in the U. S. Army for twenty-nine years, with many of those years assigned to U.S. Army Special Forces and U.S. Army Special Operations Units.

Early in Sam’s military enlistment (1979-1987), he was assigned to various leadership positions within the U.S. Army Cavalry and Field Artillery branches stationed in Germany, California, Hawaii, and Oklahoma. Promoted to Staff Sergeant in 1988, Sam volunteered and was selected to attend the U.S. Army Special Forces Qualification Course at Ft. Bragg, NC. Upon graduating from the U.S. Army Special Forces Medic course in 1990 he was assigned to a Special Forces Operations Detachment-Alpha (ODA) with the U. S. Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (7th SFG(A)) at Ft. Bragg, NC. In 1995 Sam was assigned as an instructor at the U.S. Army Special Warfare Center and School at Ft. Bragg, NC, to train the next generation of Special Forces and Special Operation Medics for four of the five branches of the United States military at the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center at Ft. Bragg, NC.

In 1998, Sam returned to the 7th SFG(A) at Ft. Bragg, NC, and served several more years on an ODA before he was selected to serve in the 7th SFG(A) Headquarters Surgeon’s Office as the Senior Operations Sergeant. Sam’s final posting in the U.S. Army was to serve as a Senior Enlisted Advisor for the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), Command Surgeons Office at Ft. Bragg, NC. Upon retirement from the U. S. Army after twenty- nine years of service in 2009, Sam continued to serve the military as a Lessons Learned Senior Operations Analyst for the USASOC, Headquarters at Ft. Bragg, NC.
Sam is a proud father of five adult children and many grandchildren! Three of his children have served or are currently serving in the United States military as well.

Sam is grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve our military and first responder communities with the UNC THRIVE team. He is optimistic that with the help of the UNC THRIVE teams and coordination with the veteran’s health care providers we can find long-term innovative solutions to ultimately increase the quality of life for those that have given so much of themselves and their families for the security of our country.

Michael Smith

Michael Smith serves as the accounting technician for the THRIVE Program. He is responsible for recording and processing financial transactions, maintaining financial ledgers and reports, and conducting monthly reconciliations. He also helps book travel and process reimbursements for program participants. He works closely with the administrative team and staff on day-to-day financial operations.

Kaylin Smith

BS

Kaylin Smith serves as the Medical Office Assistant for THRIVE Program at the UNC Physicians Network. Kaylin attained her Bachelor's degree in Business Management at North Carolina A&T State University. With previous experience in patient care and administration, Kaylin looks forward to working with the THRIVE Program and helping to make a difference in the lives of Veterans and first responders.

Michelle Ward

CBIS

Michelle serves as the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) Coordinator for the Transforming Health and Resilience in Veterans Program (THRIVE) Program. Michelle’s previous experience includes working with veterans with traumatic brain injury in a one-on-one setting in the community. She is responsible for scheduling IOP and assisting veterans in navigating through the clinic. Michelle completed her degree in Exercise Sports Science from East Carolina University and is currently a Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS).
Michelle is excited for the opportunity to continue serving the Veteran and First Responder community through the UNC THRIVE Program and watching their growth through the program.

Lindsey Byom

PhD, CCC-SLP

Dr. Lindsey Byom serves as the Speech Language Pathologist for the THRIVE Program. She earned a clinical master’s degree in speech-language pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After completing her clinical degree, she earned a Ph.D., from UW-Madison, where she studied the cognitive and communication effects of traumatic brain injury. After graduation, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center where she studied cognitive and perceptual effects of blast-related traumatic brain injury experienced by Military Service Members. She then continued her research and clinical work at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, completing the VA’s Advanced Fellowship in Women’s Health while serving Veterans with communication needs. In 2018 she joined the Department of Allied Health Sciences at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine.

Wesley R. Cole

PhD, CBIS

Wesley “Wes” Cole is a Research Associate Professor with the Matthew Gfeller Center in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also serves as a neuropsychologist for the Transforming Health and Resilience In Veterans (THRIVE) Program. Wes completed his undergraduate degree in Psychology from James Madison University in 2000. He obtained his masters (2003) and doctoral (2006) degrees in Clinical Psychology from the University of South Carolina. As part of his graduate training, he completed a pre- and postdoctoral training at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, an affiliate of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist, a member of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, and former Chair of the Board of Directors for the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina.

Wes joined UNC and the THRIVE Program in 2022 after 13 years at Womack Army Medical Center on Fort Liberty (then Fort Bragg), where he served as a neuropsychologist, research lead, and chief of behavioral health services for the Intrepid Spirit Center. He has been the Principal Investigator for multiple TBI-related studies and has authored or co-authored numerous peer reviewed publications. He frequently presents at conferences and professional meetings on various topics related to brain injury. His primary research interests are with cognitive assessment and outcomes following concussion, autonomic nervous system dysregulation after concussion, return to duty assessment for military warfighters, and innovative treatments for postconcussive symptoms.

Daniel Fenton

MS, CCC-SLP

Daniel Fenton serves as a speech-language pathologist for the UNC THRIVE program. He earned his B.A. in psychology here at UNC Chapel Hill and his clinical master’s degree in communication sciences & disorders at East Carolina University. Daniel’s prior experiences include graduate training in intensive neurological rehab at Atrium Health in Charlotte, NC, as well as a clinical fellowship in intensive inpatient neurological rehab at UNC Nash Hospital. Prior to joining THRIVE, Daniel spent over 4 years working in outpatient neuro rehab at WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh, NC, with a focus on multidisciplinary post-TBI rehab.

His areas of expertise include concussion, TBI, stroke, neurodegenerative disorders, dysphagia, and post-COVID rehab. He has also engaged in extensive advocacy and education for patients affected by TBI and stroke through local TV and radio appearances, as well as engagement with local non-profits. Daniel joined the THRIVE team in May of 2023, and as someone from a family with deep military ties, he is thrilled by the opportunity to serve veterans and first responders in such a cutting-edge program.

Erica Gaskins

PT, DPT

Erica Gaskins serves as a physical therapist for the THRIVE Program. Erica earned her Bachelor of Science, with Honors, in Health and Exercise Science and a minor in Neuroscience from Wake Forest University. Through these studies, she became passionate about the mind-body connection and continued her education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Here, she earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and was the recipient of the distinguished Margaret L. Moore Student Recognition Award and several scholarships. Erica focuses her practice on outpatient neurological and vestibular rehabilitation and has experience working with individuals with traumatic brain injury, concussion, spine impairments, stroke, degenerative disease, and balance problems. She has participated in clinical research, attended multiple conferences, served as a mentor to physical therapy students, and been recognized by her colleagues for her outstanding responsibility, pride, and teamwork. She is passionate about working on a multidisciplinary team and treating individuals holistically to help them achieve improved quality of life. As part of the THRIVE Program, she is excited to give back to Veterans and first responders by contributing to their recovery and wellness journey.

Alexandra Giacona

LCMHC, LPCC, LMHC

Alexandra “Ali” Giacona serves as the Expressive Art Therapist for the THRIVE Program and is also a licensed therapist. She holds a license in North Carolina, California, and Massachusetts, After graduating college in 2010 she knew she wanted to combine her love of counseling and art to help others in need. She helped develop and implement a Life Skills program in the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, NJ working with incarcerated women. She then earned her master’s degree from Lesley University in 2013 in Cambridge, MA. She studied both expressive art therapy and mental health counseling. She delivered the commencement speech for her graduating class in 2013. Alexandra worked at McClean Hospital in Belmont, MA for five years post graduate school in both the adolescent residential program as well as the adult inpatient unit serving as a group therapist. Simultaneously, she gained experience, and a specialty, working with eating disorders at Monte Nido Eating Disorder Treatment Program in Medford, MA. This inspired her to continue her education at the Academy of Healing Nutrition in NY earning her certificate in nutritional counseling. After living in the Boston area, she moved to California and worked as a primary therapist at Paradigm Treatment Center serving adolescents in the San Francisco area. She then joined a group practice where she served private outpatient clients. She moved to North Carolina in 2022 to serve as the Clinical Director at the Art Therapy Institute, a nonprofit mental health agency that focused on providing expressive art therapy to the community. She is thrilled to now be part of the THRIVE program. She loves working with the veteran population and helping to utilize both counseling and art therapy to help foster therapeutic growth and healing.

Heidi Greata

PT, DPT

Heidi Greata serves as the vestibular physical therapist for the THRIVE Program. A native of Saratoga Springs, New York, she graduated from Nazareth College of Rochester in 2008 with a B.S. in Health and Human Services and minors in Psychology and Gerontology. She then continued on for her doctorate in physical therapy at Nazareth College; graduating in 2010. She has served in a variety of clinical settings in Colorado, North Carolina, and Florida focusing on acute and subacute neurological impairments, and is primarily passionate about vestibular rehabilitation and craniofacial pain. At St. Mary’s Medical Center, she was an influential clinician in educating residents at the acute level on differentially diagnosing and treating benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and became certified in Vestibular Rehabilitation Theory, Evidence and Practical Application. During her time at Northwest Florida ENT, she was the lead therapist in the balance center and furthered her studies and treatment of craniofacial pain. In 2021 she joined therapy services at UNC’s Center for Rehabilitation Care in Chapel Hill. She is eager to support Veterans in their recovery.

Robert J. Kanser

PhD

Dr. Kanser serves as the neuropsychologist for the THRIVE Program. He received his B.S. in Biopsychology from the University of Michigan where he gained his earliest experiences working with veterans with history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) at the Ann Arbor VA. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Neuropsychology from Wayne State University (Detroit, MI). He completed his 1-year residency and 2-year postdoctoral fellowship in Neuropsychology at the James A. Haley VA (Tampa, FL). In 2021, he joined the clinical faculty of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine. Working with civilians, veterans, and active-duty service members with histories of TBI has been a primary clinical/research interest throughout his career.

Dana Lebo

PhD

Dr. Dana Lebo serves as the Clinical/Counseling Psychologist for the THRIVE Program. Born on a naval base to a naval lieutenant and mother of a lieutenant in the army, the military has played an ongoing role in Dr. Lebo’s life. Last year, she volunteered at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin for Operation Allies Welcome (OAS) to provide behavioral health services to Afghan refugees. For 25 years, Dr. Lebo has applied her extensive background in psychologies of performance, health, leadership, sports, mind-body and whole brain integration to help hundreds of individuals, retired professional athletes, teams, couples, and families achieve their personal and professional goals. Dr. Lebo devotes her career to helping people build the skill sets of managing the stress, conflict, complexities and opportunities of busy home and work lives. Over the years, she has also specialized in areas of trauma, substance abuse and pain management.

Dr. Lebo earned her Ph.D. in psychology from Columbia University and Master’s degrees from Columbia’s Teachers College and Georgetown University’s School of Graduate Studies. She completed her psychology internship at Manhattan Psychiatric Center and supported residents dealing with substance abuse and trauma. She began her career in the field of international development with fellowships to study anthropology and Arabic in the Middle East, manage projects at a global relief agency in Cairo, and teach English and resettlement skills to refugees at the American Cultural Center in Alexandria, Egypt.

Elizabeth Lewis

MAT, ATC, LAT

Elizabeth “Liz” Lewis is an Athletic Trainer serving as THRIVE’s Medical Therapeutic Specialist. She will be working closely with our Physiatrist and Physical Therapist to provide rehab exercises where appropriate and follow-up with veterans on those exercises and certain referrals among other tasks. She graduated from Liberty University in 2008 with a B.S. in Athletic training then attended Columbus State University in Georgia and graduated in 2011 with a Master’s in Health and Physical Education. Liz's prior experience includes working at Ft. Jackson in a basic training battalion helping to evaluate and rehab injured trainees so that they could remain in training and on track to graduate. Her Grandfather and Father retired from the US Navy, her husband served in the US Army, and two of her brothers still serve, one in the US Navy and one in the US Air Force. Having grown up in a military family, she is excited to help support Veterans, their families, and those who have given so much for our country.

Lisa Padgett

PharmD, BCACP, CPP

Lisa Padgett is from Eastern North Carolina where she began working in a pharmacy as a teenager. She completed her PharmD in 2008 and community pharmacy practice residency in 2009 at UNC Chapel Hill. She has since held a variety of roles throughout her pharmacy practice career. She spent 6 years in Boston where she was an assistant professor at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences as an experiential education coordinator prior to establishing a primary care practice site at Mount Auburn Primary Care Center. There she precepted PharmD students, pharmacy residents, PA students, NP students and medical residents. She also enjoyed working on process improvement in the Harvard Medical School Academic Innovations Collaborative, a joint venture with the Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and Qualis Health focused on high functioning teams, population health, and patient engagement. She was also part of the creation and implementation of a multidisciplinary clinic focused on the care of complex geriatric patients in the primary care setting. Since returning to NC in 2017, she’s spent time managing chronic conditions for various employers, serving as a sub-PI on statin intolerance research, and working in and managing a community pharmacy before joining UNC Health in the fall of 2021. She maintains Board Certification in Ambulatory Care and is a judge for the American Society of Health System Pharmacist’s Annual Clinical Skills Competition. She joined the THRIVE Program in Fall 2022. When not in the THRIVE Program she is on a team devoted to helping patients take their prescribed medications. Outside of work she is often found doing PTA work and playing detective to figure out what kind of contraband her 90lb Lab mix recently ate.

John Schimmelfing

PharmD, CPP, CTH

John Schimmelfing grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with early exposure to pharmacy as his grandfather owned a small, independent pharmacy in the mountains of North Carolina. John completed his undergraduate prerequisite courses at Elon University before earning his PharmD at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in 2013. He then completed a PGY1 Community-based Pharmacy Residency with Virginia Commonwealth University and Kroger Pharmacy in Charlottesville, VA before moving back to North Carolina. He practiced as a clinical pharmacist for 8 years at the on-campus health center at UNC-Chapel Hill and shifted to UNC Health in early 2023, where he now chiefly helps patients manage chronic medical conditions. He commissioned as a pharmacy officer in the United States Public Health Service Ready Reserve Corps in 2022. Having served and trained alongside members of other military branches, he is looking forward to supporting and providing care to Veterans.

Evan M. Vitiello

MD

Dr. Evan Vitiello serves as the Psychiatrist for the THRIVE Program. After graduating from the University of Virginia in 2012 with a B.A. in Psychology, he attended the University of Virginia School of Medicine and graduated in 2016 with his doctorate in medicine. He completed his Psychiatry residency at the University of North Carolina Hospitals in 2020 and then went on to complete a Forensic Psychiatry fellowship at Yale Division of Law and Psychiatry in 2021. While there, he provided psychiatric services to veterans at the West Haven VA, as well as conducted evaluations for the Yale Law School Veterans Legal Services Clinic. After completing his fellowship, he joined the faculty in the Department of Psychiatry at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine.

Liz Watt

RD, CSOWM, LDN

Liz is the Registered Dietitian at the UNC THRIVE clinic in Chapel Hill. She obtained her Bachelors of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics at Kent State University and did her dietetic internship at North Carolina Central University. She has been a dietitian since 2003. Liz began her career at the UNC Wellness Centers where she worked with clients individually assisting them with their nutrition concerns. She also worked with the UNC Hospitals Cardiac Rehabilitation program, offering individual counseling in addition to group education classes and grocery store tours. Currently at THRIVE, Liz educates veterans and first responders on healthy nutrition with individualized counseling, grocery store tours, and cooking classes. Recently, Liz has obtained the certification of board certified specialist in Obesity and Weight Management.

Jon Weinberg

Following his military service Jon Weinberg earned his BSc (Hons) from the Royal London School of Physiotherapy (UEL) in 1994. He moved to the US in 1996, opening Team care Physical Therapy a certified McKenzie clinic in 1999. Jon was introduced to the Mckenzie method in 1997 and successfully attained his Diploma in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy in 2005. He is a member of the McKenzie Institute faculty since 2008 and teaches the Mckenzie method both in the USA and overseas.
Jon is actively involved in research and has co-authored multiple published research articles in peer review journals. Jon is an affiliate member of UNC medical school and divides his time between his Team Care Physical Therapy practice, UNC Athletics, the Brain and Body Program and has joined the THRIVE Program team in 2023.

Devon Weist

Au.D. CCC-A

Devon Weist serves as the audiologist for the THRIVE Program. She is originally from Pennsylvania and earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and clinical doctoral degrees in Audiology from the University of Pittsburgh. She completed her clinical externship year at the University of Florida and post-graduation stayed at UF as a clinical assistant professor for 5 years. At UF, Devon helped to start audiologic vestibular services for student athletes suffering concussions. She then continued her clinical and teaching work at the University of South Florida where she served as the Audiology Clinic Director for 9 years. In 2022 she joined the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and in 2023 she joined the THRIVE Program. Clinically, Devon works with patients who have hearing and/or balance disorders with experience in not only audiologic and vestibular diagnostics but also in managing and counseling regarding these disorders. Devon’s family has military ties, and she is honored to serve and provide veterans and first responders with support and management of hearing, balance, and tinnitus difficulties.

Francis M. Beaudette

LTG (Ret.)

LTG (Ret.) Francis Beaudette retired in July 2021 as a United States Army Lieutenant General who last served as Commanding General of the United States Army Special Operations Command headquartered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was commissioned in 1989 as an Armor Officer through the ROTC program at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.

His General Officer assignments include Deputy Commanding General (1st Armored Division; Fort Bliss, Texas), Deputy Commanding General for Support (Joint Special Operations Command; Fort Bragg, NC), and United States Central Command (Forward; in Jordan). Prior to serving as Commanding General for USASOC, LTG (Ret.) Beaudette served as Commanding General for 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne).

General Beaudette is also a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the United States Army War College.

Stephen M. DeLellis

MPAS-C, LTC (Ret.)

LTC (Ret.) Stephen DeLellis is a Physician Assistant with more than 36 years of experience in Army Special Operations and more than 16 combat deployments in six conflicts including Operation Just Cause (Panama), Operation Gothic Serpent (Mogadishu, Somalia), Operation Uphold Democracy (Haiti), Operation Deliberate Force (The Balkans), US Embassy Duty (Manila, Philippines), and has participated in eleven rotations in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Steve previously served as the Deputy Surgeon for the XVIII Airborne Corps, Chief of Medical Training for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), with oversight of the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center (JSOMTC), and as the Deputy Command Surgeon for the United States Army Special Operations Command.

His interests include Traumatic Brain Injury Research, including management and guidance of the longest continually running TBI surveillance project in the Special Operations community. He has co-authored more than a dozen articles on mild traumatic brain injury in Special Operations Forces and is a collaborator on numerous DOD projects within USASOC.

Steve is an Army Medical Department Iron Major, a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit and the 2019 United States Army recipient of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation Hero of Military Medicine award. Steve is the principal advisor and founder at Defense Medical Strategies and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Fort Bragg Research Institute.

Lewis C. Merletti

Director of Secret Service (Ret.)

Director Merletti was the 19th Director of the United States Secret Service. A 25-year Veteran of the United States Secret Service, Director Merletti has also served as Assistant Director in the Office of Training, and as the Special Agent in Charge of the Presidential Protection Division.

In his preceding military career, Director Merletti completed Basic, Advanced Infantry Training (AIT), Jump School, and Special Forces Training Phases I and II of US Special Forces Tactics
and Techniques Training. He completed 42 weeks of intense Special Forces MOS Medic training. He attended and graduated from the Special Forces Vietnamese language training course with limited fluency skills. He served for three years, including a tour of duty as a Special Forces medic in Vietnam with 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He earned numerous military honors including the Bronze Star, Certificate of Achievement of Meritorious Performance, Combat Medical Badge, Good Conduct Medal, and Parachute Wings.

Pete Naschak

CMDCM (Ret.)

Pete Naschak retired from the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams after a 21-year career where he held various operational and leadership positions and participated in military contingency operations throughout the world. His final tour was with SEAL Team FIVE as their Command Master Chief. Throughout his career, Pete has had direct experience and involvement with wounded warriors and the families under his care and is dedicated to continuing that support in the future. After retirement, Pete finished a Master of Science degree in Global Leadership, a qualification as a Project Management Professional (PMP), and a certificate in Global Business Management and Strategy.

Pete served as the President of the Board of Directors for the Lone Survivor Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports injured military personnel and their families suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Injury, TBI, and serious combat injury. Pete is a Co-Founder for Senaptec and currently runs his own business focusing on specialized consulting efforts for companies such as Nike, Inc. and Red Bull North America.