Abby Eckhart, Director
Abby graduated from Radford University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Communication. Abby is currently pursuing her Master in Business Administration through Liberty University Online and hopes to graduate in 2012. Before joining student health in January 2011, Abby worked in the Office of Professional Staff Affairs for Carilion Clinic. Abby resides in Christiansburg with her chocolate lab Haley and enjoys exercising, coaching soccer, and spending time with family.
Dr. Thomas Knisely, Physician
Dr. Knisely received his undergraduate education from Pennsylvania State University. From Pennsylvania State, Dr. Knisely continued onto medical school and graduated from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1999. Dr. Kinsely completed his residency in North Carolina at Womack Army Medical Center.
Prior to starting with Radford University's student health in 2010, Dr. Knisely served as an Army physician for seven years and served four years as faculty for the Carilion Clinic Family Medicine Residency program.
Dr. Knisely’s approach to medicine includes an appreciation of the interdependence of the many body systems, emphasis on healthy lifestyles, educating people on the nature of illness and empowering them to make appropriate medical and non-medical decisions for their health.
Debbie Cline, FNP Women's Health Services Nurse Practitioner
Debbie graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1990 with a degree in Women’s Health Services. After graduating, Debbie continued her education at Radford University and graduated in 1999 with a master's in FNP. Prior to joining Radford University student health in 2010, Debbie practiced at Carilion OB/Gyn Associates in Christiansburg, Va. Debbie holds a certification as a sexual assault nurse examiner. Debbie is married and has two adult children.
Judi Cox, FNP
Judi Cox, FNP has been with Radford University Health Services since 1998. She also teaches at the university as adjunct faculty in the School of Nursing teaching pathophysiology. Judi graduated from Radford College with her B.S. in Nursing, from Radford University with her M.S.N. in Nursing, her doctoral coursework from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and her Family Nurse Practitioner post-graduate program at the University of Virginia. She also obtained a Clinical Specialist in Home Health Nursing and Gerontology from Radford University. She has experience as the head nurse on the post-operative and orthopedic units at Radford Community Hospital for seven years, manager at a urology practice for nine years and assistant professor in the School of Nursing for eight years. She continued hospital staff nursing part-time for more than 20 years. She loves her family, her faith, singing and scrap booking.
Sarah Kenney, Health Educator
Sarah is the Health Educator for Student Health and Student Counseling. She received her B.A. from University of North Carolina and was a resident of Durham, N.C. before moving to the NRV in 2010. Sarah has worked in various public health roles, such as serving as a Public Health Promoter in the Peace Corps, interpreting at UNC Hospital and Duke Medical Center, community organizing as program director for social services agency El Centro Latino, facilitating a Centering Pregnancy prenatal care group at the health department, lobbying for sexual education as a member of the Board of Directors for Adolescent Pregnancy Campaign of N.C., and providing case management for uninsured and Medicaid patients. In her free time, Sarah can be found outdoors, traveling, reading, dancing, speaking Spanish, or dreaming about owning a farm with her partner Ian.
