ÌÇÐÄVlog

Dr. Schwartz is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. She earned her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed her residency at Harvard Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), where she also served as chief resident. She began her career in community primary care, caring for both pediatric and adult patients, and co-directed the Down Syndrome Clinic in Boston.

In 2018, Dr. Schwartz relocated to Florida to become the Chief Medical Officer of Student Health Services. In this role, she leads the clinical team in providing high-quality, student-centered medical care. Her clinical interests include primary prevention, reproductive health, and acute care. Passionate about working with college students, Dr. Schwartz is dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming environment and supporting students on their health journeys. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family.

Dr. Cowen's bio coming soon.

Dr. Gallo-Thys is a physician board certified in Internal Medicine. She grew up in Boca Raton, Florida and graduated from ÌÇÐÄVlog in 2006 majoring in Biomedical Sciences. She earned her medical degree at Nova Southeastern University in 2010. She attended the University of Massachusetts for Internal Medicine residency training where she was offered a chief medical resident position. Dr. Gallo-Thys practiced hospital-based internal medicine for several years caring for sick hospitalized patients prior to joining ÌÇÐÄVlog student health clinic in 2021. A few of Dr. Gallo-Thys’ clinical interests are acute care visits, preventative care, sexual and reproductive health, and healthcare equity. When not at work, she spends her time on the soccer field with her two sons and husband.

Dr. Jacobs is a board-certified internal medicine and obesity medicine physician who brings over a decade of experience in academic medicine and patient care to ÌÇÐÄVlog’s Student Health Services. A proud ÌÇÐÄVlog alumnus, Dr. Jacobs earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology, graduating magna cum laude, before completing a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Before returning to ÌÇÐÄVlog, Dr. Jacobs served as an attending physician and assistant professor at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he also held the role of Chief Resident in Internal Medicine. His work has spanned clinical care, medical education, quality improvement, and health leadership.

Now back in Boca Raton, Dr. Jacobs is passionate about supporting the health and well-being of ÌÇÐÄVlog students. He provides comprehensive primary care services—including preventive care, chronic disease management, and individualized weight and wellness counseling—while collaborating closely with a multidisciplinary team. He also enjoys mentoring the next generation of healthcare providers and hopes to continue mentoring future physicians and colleagues at ÌÇÐÄVlog.

Outside of the clinic, Dr. Jacobs is a proud husband and dad. He enjoys running, anything related to sports, coaching youth softball, and experimenting in the kitchen. Whether he’s on a morning jog, cheering from the dugout, or trying a new recipe at home, he brings energy, teamwork, and a strong sense of community to everything he does.

Dr. Sibia is a board-certified emergency medicine physician. She attended Nova Southeastern University for undergraduate education and Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine for medical school. She completed her emergency medicine residency at Midwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to joining Student Health Services, she worked as an emergency medicine physician at HCA-Palms West Hospital taking care of a wide variety of illnesses including being at the frontline during the Covid 19 pandemic. When not at work, Dr. Sibia enjoys spending time with her three teenagers, her husband, and her dog. She is also known to enjoy fantasy football, long walks in the morning, and reading books for leisure.

Dr. Beaman is a board-certified psychiatrist who graduated from the University of Louisville in 2016 and earned his medical degree from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in 2020. He completed general psychiatry residency training at ÌÇÐÄVlog, where he served as chief resident. While there he developed a particular passion for working with college-aged students and supporting their unique mental health needs.
Dr. Beaman’s approach blends a thorough understanding of medicine with a deep appreciation for the psychological and social factors that shape wellbeing. He believes strongly in building collaborative, empowering treatment relationships that go beyond symptom reduction, aiming instead to help each patient live a more fulfilling and balanced life.

Vanessa Grimaldi, PA-C, is a board certified Physician Assistant, certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She received her Bachelor's degree from Florida International University in Miami, FL and her Master's of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Keiser University in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She was born in New Jersey but has lived most of her life in South Florida. Vanessa has over 13 years of experience in family medicine. Vanessa is excited to be a part of the ÌÇÐÄVlog Student Health Services team as she is passionate about providing care to the college student population and promoting student wellness. Vanessa enjoys spending time with her family and spending time outdoors.

Carissa (Carrie) O’Day, PA-C, received her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and her Master of Medical Science from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut and is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Prior to working at ÌÇÐÄVlog SHS, Carrie worked in internal medicine in both private practice and in the hospital setting. Most recently she spent several years volunteering at Caridad Clinic with a focus on caring for patients with diabetes. Carrie is excited to be a part of the ÌÇÐÄVlog SHS team and is looking forward to helping college students with their health care needs. She enjoys spending time with her family, friends and pets, running, cooking, traveling, and spending time outside.

Patricia Podesta, PA-C, MS is a Nationally Board Certified Physician Assistant. She is originally from upstate New York, and she received her bachelor’s degree from Providence College in Rhode Island and her Master of Science in Physician Assistant from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey at Rutgers. Patricia has over 20 years of experience in family and internal medicine, with a focus on preventive health. With a compassionate approach, she is excited to serve the Florida Atlantic community through the Student Health Center. When she isn’t seeing patients, she likes to spend time with family and friends, listen to music, travel, and enjoys time outside.

Angela Mazzei is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She is designated as an Autonomous Advanced Practice RN. She is a fellow OWL and earned her Master of Science degree from the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at ÌÇÐÄVlog. Angela returned to ÌÇÐÄVlog to practice in the Student Health Services in 2016 after working in a primary care outpatient practice in the Fort Lauderdale area. Prior to being a Family Nurse Practitioner, she was CCRN certified and was an RN in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Broward Health Medical Center. Angela has a great interest in working with the student population as she enjoys shared decision making with the students for preventative medicine and reproductive health. Angela enjoys her time away from work traveling with her husband and children to the mountains of Virginia and to Walt Disney World.

Sophia Castellanos is a Registered Nurse who is passionate about providing compassionate, patient-centered care and helping others feel comfortable and supported throughout their healthcare experience. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain University.

Sophia began her nursing career at Broward Health, where she worked on a Cardiac Progressive Care Unit. This experience provided her with a strong clinical foundation while caring for patients with a variety of cardiac and complex medical needs. She has gained experience across a variety of clinical settings and especially enjoys patient education, health promotion, and building meaningful connections with those she cares for. She is committed to continuing her education and growing within the nursing profession.

Outside of nursing, Sophia loves staying active, baking and spending quality time with her family, husband, and dogs. Her faith is an important part of her life and inspires her to approach both her personal life and nursing career with compassion, kindness, and grace.

Watch for Fay's bio here.

Laura is a dedicated registered nurse with an associate degree from Broward College and is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in nursing. She began her nursing career at West Boca Medical Center before transitioning to Broward Health North, where she worked in the cardiac telemetry unit. Passionate about teaching, learning and expanding her nursing skills, Laura has enjoyed her new role in promoting the health and well-being of students at ÌÇÐÄVlog as part of the Student Health Services (SHS) team. Outside of her professional life, she cherishes spending time with her husband and pets.

Watch for Fay's bio here.

Kelly Penuela is a Registered Nurse who is passionate about providing compassionate, supportive, and patient-centered care. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Nova Southeastern University and brings over six years of nursing experience in neonatal intensive care, telemetry, pediatric care, and school health.
Kelly enjoys building meaningful connections with those she cares for and believes that creating a welcoming and supportive environment is an important part of healthcare. She is excited to be part of Florida Atlantic Student Health Services and looks forward to supporting the health and well-being of the ÌÇÐÄVlog community.
Outside of work, Kelly enjoys spending time with her family, exploring South Florida, and making memories with her Goldendoodle, Milo.

Watch for Fay's bio here.

As a Registered Nurse serving the student community at ÌÇÐÄVlog, Crystal is passionate about promoting health, wellness, and education. With over thirty years of healthcare experience, she is committed to providing patient-centered care that supports both the physical and emotional well-being of students. She strives to create a welcoming environment where students feel heard, respected, and empowered in their healthcare journey. In her leisure time, Crystal enjoys being outdoors with her husband. Whether she’s gardening, relaxing by the pool, visiting the dog beach, or going for a bike ride, she values time spent in nature and staying active.

Susanne DiGilio is a Certified Medical Assistant. She has worked with ÌÇÐÄVlog’s Student Health Services since 2015. Before coming to ÌÇÐÄVlog, Susanne worked in a Pediatrics office in Tampa. Susanne’s interest in patient care stems from her passion for helping bring relief to people and seeing them leave a clinic feeling better than when they came in. Supporting clinical procedures while allowing a smooth process from start to finish is among Susanne’s favorite role while treating patients and working with providers. She is originally from Philadelphia and is a big fan of several sports teams like the Eagles, Phillies and 76’ers. Susanne’s free time involves spending time with her family, including watching her kid’s sporting events.

Sabeena Zubair is a registered and licensed dietitian. She attended Florida International University for both undergraduate and graduate education and obtained her Master of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition. She completed her dietetics internship at Florida International University as well. Prior to joining Student Health Services at ÌÇÐÄVlog, Sabeena worked at Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders as one of the onsite dietitians where she managed and created meal plans, provided medical nutrition therapy via nutrition counseling using evidenced-based practice, and closely monitored weight trends for patients with various eating disorders. When not at work, Sabeena enjoys spending time with her friends and family, cooking, baking, traveling, and reading books for leisure.