Melissa Vavrica is a graduate of Molloy College with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Early Intervention from Touro College. She went on to pursue a career within the healthcare industry and has had experience serving patients, and their families’ needs in the skilled nursing environment for the past few years. As an individual who has had a family member in a nursing home with cognitive issues, along with other family members requiring care, she strives for excellence in caring for the needs of patients and their families. She looks forward to supporting families in the admission process and being compassionate in understanding their needs, since she has been through the process.. If Melissa is able to facilitate making it an easy process, then she considered that a success. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her family, friends, traveling, and creating positive experiences within life.

Linda graduated from Adelphi University earning her Master’s Degree and is a Licensed Social Worker, who recently joined the Rockville Team. She brings almost 20 years of experience in working with the geriatric population and assisting residents and families in their time of need. Linda enjoys spending time with her family and making all kinds of desserts during her time off.

Kevin has been part of the Rockville team since 2013. He originally joined the Rockville as a part-time receptionist, eventually transitioning into the Director of Concierge Services position. Kevin is a recent graduate of Molloy College, with a B.A. in History. Kevin is very excited to get to know all of the residents and their families. In his spare time, Kevin enjoys spending time with his wife Danielle as they go on many adventures together.

Kristi graduated from Queens College with her bachelor of science in nutrition and dietetics in just three years earning, cum laude status. Kristi was eager to learn more and then decided to pursue her masters of science in nutrition from Lehman College, where she also completed her dietetic internship. She became a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) in September of 2016 and became a certified dietitian nutritionist (CDN) in December of 2016.

Kristi served as a dietitian in a nursing and rehabilitation center in Queens from July 2016 – May 2018, with a focus on supporting short term, long term, and memory care residents. Her personable skills and desire to gain more knowledge earned her a position at Rockville Skilled Nursing Center as Chief Clinical Dietitian and Food Service Director. Her clinical skills enable her to provide each resident with the individualized nutrition plan they require to heal. Her open mind allows for changes in the menu to best support a patient-centered experience for all healing at Rockville Center.

You can often find Kristi on the units conversing with residents about their meals or in the kitchen coming up with the next best food item!

Medjn comes to our community with 12 years of experience as an LPN. Her passion is taking care of the geriatric population, as well as advocating for them. She is extremely passionate about her job inside and out of the community. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking.

Susan has been the Administrator of Rockville since 2007 and loves the community’s small, intimate setting which allows her to interact daily with the residents, staff, and visitors. She can often be found walking Rocky, her Yellow Labrador, through the community greeting residents, staff & visitors!

In 1994, Susan earned her Master’s Degree with Distinction in Gerontology Administration from Hofstra University. She spent two years working as Assistant Administrator before successfully earning her Administrator’s license in 2007.

Susan has been in the long term care field for more than twenty years. After receiving her B.A. in Music Therapy from Molloy College, she started her long term care career as a Music Therapist and Recreation Leader. Shortly thereafter, she became a Recreation Director and worked in that capacity for thirteen years.

“We are proud of the care we provide, the relationships we develop and the family that is our facility. We are the small community with the Big Heart”- Susan Welge

Tobiann Campbell is a registered nurse and Director of Nursing at Rockville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Tobiann received a Bachelor’s Degree from CUNY and has experienced the nursing profession in a school nursing environment, home care, and long-term care. She has also been a Regional Assistant Director of Nursing in the five boroughs of New York. Her devotion to her craft is to be present for our patients and their families. Tobiann has been in the nursing field for seven years and is a loving wife and mother to two wonderful boys.

Melissa Vavrica is a graduate of Molloy College with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Early Intervention from Touro College. She went on to pursue a career within the healthcare industry and has had experience serving patients, and their families’ needs in the skilled nursing environment for the past few years. As an individual who has had a family member in a nursing home with cognitive issues, along with other family members requiring care, she strives for excellence in caring for the needs of patients and their families. She looks forward to supporting families in the admission process and being compassionate in understanding their needs, since she has been through the process.. If Melissa is able to facilitate making it an easy process, then she considered that a success. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her family, friends, traveling, and creating positive experiences within life.

Chaviva commonly builds a plan of care that takes into consideration the patient’s prior level of functioning in an effort to meet and exceed all goals. She is very proud and excited to be a part of the rehabilitation team here at Rockville Center!

April graduated from Molloy College with her Bachelor’s Degree, going on to receive a Master’s degree from Fordham University as a clinical social worker with a focus on hospital social work. She enjoys working with people in hospital settings as a marketer, and she appreciates the hard work that the hospital staff endures. April is always available to assist with the transferring of their patients for rehabilitation or skilled nursing at Rockville.

She feels it’s an honor to work in a community that she was born and raised in as the Director of Marketing & Community Relations. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children, husband, and dog, and loves being in the garden, planting, and finding different beautiful things to grow.

Linda graduated from Adelphi University earning her Master’s Degree and is a Licensed Social Worker, who recently joined the Rockville Team. She brings almost 20 years of experience in working with the geriatric population and assisting residents and families in their time of need. Linda enjoys spending time with her family and making all kinds of desserts during her time off.

Nicole has served in many roles since joining the Rockville team in 2012. Her responsibilities have included Accounts Payable and Receivable, Medical Billing, as well as Payroll and Employee Benefits.

Working in Rockville has provided Nicole with valuable and professional work experience while allowing her the opportunity to serve the healthcare needs of her local community. Outside of work, Nicole is the ultimate soccer mom, spending time with her husband and five children. Nicole also volunteers at her children’s schools and many other charitable organizations in the community.

Pia has been a physical therapist assistant for over 20 years. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Pace University and then went on to earn an additional associate’s degree from Nassau Community College to become a physical therapy assistant.

She is certified in soft tissue massage, myofascial release, and vestibular training. Pia is bilingual, speaking both English and Italian fluently, and can always be found smiling in the rehabilitation gym! Pia’s motto is “always treat a resident as family and as you would want to be treated.”

Faeth is a Registered Dietitian and NYS Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist, who has been a part of our team since 2019. Faeth received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science from Stony Brook University. She spent years working in food service, medical billing, and healthcare administration, before returning to school at CUNY Queens College. There, she received her second Bachelor of Science degree, this time in Nutrition and Dietetics. She then completed her dietetic internship at CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, where she is currently earning a Master of Public Health degree in Public Health Nutrition.  Faeth strives to serve her community to the best of her ability, as demonstrated by her years of volunteer work with City Harvest and New York Cares. In her free time, Faeth enjoys baking, running, and playing guitar and ukulele. 

Whether you come to us for a week, a month, or a year, our goal is to make every day a better day for our residents and their families. Ms. Bowden believes that her education in art at Nassau Community College and Art Therapy/Psychology at LIU-CW Post provided her with the tools and skills to provide residents with the highest quality of life on a daily basis.

Debbie has been a baseball coach, a manager, and league director in various towns on Long Island as well as serving on the board of Lynbrook Little League. She has played kickball for several seasons and currently, referees matches in the community. She also enjoys crafts, art, and music, but her biggest love is family!

Debbie takes her skill of recreation therapy, back to personal life and vice versa, it’s all about improving the quality of life!

Kristi graduated from Queens College with her bachelor of science in nutrition and dietetics in just three years earning, cum laude status. Kristi was eager to learn more and then decided to pursue her masters of science in nutrition from Lehman College, where she also completed her dietetic internship. She became a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) in September of 2016 and became a certified dietitian nutritionist (CDN) in December of 2016.

Kristi served as a dietitian in a nursing and rehabilitation center in Queens from July 2016 – May 2018, with a focus on supporting short term, long term, and memory care residents. Her personable skills and desire to gain more knowledge earned her a position at Rockville Skilled Nursing Center as Chief Clinical Dietitian and Food Service Director. Her clinical skills enable her to provide each resident with the individualized nutrition plan they require to heal. Her open mind allows for changes in the menu to best support a patient-centered experience for all healing at Rockville Center.

You can often find Kristi on the units conversing with residents about their meals or in the kitchen coming up with the next best food item!

Olivia is the Speech-Language Pathologist at Rockville. She graduated from Iona College- B.A. Speech-Language Pathology, and Molloy College- M.S. Speech-Language Pathology. Her favorite part of her job, is making her patients smile, building meaningful relationships with them and helping improve their overall quality of life. While earning her master’s degree, she completed her clinical work in several different settings providing speech therapy to children, as young as 3 years old, as well as adults, up to the age of 112. She quickly learned that she had a passion for the geriatric population, treating speech, language, cognitive and swallowing disorders, and began her career working in skilled nursing facilities. In her spare time, she loves baking, spending time with friends and family, and soaking up the sun at the beach!

Greeting everyone with a smile, Amanda is a young and motivated individual who brings years of customer service experience to the Rockville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. While attending CUNY Queens College, Amanda studied Communications extensively. Amanda strives to do the very best, pleasing each and every person who comes through the door.

Medjn comes to our community with 12 years of experience as an LPN. Her passion is taking care of the geriatric population, as well as advocating for them. She is extremely passionate about her job inside and out of the community. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking.

Christine went to New York Institute Of Technology Bachelors in Life Science 2014-2018, Doctorate in Physical Therapy 2017-2020 (3+3 Life Sciences/DPT program).Her favorite part of being a Physical Therapist at Rockville Centre is giving people confidence to do things that they used to do everyday prior to their hospitalization, and just putting a smile on residents faces when they accomplish something they had difficult performing when they first arrived. She graduated with her DPT in 2020, but has been in healthcare working as a rehabilitation aide since 2013. She played college softball from 2014-2018 and had numerous injuries and had great athletic trainers and Physical Therapist help her along the way to get back to doing what she loves and that’s why wanted to be able to do the same for others one day. Christine always loved fitness and promoting health to other people, and physical therapy is the perfect profession for that. She is now the head coach of a 14u softball team. She enjoys going to country concerts, going to the gym, spending time with her friends and family, spending time outdoors at the beach or going on hikes.

Rickie comes to Rockville with 18 years of experience in the healthcare field. He is the Director of Maintenance/ Environmental Services. His favorite part of his position is seeing patients arrive at the community not being able to ambulate or, at times, move and witnessing their progress upon discharge. In his spare time, he enjoys being around his children

Rocky is a yellow labrador who is known as the “fur baby” of Rockville’s Administrator, Susan Welge. He volunteers one-two times per week and spends his days visiting the residents and staff of Rockville.

He is always excited to see his “work bag” out and waiting to go in the morning. He knows that means he will get to see all of his friends at Rockville.

Rocky eagerly gives tail wags, nuzzles and hand/paw shakes to everyone he sees. Additionally, when needed, he encourages residents to complete tasks that make them nervous…such as walking across the rehab gym with the therapist or standing in the parallel bars where they get to cuddle with him upon meeting their goal.

Rocky has even been known to greet visitors, family members and guests arriving for a first-time tour of Rockville. No matter what the day brings, Rocky receives as much love and happiness as he gives when he is out and about in the community.