Old Dominion’s growing ties with CHKD

By Irv Harrell (M.A. '19)

Tina Gustin has two titles.

She's director of Old Dominion University's Center for Telehealth Innovation, Education and Research in Virginia Beach.

Gustin is also the clinical manager for telehealth at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters and volunteers in a program that uses therapy dogs to help patients overcome stress and anxiety.

Her dual roles at Old Dominion and CHKD illustrate the close connections the institutions have forged.

ODU's School of Nursing works closely with the hospital. Many pre-licensure nursing students and family, pediatric and neonatal nurse practitioner students do their practicums at CHKD or its medical group practices.

Most of the nursing staff at CHKD have ODU degrees, said Karen Karlowicz, chair of the School of Nursing. "As well, many CHKD nurses have returned to ODU for graduate nursing degrees."

CHKD also is connected with the college's School of Medical Diagnostic and Translational Sciences. Each summer and fall, several students complete their clinical rotations at the hospital's laboratories.

"The School of Nursing has a strong and longstanding clinical partnership with CHKD, the only freestanding children's hospital in the Commonwealth," Karlowicz said. "As we work to expand education and research in the area of telehealth, the connection to CHKD now and into the future is vitally important to ensure that the products and programs we develop will meet the needs of pediatric patients, their families and the providers who care for them."

Irv Harrell (M.A. '19) is coordinator of strategy and marketing for the College of Health Sciences.