Just a few months ago, Janelle Clarke, D.N.P. (D.N.P. ’26), hurried through the halls of the Virginia Beach Higher Education Center — home to Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Ellmer School of Nursing at Old Dominion University — to take her final exams. Soon after, she crossed the commencement stage, earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice and ready to begin the next chapter of her career.
This summer, Dr. Clarke returned to the same familiar hallways with a new purpose — to attend ODU Community Care's fifth Annual Pediatric Back-to-School Event with her daughter, Marley.
"We decided to come this year because Marley's doctor's appointment for a physical would have been during the school year," Dr. Clarke said. "It would have caused an absence and disrupted our schedule. Having this available during the summer helps us get it done without interruptions so she can try out for sports."
For Dr. Clarke, the pop-up clinic was a reminder of the positive impact that is created when a community comes together. Having volunteered and led many ODU Community Care events during her time as a student, she has witnessed firsthand how this initiative has grown, and the lasting difference it continues to make for local families.
Giving Back to the Community
Nicholas Pufpaf volunteered as an undergraduate nursing student when the pop-up event was just getting started. This year, he had the opportunity to provide care to patients in attendance as a pediatric nurse practitioner student.
"These events are so important because they're preventative care," Nicholas said. "They're an opportunity to identify health concerns early before they become emergencies. I want other people to feel inspired to continue doing this and be part of it whenever they can."
What began as a small community event serving around 40 patients has grown into an event that welcomes hundreds of families each year, supported by more than 100 students and faculty volunteers.
Beyond free sports physicals, families also receive mental health screenings, nutrition education, school supplies, backpacks and connections to community resources at no cost, all designed to help children start the school year healthy and ready to learn.
Building Meaningful Partnerships
The event's success is made possible through months of planning and the support of community partners who share a commitment to improving children's health.
Organizations and businesses, including Food Lion, Norfolk Botanical Garden, Sentara Health, REACH, Inc. and many others, work alongside ODU Community Care to provide families with free resources that extend well beyond the clinic visit.
"To put on an event like this takes months of effort," said Tammy Speerhas, D.N.P., FNP-C, chief operating officer of ODU Community Care. "But to serve our community, see our students enjoy the experience and watch families leave prepared for the school year, that's what I get up for every day."
The welcoming ambiance has become one of the event's defining characteristics. Families appreciate receiving care in a friendly environment, while watching the next generation of healthcare professionals learn through service.
For Sierra Speller, who attended the pop-clinic with her children, that sense of support made a lasting impact.
“The staff and students went above and beyond for my children," Speller said. “As a special needs mom, attending events like this can be challenging. But they made it possible for my youngest to participate, while ensuring my oldest could enjoy the experience too. I left with tears of joy, feeling incredibly grateful for the kindness, compassion and support we received.”
Learning Together, Practicing Together
While the event provides valuable care to the community, it also serves as an immersive learning experience for nursing students.
Nurse practitioner students, for instance, work with the same faculty members who teach them in the classroom. This is an uncommon opportunity in clinical education, where students often train with outside preceptors.
"They love being able to reconnect with faculty and practice alongside them," shared Jessica Parrott, D.N.P., APRN (B.S.N. '00, M.S.N. '03, D.N.P. '10), director of the pediatric nurse practitioner program at Ellmer School of Nursing at ODU.
This year's event also served as a launching point for Dr. Parrott's research project, “Speed Dating” Framework to Promote Interprofessional Engagement, an innovative, interprofessional education activity. Using a "speed dating" format, students rotated through brief conversations with peers and faculty from different healthcare disciplines while actively caring for patients.
The experience encouraged students to learn about one another's educational backgrounds, specialties and roles on the healthcare team while observing collaborative care in action. By fostering meaningful dialogue among nursing, athletic training and other health professions, students gained a deeper appreciation for how teamwork improves patient outcomes.
"We're not only serving our community," Dr. Parrott said. "We're teaching our students how different healthcare professionals work together. By modeling these behaviors, we're showing them that giving back to the community is part of becoming a healthcare provider."
As the event celebrates its fifth year, its impact continues to expand. Strengthening families, enriching student learning and building a future healthcare workforce grounded in collaboration, community and service.