Meet and Contact the Team
Health Service
124 Raymond Avenue
Box 17
Poughkeepsie, New York 12604-0017
Baldwin Hall
Vassar College Box 17
Margot Schinella, Family Nurse Practitioner; Director of Health Service, FNP-C
Mark Papish, MD, Supervising Physician
Paulina Taylor, Nurse Practitioner
Kimberly Szwartz, Physician Assistant
Bridget Romani, Nursing Coordinator
Simona Cohen, Registered Nurse
Sharon (Shay) Otis, Registered Nurse
Janice Fracchiola, Medical Assistant
Felicia Cruz, Medical Assistant
Jennifer Vargas, Medical Assistant
Jennifer Ortiz, Medical Assistant
Carolanne Blabac, Administrative Assistant
Ursula Illardi, Administrative Assistant
Vanessa Cutchin, Administrative Assistant
Meet the Team
Margot Schinella, Family Nurse Practitioner; Director of Health Service, FNP-C
she/her • mschinella@vassar.edu • (845) 437-5802 • English and German
Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine; College Health; Eating Disorder/Disordered Eating Management. AHA CPR instructor, PALS, and ACLS certified
What inspired you to pursue a career in healthcare?
As a child, I could never see an ambulance drive by and not think “I wonder what is going on in the back of that ambulance.” I was awed that one emergency responder could have the ability to make such a drastic difference in the outcome of their patient. I knew from early on that I wanted to be a change-maker. That I wanted to positively impact my patient’s outcome through sound clinical decision-making and high-quality clinical skills.
What do you love most about your profession?
As a Family Nurse Practitioner, we are trained in the nursing model which stresses the importance of patient education and holistic patient care. Having the ability to interact with the college-age population and teach life skills at such a momentous developmental turning point is what I love most about my job. My goal is to help our students learn about their bodies and their health in a manner that will benefit them well past their college years.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I enjoy running, mostly 5k and 10k distances with the occasional half marathon. I love spending time with my family and my pets, including the most recent addition of a semi-aquatic turtle. In my spare time, I help my husband with construction projects and it is not uncommon to see me wearing a pink toolbelt and driving heavy equipment.
If you could provide one piece of advice to your patients, what would it be?
Listen to your body. If it doesn’t feel right, get it checked out since you know your body the best.
Board Certifications: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Awards and Recognitions: Dutchess County Chamber of Commerce 40 Under 40 Award Recipient 2021
Professional Affiliations: American College Health Association; Dutchess County Chamber of Commerce Women's Leadership Alliance; Dutchess County Chamber of Commerce Health and Wellbeing Committee; Dutchess County Department of Health Suicide and Overdose Prevention Committee; Dutchess County Department of Health Sexual Health Coalition Member; ACHA LGBTQ+ Coalition
Education: BA performance music/German Studies Vassar College; BS Nursing Pace University; MS Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner Mount Saint Mary College
Mark Papish, MD, Supervising Physician
Paulina Nunez, Nurse Practitioner
Bridget K. Romani, Nursing Coordinator
brromani@vassar.edu • (845) 437-5801