Carlia Cichon, BS, RRT, LRT

As President of the ADVENT Home Medical, Carlia brings many years of experience in the field of both, pediatric and adult high-tech respiratory homecare.  Formerly, Carlia was a principal at Specialized Home Care which provided high-tech respiratory homecare for the pediatric population in Southeastern Michigan.  She continues to be instrumental in developing and implementing clinical quality improvement for home ventilated patients in the State of Michigan.  Carlia is very active in organizational involvement as a member of CPAN (Coalition to Protect Auto No-Fault), the Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI), Concerned Advocates for Patients and Providers (CAPP) and the Michigan Society for Respiratory Care.  ADVENT Home Medical will be celebrating its 10th year of business in 2014.

Bill Hart, BAS, RRT, LRT

Director of Clinical Services

As Director of Clinical Services, Bill has been a licensed Registered Respiratory Therapist for 18 years.  He attained an associate’s degree in Respiratory Care from Mott Community College.  Later, Bill went on to study business and healthcare administration at U of M in Flint where he received a bachelor’s degree in applied science.  He is experienced in all aspects of respiratory care, including sleep medicine, critical care medicine and emergency care.  Bill is an active ACLS and BCLS instructor and clinical preceptor. Bill is well-known in the healthcare community and has a proven track record of providing excellence in the care of his patients in the home environment.

Julie Barber, AAS, RRT, LRT

Julie joined the ADVENT Home Medical team in January, 2014.  She is a licensed Registered Respiratory Therapist.  She has 22 years of experience in the field of Respiratory Care, including critical care and clinical education.  Julie has been a long-time volunteer at Trails Edge Camp which is a week-long, overnight summer camp for ventilator dependent children.

Pam Hardy, BS, RRT, LRT

Utilizing her bachelor’s degree in business, yet, longing to feel like she makes a difference in her community, Pam changed careers to become a licensed, Registered Respiratory Therapist.  Pam has been happily employed with ADVENT Home Medical since 2012.

Kelly Petipren, AAS, RRT, LRT

Kelly is a licensed Registered Respiratory Therapist.  Prior to joining the clinical team at ADVENT Home Medical, she worked in hospitals for 12 years.  Kelly enjoys the homecare experience and building relationships with the families and caregivers.

Brandi Jo Szabo, AAS, RRT, LRT

Brandi Jo Szabo is the Branch Manager at our Grand Rapids branch.  She is a Registered, Licensed Respiratory Therapist with years of pediatric and adult Home Ventilator experience.  Brandi Jo’s patients benefit from her passion to anticipate the needs of her patients and by providing a holistic clinical approach to her care plan.  Brandi Jo joined ADVENT Home Medical in 2014 and has consistently demonstrated positive outcomes for patients who require home ventilation in West Michigan.

Kelly Eklund, RRT, AE-C

After Kelly’s daughter was diagnosed with asthma, she decided to change her occupation from accounting to respiratory care.  Kelly graduated from Muskegon Community College Respiratory Therapy Program in 2010 and became a Licensed Registered Respiratory Therapist.  Since receiving her license, Kelly has acquired her Asthma Education Certificate and has worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, and Home Care in West Michigan. Kelly also volunteers for West Michigan Dog Therapy by bringing her miniature schnauzer to visit patients in area hospitals, the VA Home and school systems.

 Carissa Seog, AAS, RRT, LRT

Carissa graduated from Monroe Community College in 2009 and joined us in September, 2015.  She has worked in a hospital-setting and is proficient in adult critical care.  The decision was made to make a change to home care to broaden her skills.  Carissa prides herself when conversing and educating caregivers and home healthcare nurses in regards to home ventilation.  As a Registered and Licensed Respiratory Therapist, she strives to be patient and compassionate resource for the families and patients when providing care.

Holly Booth, AS, RRT, LRT

Holly joined ADVENT Home Medical in September, 2015.  She is a Licensed and Registered Respiratory Therapist with 7 years of critical care and Emergency Medicine experience.  Holly also has experience working in the NICU and Hyperbaric Medicine.  She enjoys the interactions she has with her patients and their families.

Kim Durfee, RRT

Kim joined ADVENT Home Medical in June 2017. She graduated from Baker College in 2009. Kim is a Registered Respiratory Therapist with 8 years of experience in adult and neonatal critical care in a hospital setting. Kim very much enjoys working closely with patients and families, building close relationships to provide the best possible care.

Nina J. Felicie, RRT

Nina has over six years of experience as a Respiratory Therapist in the hospital setting, working with adult, pediatric and neonatal population requiring various levels of respiratory care. Nina's ultimate goal in all situations is optimal patient care and customer service.

Kirsten Oprisiu, RRT

Kirsten joined ADVENT Home Medical in March 2018. She is a graduate from Oakland Community College, 2015. Kirsten is a Licensed and Registered Respiratory Therapist that comes to us from the hospital setting with skills in neonatal, pediatric, and adult critical care. Her decision to change to home care was made to broaden her skills. She enjoys the interactions she has with her patients and their families.

Mike Todd, RRT

Mike is a licensed Registered Respiratory Therapist. He graduated from Mott Community College in 2011. Prior to joining the clinical team at ADVENT Home Medical, he worked in hospitals for 7 1/2 years. Mike enjoys the homecare experience and building relationships with the families and caregivers.

Jackie Donahue, RRT

Jackie is a licensed Registered Respiratory Therapist, she joined our staff in November 2018, bringing with her 23 years of critical care, special care nursery and diagnostic experience.

She is excited to become part of the home care team building relationships with both patients and families.

Derek Schultz, RRT

Derek started with Advent in 2019, and has been a respiratory therapist for 20 years, working most of his career in Lansing and Jackson.  He received his bachelor’s degree from Siena Heights University and has taught respiratory therapy classes for Ferris State University as well as Jackson Community College.  Growing up, Derek’s father was a home ventilator patient for 28 years dating back to 1980. He looks forward to serving Advent Home Medical’s patients in Lansing and the surrounding communities.

Tara Curtis, RRT

Tara graduated with an AS degree in respiratory therapy from Baker College in 2008. With her passion for healthcare, she has experience in the areas of the ER, ICU, NICU, PICU and sleep medicine. Tara takes great pride in her profession as a Registered Respiratory Therapist and is a strong advocate for her patients. Outside of work she became passionate about foster care when her family embarked on their foster care and adoptive journey. She especially likes advocating for foster youth she mentors who are at risk.

Kathleen Savage, RRT

Kathleen graduated in 2013 from Macomb Community College with her AS, RRT, and LRT. She worked in the hospital setting and DME for a few years. She enjoys DME because she can spend time with patients and their families to help educate them and to establish a caring relationship with them. She also enjoys doing fundraising and volunteer work.

Kathy Abernathy, RRT

I graduated from North Central Michigan University Respiratory Therapy Program in 1984. My first work experience began at Cheboygan Memorial Hospital for 30 years as a respiratory therapist. I have experience in ICU, ER and Pediatrics. I really enjoy working with patients and their families daily. I retired in 2012 but I joined ADVENT part time to stay active in the field of respiratory therapy.