Staff

Meet Our Team of Experts

GJO 2024

Gregory J. O’Shanick, MD

President and Medical Director

Gregory J. O’Shanick, MD, “Dr. O” to his patients, finds the practice of Brain Injury Medicine at CNS the realization of decades of preparation.

From his starting medical school at age 19 at UTMB to becoming a Chief Resident at Duke University Medical Center at age 26, Dr. O’s energy, vision, and motivation were critical factors in his successful academic career spanning the University of Texas at Houston, Medical College of Virginia/VCU, University of Virginia and University of Southern California. This same energy was directed into the creation of CNS.

As one of the first physicians focusing on Brain Injury Medicine since 1981, his reputation for clinical and educational excellence resulted in his being named the Inaugural National Medical Director for the Brain Injury Association of America, a voluntary role he held for 14 years.

He regularly appeared on TV, radio, and in print as a subject matter expert on issues ranging from sports concussions to helmet safety to military-related neurotrauma and was highly regarded for his ability to explain complicated medical issues in ways that were easily understood.

Keenly aware of the need for professional development and standardization (he has held Board Certifications in 4 sub-specialties over his career), he was a founding Board Governor of the Academy for Certification of Brain Injury Specialists and sat on the Inaugural Examination Committee for the Subspecialty of Brain Injury Medicine.

He recognizes that what separates him from the over 12,000 patients he has seen is but a brief instant, and the idea of “There, but for the Grace of God, go I” epitomizes the respectful atmosphere striven for by all the staff since the founding of CNS.

Administrative Staff

  • Center for Neurorehabilitation Services

    Alison M. O’Shanick, MS, CCC-SLP, NDTA
    Executive Administrator

  • Center for Neurorehabilitation Services

    Jennifer A. Znotens, MA, CCC-SLP
    Senior Speech-Language Pathologist / Medical Legal Administrative Coordinator

  • Center for Neurorehabilitation Services

    Sharon Crawley, RN 
    Practice Manager

  • Center for Neurorehabilitation Services

    Robert Watson- RETIRED
    Medical Records Manager

  • Center for Neurorehabilitation Services

    Susan Morris 
    Billing Co-ordinator

Mary Knoll Midcap has been our Administrative Assistant at CNS since 2006, having previously enjoyed a successful career in retail management. Her friendly face is the first you see at our front desk, ready to greet you when you visit. 

Robert Watson has been a part of Dr O’s world since Dr. O first arrived at MCV in 1984. Over the past 36 years, he has been the rock upon which Dr. O has relied at work and at home. While his duties at CNS have varied since 1992, his deep, sonorous voice and calming demeanor have been a constant comfort to patients and staff alike. Even though he has now reduced his on-site hours, he continues to oversee Medical Records activities and provide his wisdom and mentorship to those around him.

Alison O’Shanick graduated from the University of Florida and then received her post-graduate training in Speech-Language Pathology at Vanderbilt University. Over the course of her career, she has worked across the age spectrum of individuals with acquired brain injuries in all settings of neurorehabilitation. In 1991, she and Dr. O founded CNS to establish a clinic reflecting their personal and professional values regarding person-centered care, family involvement, and respect. Over the years, she has worn many “hats” at CNS and continues to do so…always in an exceptional manner.

Jennifer was born and raised in Scotland.  She attended Penn State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders.  She went on to attend Temple University Graduate School and earned her Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology.  Jennifer started working with CNS as an SLP in 1993.  She is now Administrator for medical-legal services, and amongst many other duties, she directs the CNS Outpatient Neurorehabilitation Program supervising our team of Speech-Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists.   

Sharon graduated in 1986 from the Richmond Memorial Hospital School of Nursing fulfilling a dream that began for her in the 5th grade. Since that time, she has worked in a number of Richmond area medical practices, always making patient care her number one priority. Her leadership skills, motivation and high standards have advanced her career into successful clinical practice management opportunities; a talent from which CNS will now benefit. She is a Hanover County native and still lives there with her husband, Mike, and their 3 sons. They enjoy baseball, the beach and just being together.

Susan Morris has been with the Center for Neurorehabilitation Services since 2015. Ms. Morris joined our practice as our billing specialist but previously worked in Pediatrics as a Cardiac Technician. Ms. Morris also has experience working with patients in a home health setting.  In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and camping with her husband and extended family along with her German Shepherd.

Van Luethke graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Economics and a minor in Russian in 2012. He started working for CNS as a Practice Administrator in September of that year. In 2019, Van joined the Navy Reserves and serves with a Navy Riverine Squadron, when away from CNS. As of his return from initial training with the Navy, Van was made Chief Financial Officer of CNS and supervises and manages the financial aspects of the practice.  He enjoys traveling, fishing, camping and spending time with his family.

Clinical Staff

  • Center for Neurorehabilitation Services

    Madison Moore Brown, PA-C

  • Abigail

    Abigail Carruthers, PA-C

  • Center for Neurorehabilitation Services

    Tiffany Reid, CMT
    Intake Coordinator/Substance Abuse SME/ Medical Massage Therapist

  • Center for Neurorehabilitation Services

    Nikki Karnes, CCC-SLP, CBIS
    Speech Language Pathologist

  • Samantha Kirshner

    Samantha Kirshner OTD, OTR/L
    Occupational Therapist

  • Center for Neurorehabilitation Services

    Amy Deady, COTA
    Occupational Therapy Assistant

  • Center for Neurorehabilitation Services

    Jessica Wrenn CMA, AAMA
    Medical Assistant

  • Center for Neurorehabilitation Services

    Colleen Mastin, CMA
    Medical Assistant

Madison Moore Brown attended Randolph-Macon College where she earned a degree in Psychology. It was during her senior year at RMC that she had her first experience at CNS with TBI patients through an internship with Dr. O’Shanick. After graduation she elected to return to CNS to work as a speech therapy aide in the Cognitive Therapy Clinic for a year before going to graduate school. She attended Eastern Virginia Medical School’s Physician Assistant program where she earned her MPA in 2015. After graduation and certification she followed her heart back to CNS to continue treating patients with TBI. She enjoys working with patients of all ages that have experienced injuries ranging from recent sports concussions to moderate traumatic brain injuries. She enjoys helping patients navigate the process of returning to school or work following an injury. Madison lives in rural Sussex County with her husband and dogs.

Jessie Goins became part of the CNS team in July, 2021. Ms. Goins began as a CNA initially working with the hospice community and later received her certification as a Medical Assistant continuing her valuable role in hospice care. Her previous experience now helps as she builds strong and caring relationships with our patients and staff at CNS. In her free time, she can be found spending time with her dogs, Charlie and Buster, travelling to the beach and watching Netflix.

Kelly received her BA in Economics from the University of Virginia in 2007. While in the Peace Corps as a Small Enterprise Development Volunteer in Kenya, she discovered her passion for nursing. Upon her return, she earned her BSN from Marymount University and has worked as an RN in hospitals in Norfolk, Richmond, and Boston. Her MSN as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner was earned from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2018. She has extensive experience with managing patients with brain injuries in the intensive care setting and has transitioned into outpatient and long-term care with our patients at CNS. Her spare time is consumed by her furry child, Hank.

Brittany is a speech language pathologist and certified brain injury specialist who is dedicated to providing diagnostic and intervention services within a meaningful context to build a unique therapeutic experience for her patients during their recovery journey. She is passionate about health and wellness education as related to brain injury and assisting patients in exploring the use of a variety of technologies and techniques for improved function and quality of life.

Amy E. Deady, graduated from J. Sargeant Reynolds in 1999 and earned her associates degree  in Occupational Therapy.  She has been practicing as an Occupational Therapy Assistant for 21 years at Center For Neurorehablitation;  as well as other clinical settings, including acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and skilled nursing homes. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and  two daughters.  She also loves to be involved in her community and church.   

Haley is a proud double Duke, graduating from James Madison University with both her bachelors and Masters in Occupational Therapy. She started out as a school based therapist with Richmond Public Schools before spending a number of years as an Acute Care Therapist at VCU Health treating a wide variety of patients. Haley has been with CNS since winter 2017 and has additional experience working in skilled nursing facilities and with a pediatric population. When not working she enjoys long runs with her German Shorthaired Pointer and spending time with her family to include her husband and daughter.

Jessica Wrenn has been with the Center for Neurorehabilitation Services since 2019. She received her Associates of Applied Science from Medical Careers Institute- ECPI University. She is currently working towards her Bachelors in Public Health. She has experience with Family Medicine and Cardiology but has a passion for pediatrics and specialty practices. She loves working with patients along with their families and developing a caring and nurturing relationship. In her time off, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her husband and Pitbull, Roxy.

Nikki Karnes, M.S., CCC-SLP, CBIS, has been with CNS for 10 of her 20 years as a Speech-Language Pathologist, initially joining us from 2001 through 2009, and then coming back in 2017 to share her clinical experience working with children and adults. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from James Madison University in 1993 and 1999, both in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Her continued commitment to those with Brain Injury is reflected in her being a Certified Brain Injury Specialist through ACBIS/BIAA and her membership on the Brain Injury Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group (BI-ISIG) and the Mild TBI Task Force of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM). She is a dedicated clinician who is passionate about helping those affected by brain injury discover new ways to thrive.

Tiffany joined CNS in 2002 as a Medical Massage Therapist. She holds a BS in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Psychology from Old Dominion University. She also holds an MS in Rehabilitation Counseling with concentrations in Substance Abuse and Gerontology from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Mallory graduated from Shenandoah University with both her BS in Psychology and Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy. Upon completion of her clinical rotation at CNS, she discovered her passion for cognitive therapy and decided to onboard as a full-time therapist. She quickly gravitated towards the unique world of brain injury while providing clinical treatment to capitalize on quality of life. While not working, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé and Goldendoodle.

Julie Beals, M.S., CF-SLP, joined CNS in August 2021 to begin her Clinical Fellowship in Speech Language Pathology. Her diverse background (B.A. at UC Berkley in English and philosophy; neuroscience internship at Scripps Research Institute; Peace Corps volunteer in Indonesia; editor at the Smithsonian Institution) ultimately led her to Vanderbilt University’s graduate program in speech-language pathology where her thesis focused on the location of neural substrates underlying language. Intent on a career in brain injury rehab and helping patients achieve their goals, she joins another Vandy SLP alum (Mrs.O'Shanick) to continue the legacy of excellence at CNS. When she’s not working, she spends her time writing, hiking around the James River, and studying Argentine tango.

Monika Smith attended Virginia Commonwealth University earning her BS in Nursing in 2002. After gaining extensive experience with multiple age groups in a variety of clinical settings (oncology, private duty, children’s dual enrollment program and acute care physical rehabilitation where she became a CRRN), she attended South University receiving her Master’s of Science in Nursing in 2019. As a certified Family Nurse Practitioner, she has worked in long-term care, geriatrics, skilled rehabilitation and hospice, but now returns to acute rehabilitation with the CNS team. Over her career, Monika has received several awards including the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Award and was featured in OurHealth Magazine as one of “Richmond’s Top 14 Nurses” for her leadership skills. She loves developing strong relationships through serving others and helping people achieve a better state of health. When she is not working, Monika enjoys volunteering, crocheting and reading. She lives on her family farm with her husband, two children and dog.

Chris Andersen learned about Occupational Therapy during his early career as a Fire fighter as he visited a person who was hospitalized having sustained burns. This experience led him to graduate from J. Sargeant Reynolds in 1999 earning his Associates degree in Occupational Therapy. He spent time working in outpatient and inpatient settings before completing his Bachelor’s in OT at Penn State in 2006. Since then, he has worked in multiple settings to expand his skills including home health, inpatient, outpatient and day programs. He has helped to develop clinical practice guidelines for treatment programs in various hospitals. Chris has called Midlothian home since 1991 and enjoys spending time with his wife and family as well as gardening, biking and flying kites.

Colleen Mastin joined CNS in July, 2021. Ms. Mastin graduated from Beta Tech and holds certification from NAHP with previous experience in both Orthopedics and Psychiatry. She loves assisting patients in their medical journey and developing relationships with her coworkers. Her positive attitude and willingness to pitch has made her a strong team member in a short time. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, her dog and cats, reading, needlepoint, and traveling. In December 2021, she is also excited to be promoted to Grandma!

Samantha (Sam) graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Health Sciences in 2015 and went along to get her doctorate of Occupational Therapy at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Institute of Health Professions in 2018. She has worked in a variety of settings including home health, post-acute rehab and skilled nursing. She has a special interest in OT’s role in neuro rehab and mental health and completed her doctoral project and research in these settings. When not working, she enjoys being outdoors, traveling, and spending time with her husband and Saint Bernard, Belle.

After two decades in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine and experience in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cary joined the CNS Team in November of 2023 combining a deep compassion and commitment to her patients with her extensive clinical experience, to connect with her patients with her personal understanding of their unique and often difficult journey. While at William and Mary as a scholarship athlete, she was a member of the CAA All-Academic Team, a 4-year Varsity Basketball Team member, and the Team Captain for 2 years. After receiving her BS in Biology, she traveled north to Long Island, where she was Class Valedictorian and earned her PA National Certification and her PA National Surgical Certification. In further recognition of her academic excellence, she was selected by her peers & professors to represent the program in state competition, and received the Stanley J. Bergen, Jr. Award for highest evaluation as judged by clinical preceptors. In her free time, Cary enjoys the company of friends and nature; having been involved in the Peregrine Falcon Reintroduction Project at W&M, which helped return a then-extinct bird to VA. She shares her Richmond home with her Great Dane, “Major”, who is a healing force on his own and much beloved by many of Cary’s patients and CNS Team members.

Raised in Northern VA, Abigail (Abbie) Carruthers joins us from a Family Medicine practice in Culpeper VA. She graduated from George Mason University in Fairfax with a Bachelors Degree in Sociology, and Jefferson College of Health Sciences with a Masters in Physician Assisting. In her spare time she enjoys, reading, live music, reality TV, hiking, horseback riding and spending time with her 3 cats.