Rita Barone, RN, BSN, NCSN, is the Health Center Director and joined the Academy in 1993. Ms. Barone graduated from Widener University in 1981. She has more that 25 years of nursing experience, including critical care and emergency room nursing. She is also a certified CPR trainer.

To contact Ms. Barone, call 717-328-6128 or email rita_barone@mercersburg.edu.


Kelli Garber, MSN, CRNP, is the Nurse Practitioner and joined the Academy in 2007. Ms. Garber earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Johns Hopkins University in 1990. She received a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Maryland and was certified as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in 1996. Ms. Garber has extensive experience providing healthcare to children of all ages and has a particular interest in adolescent medicine having worked worked in hospital and office settings. Prior to joining the Health Center, Ms. Garber worked in primary care practice at the Pediatric Center of Frederick (Maryland) for 11 1/2 years.

To contact Ms. Garber, call 717-328-6312 or email garberk@mercersburg.edu.


Nathan Derstine, DO, is the School Doctor and joined the Academy in 2005. Dr. Derstine is a graduate of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (2002). He did his residency in Family Practice at the Altoona Hospital for Medicine, in Altoona, PA from July 2002–June 2005. Dr Derstine's training has prepared him to provide care in both an inpatient and outpatient setting. He has a strong interest in medical missions, outpatient procedures, and sports medicine. In addition to providing care for studetns every Wednesday afternoon, Dr. Derstine is with Greencastle Family Practice, which provides 24-hour-a-day, 7-days-a-week support to the Health Center Staff.