Bobby Watts, MPH, MS, CPH
Chief Executive Officer, National Health Care for the Homeless Council
Director, National Institute for Medical Respite Care
Bobby Watts is a nationally recognized leader in the field of health care for people experiencing homelessness. Trained as a health administrator and epidemiologist at Columbia University, he brings more than 25 years of executive experience and Board service combating health care crises, addressing state and federal funding challenges and developing safeguards for people without housing. Bobby also directed New York City’s Care for the Homeless from 2005–2017.
A proponent of “housing is health care”, Bobby Watts is a much sought-after speaker and advisor on issues facing people experiencing homelessness who acts and advocates on behalf of organizations around the US working at the intersection of health care and homelessness. Expanding medical respite/recuperative care from the current number of 100+ programs to all regions of the nation stands among the most urgent needs in the field of health care for the homeless in the era of COVID-19. Learn more about Bobby.
Contact Information
Phone Number: (615) 226-2292 ext. 224 | Email Address: bobby.watts@nimrc.org
Julia Dobbins, MSW
Director of Programs & Services
Julia Dobbins holds a Master’s of Science in Social Work from the University of Tennessee. She began her career working with community advocates responding to domestic violence and sexual assault. She joined the National Health Care for the Homeless Council in 2012 and leads the Council’s work on medical respite/recuperative care including training, technical assistance, resource and program development.
As NIMRC’s Director of Programs & Services, Julia Dobbins brings years of hands on experience assisting medical respite/recuperative care programs at all stages of development in communities of all sizes on matters of program design, financing, and best practices.
Contact Information
Phone Number: (615) 226-2292 ext. 232 | Email Address: julia.dobbins@nimrc.org
Barbara DiPietro, PhD
Director of Policy
Having directed the Council’s nationwide efforts in public policy and advocacy for more than a decade, Barbara DiPietro serves as NIMRC’s Director of Policy, leading legislative, regulatory and administrative policy priorities at the county, state, and national levels.
Contact Information
Phone Number: (443) 703-1346 | Email Address: barbara.dipietro@nimrc.org
Dorothy (Dott) Freeman, PhD
Director of Philanthropy & Communications
Dott Freeman leads NIMRC’s advancement efforts in philanthropy and communications to further the expansion of medical respite/recuperative programs with diverse and sustainable financial support.
Contact Information
Phone Number: (207) 333-8877 | Email Address: dott.freeman@nimrc.org
Courtney Pladsen, DNP, FNP-BC, RN
Director of Clinical & Quality Improvement
Courtney Pladsen leads initiatives to improve the delivery of primary care, substance use treatment, and mental health care nationally. She directs training and quality improvement initiatives, and contributes to research and policy recommendations on emerging clinical issues affecting people experiencing homelessness.
Contact Information
Phone Number: (615) 226-2292 | Email Address: cpladsen@nhchc.org
Caitlin Synovec, OTD, OTR/L, BCMH
Medical Respite Manager
Caitlin Synovec is an occupational therapist with clinical experience working with adults experiencing homelessness to improve quality of life and engagement in their preferred communities. As the Medical Respite Manager, Caitlin works on projects of NIMRC and the Respite Care Providers’ Network (RCPN).
Contact Information
Phone Number: (615) 226-2292 | Email Address: csynovec@nhchc.org
Stephen Wilder, MSSW
Medical Respite Coordinator
Stephen Wilder works on the National Health Care for the Homeless Council’s Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) grant and projects of NIMRC.
Contact Information
Phone Number: (615) 226-2292 | Email Address: swilder@nhchc.org