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Team

Shannon Apel, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a bilingual Mandarin-English speech-language pathologist who has been practicing since 2016 and has worked at Rady Children’s since 2020. Prior to joining Rady Children’s, Shannon worked at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. She has had specialized training and experience working with autism spectrum disorders and has worked on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary autism diagnostic teams. In addition to autism, her interests include augmentative-alternative communication and cognitive communication. She is also a member of the Rady Children’s Down Syndrome Center team. Shannon has been trained to administer the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and to provide the Lidcombe Program, Hanen: More Than Words, Pivotal Response Treatment, and Improving Parents as Communication Teachers. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her master’s degree from the University of Iowa. She is licensed by the State of California and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Melethia Barnes-Cooper, M.A., CCC-SLP, has been a speech-language pathologist since 1991 and began working at Rady Children’s the same year. Melethia specializes in early childhood language and bilingual communication services in Spanish. She has also been active in inter-agency collaboration and parent education. Melethia received her master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Kansas and is certified in Hanen. She is licensed by the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a current member of the ASHA.

Christina Bloodworth, M.S., CCC-SLP,  has been working as a speech-language pathologist since 2014 and has worked for Rady Children’s since 2017. She is a LSLS Certified Auditory Verbal Therapist. She provides clinical services in person and via telemedicine in English, Spanish and ASL. Christina attended Southern Connecticut State University and received her bachelor’s degrees in Communication Disorders, Elementary Education/Special Education Collaborative and Spanish, along with her master’s degree in Communication Disorders with a concentration in Speech Language Pathology. Prior to working at Rady Children’s, Christina worked at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She also has experience working with children in schools and private practice. Her special interests include bilingual language development in Spanish and ASL, aural rehabilitation, early intervention, telepractice and literacy. She is licensed by the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is a current member of the ASHA and AG Bell. She is also a licensed teacher in Elementary Education (K-6) and Special Education (K-12).

Photo - Speech - BrownBeth Brown has been a speech-language pathologist for over 30 years and has worked at Rady Children’s Hospital since 1987. Beth has extensive experience in diagnostics, autism, tongue thrust and speech and language disorders. She is licensed by the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a current member of ASHA.

Photo - Speech - Stephanie Burgener-VaderStephanie Burgener-Vader has been a speech-language pathologist since 2009 and has worked at Rady Children’s since August 2012. Her areas of interest include early intervention, autism spectrum disorders, Down Syndrome and other genetic disorders, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and apraxia of speech. She has experience providing services in private practice, public school and hospital settings. Stephanie is PROMPT-trained and certified by the Hanen Centre in the “It Takes Two to Talk” and “More Than Words” programs for parents. She is also trained in SCERTS, a specialized approach to address the needs of children with autism. Stephanie received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and her master’s degree from San Diego State University. She is licensed by the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a current member of the ASHA.


Leiah Cutkomp, M.A., CCC-SLP,
is bilingual in English and Spanish and has been working with our team since 2022. Her clinical interests include feeding and swallowing disorders in the acute care population, cognitive-communication disorders after acquired brain injury, voice disorders, multilingualism and language disorders. She has broad pediatric experience working across both inpatient and outpatient medical settings at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and within the K-12 school systems. She received her master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Connecticut in 2022, is licensed by the state of California, and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is a current member of ASHA. Leiah’s goal is to use her clinical experience to contribute to new research within the field and create a positive and progressive learning environment for children and families surrounding all aspects of communication.

Photo - Speech - DabasinskasCatherine Dabasinskas, M.A., CCC-SLP, has been a speech-language pathologist and has worked at Rady Children’s since 2001. She specializes in working with children with hearing loss, cochlear implants, articulation difficulties, multiple disabilities, autism and dyspraxia. Catherine uses American Sign Language and augmentative/alternative communication with many different children to enhance their communication skills. She runs the Tongue Thrust group and co-facilitates Pathways, an inclusive group for preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders. Catherine received her master’s degree in speech, language, and hearing sciences from the University of Colorado, Boulder. is licensed by the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a current member of the ASHA.

Christiana David, M.A., CCC-SLP, has been a speech-language pathologist with Rady Children’s Hospital since beginning her career in 2011. She specializes in treating the whole child and family in the following areas: autism spectrum disorders, apraxia, early language development, feeding, d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing, aural (re)habilitation and cochlear implants. She is trained Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Level 1, Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (PROMPT) and Sequential Oral Sensory (S.O.S) approach to feeding. She has additional training with Social Thinking curriculum,  Auditory Verbal Therapy, and is pursuing an American Sign Language Science certificate. Christiana is conversationally fluent in American Sign Language and provides care within Rady Children’s outpatient clinic and Alexa’s PLAYC. She received her bachelor’s degree in communication disorders with a minor in psychology in 2009 and a master’s degree in speech, language, and hearing sciences in 2011 from San Diego State University. She is licensed by the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is a current member of ASHA.

Photo - Speech - DorfmanValerie Dorfman, M.S., CCC-SLP, joined Rady Children’s in 2008 from North Shore Children’s Hospital in Salem, Mass., and has been a speech-language pathologist since 2005. Originally from Peru, Valerie is a native Spanish speaker who specializes in working with bilingual/bicultural populations. She has experience working with children with a variety of communication impairments, including those with speech and language delays, hearing loss, cochlear implants, cleft lip and palate, autism spectrum disorders, apraxia of speech, traumatic brain injuries, and Down syndrome. Valerie received her master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Boston University. Prior to working at Rady Children’s, she worked in the several Massachusetts public schools, Massachusetts General Hospital and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Valerie is a Hanen-certified speech-language pathologist for “It Takes Two to Talk.” She is licensed by the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a current member of the ASHA.

Keriann Dunnigan, M.A., CCC-SLP, has been a practicing speech and language pathologist since 2012 and began working at Rady Children’s Hospital in July 2022. She has previously worked in a variety of settings including school, clinic and in-home. Keriann has special interest in the areas of early intervention, language disorders, articulation/phonology and autism spectrum disorders. She is trained in Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (PROMPT). Keriann’s goal is to provide children and their families with tools to improve overall communication and help generalize their skills. Keriann received her Master of Arts degree in communication sciences and disorders from Saint John’s University. She is licensed by the State of California and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the Americal Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Photo - Speech - Ashley FarwickAshley Woods has been working as a speech-language pathologist since 2009 and has worked at Rady Children’s since 2012. She has specialized training and experience in working with children with autism, motor speech disorders and feeding difficulties. Ashley is trained in SCERTS (Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, Transactionals Support), PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System), PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets), and the SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) approach to feeding. She is certified by the Hanen Program to teach the “It Takes Two To Talk” course for parents and has specialized interest in Social Thinking. Ashley is a member of Rady Children’s Feeding Team, and she facilitates or co-facilitates a number of group programs, including Feeding Group, Stepping Stones, Gateways, Mommy Daddy & Me, and First Step. Ashley received her Bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Miami University and her Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Cincinnati. She is licensed by the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a current member of the ASHA.

JON BIO PICJonathan Forfa, M.S., CCC-SLP, has been a speech-language pathologist since 2016. Jon has worked at Rady Children’s since 2018 and previously worked at Dell Children’s Medical Center. He specializes in feeding and swallowing disorders, especially for tracheostomy and ventilator dependent patients. His other clinical interests include augmentative and alternative communication, and cognitive rehabilitation after brain injury. Jon has received extensive training in Modified Barium Swallow Studies, surface electromyography and Vital Stim therapy for swallowing disorders. He is also a certified lactation educator counselor. He is a member of the NICU Developmental Committee and Tracheostomy Task Force. Jon received his master of science degree in communication sciences and disorders from Chapman University. He is licensed by the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a current member of the ASHA.

Photo - Speech - GarrettShari Garrett, M.S., CCC-SLP, CHTP, has been a speech-language pathologist since 1983 and began working at Rady Children’s in 1985. She is the manager of the Speech-Language Pathology Department and specializes in the areas of voice, autism, vocal cord dysfunction, oral motor and phonology. In the treatment of voice disorders and vocal cord dysfunction, she incorporates integrative medicine. Shari received her master’s degree in speech-language pathology at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. She is a certified speech-language pathologist and is a current member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the California Speech Language and Hearing Association and the San Diego Early Childhood Mental Health Leader Collaborative. Shari is Hanen certified as well as a certified healing touch practitioner. Her goal in working at Rady Children’s is to continue to implement and create innovative therapy to help children and families communicate at their highest potential

Taylor Kesteloot, M.A., CCC-SLP, has been a speech-language pathologist since 2015 and has worked at Rady Children’s since 2017. Taylor’s special interests include early intervention, articulation/phonology, social skills and autism spectrum disorders. She is certified by the Hanen program to teach the More than Words program for parents and is trained in Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (PROMPT). Taylor received her bachelor’s degree in speech, language and hearing sciences from the University of Arizona and her master’s degree in speech-language pathology at San Diego State University. She is licensed by the State of California, holds a certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and is a current member of ASHA.

Kristen DeNucci, M.S., CCC-SLP, has been a speech-language pathologist since 2013 and has worked at Rady Children’s Hospital since 2017. Kristen has experience in traumatic brain injury, augmentative-alternative communication, apraxia, articulation, language disorders, autism spectrum disorder and medically complex patients. She is trained in the Social Thinking curriculum. Kristen received her master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Purdue University. She is licensed by the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a current member of ASHA.

Alexine Julia Leon has been a speech-language pathologist for over 12 years and has worked at Rady Children’s since July 2020. She specializes in infant development, early intervention, feeding and swallowing disorders and voice disorders. Alexine is also Hanen trained. Alexine received her master’s degree from Syracuse University. She is licensed by the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a current member of the ASHA.

julia-leclerc-photoJulia Leclerc, M.S., CCC-SLP, is an English-Spanish bilingual speech-language pathologist who has worked at Rady Children’s Hospital since the beginning of her career in 2015. Her interests include speech sound disorders, voice impairments, alternative and augmentative communication, and cognitive communication disorders. Additionally, she serves on the Rady Children’s Cleft Palate team. Julia received her master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Washington. She is licensed by the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a current member of ASHA.

Carlie Lepore, M.S., CF-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist who has worked at Rady Children’s Hospital since 2022. She specializes in early intervention, augmentative and alternative communication, and vocal cord dysfunction. Carlie has experience providing skilled services in the acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient medical settings. Carlie received her master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Arizona. She is licensed by the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is a current member of ASHA.

Naomi Lowe, M.S., CCC-SLP, has worked as a bilingual (Spanish/English) speech-language pathologist since 2019 and has been at Rady Children’s Hospital since 2022. Her areas of focus are acute care feeding/swallowing in pediatric/neonate population and cleft-palate/craniofacial anomalies. Naomi is trained and certified in MBSimp and NMES (neuromuscular electrical stimulation). She volunteers for several craniofacial organizations, including international volunteer work in Vietnam and Mexico, where she conducted research on cleft palate treatment. Naomi has presented at the ACPA (American Cleft Palate Association) and participated in AMLPH (Asociación Mexicana de Labio, Paladar Hendido y Anomalías Craneofaciales). She plans to help with the growth of Rady Children’s cardiac team and continue working in inpatient pediatrics speech, language, cognitive-communication and dysphagia. Her background includes other fields of research and university lecturing in biopsychology, statistics, research methods and neural correlates of speech, language and swallowing. She is licensed by the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a current member of ASHA.

Photo - Speech - Natasha MaxwellNatasha Maxwell, M.A., CCC-SLP, has been a speech-language pathologist since 1997 and has worked at Rady Children’s since 2000. Natasha has experience working with children in both educational and outpatient settings with various speech-language impairments, including dysfluency, articulation/phonology, developmental delays, autism, augmentative communication, and voice. She has expertise in the areas of diagnostics, early intervention, and early childhood language. Natasha received her master’s degree in speech-language pathology with a specialization in multicultural early childhood intervention from San Diego State University. She is licensed by the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a current member of the ASHA.

Lindsay Mitacek, M.S., CCC-SLP, has been a speech-language pathologist since 2014 and has worked at Rady Children’s since 2019. Lindsay’s experience includes the evaluation and treatment of children with articulation, pragmatic, cognitive, fluency, and expressive/receptive language disorders in the school, clinic and medical setting. She has a strong background in American Sign Language and uses her knowledge and experience in these areas to address each patient’s individual needs. Lindsay’s special interests include early intervention, articulation/phonology and autism spectrum disorders. She is certified by DIR Floortime. Lindsay received her bachelor’s and master’s degree in communication disorders and sciences from Southern Illinois University. She is licensed by the State of California, holds a certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and is a current member of ASHA.

Kimberly Morris, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a pediatric speech-language pathologist with extensive experience evaluating and treating feeding and swallowing impairments, as well as cognitive communication impairments in neonates through young adults. She is a board-certified specialist in swallowing disorders and an international board-certified lactation consultant. Kimberly joined Rady Children’s in 2018 and previously worked at AI duPont Hospital for Children in Delaware and Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach. She is formally trained in fiberoptic endoscopic evaluations of swallowing and is a Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile registered clinician. She is involved in national research initiatives to optimize dysphagia outcomes for neonates with congenital heart disease and children who are tracheostomy-dependent. She also lectures across the country on these specialized topics.

Julia Newton, M.A., CCC-SLP, has been a speech-language pathologist since 2020 and has worked at Rady Children’s Hospital since the start of her career. She has also worked on Sharp Hospital’s adult acute/inpatient team. Julia has expertise in acute rehabilitation of acquired cognitive-communication impairments secondary to neuro-based injuries. She is also fluent in American Sign Language. Julia received her master’s degree in speech-language pathology at San Diego State University. She is licensed by the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association and is a current member of ASHA.

Jennifer Peterson, has been a speech pathologist and since 2011 and has worked at Rady Children’s Hospital since 2013. Jennifer has special talent in the areas of brain injury rehabilitation, apraxia of speech, dysphagia, and alternative augmentative communication. She enjoys participating in both volunteer and research activities. She is ASHA certified. Jennifer’s goal in working at Rady Children’s Hospital is to partner with families to help children improve their cognitive, communication and feeding skills.

Sky Perlman, M.S,  is a speech-language pathologist clinical fellow who has worked at Rady Children’s Hospital since 2023. Sky has special talent in the areas of gender-affirming voice therapy, early childhood language development, and phonological disorders. They have experience working in an outpatient pediatric setting as well as within the local school district. Sky received their master’s degree in speech-language pathology from San Diego State University in 2023 and is licensed by the state of California. Sky is a current member of ASHA. Sky’s goal in working at Rady Children’s Hospital is to build positive relationships with children and their families and support successful communication for all children.

Photo - Speech - QualmanHaven Qualman, M.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-S,  has been a speech-language pathologist since 1995 and has worked at Rady Children’s for most of her career. Haven specializes in the evaluation and treatment of feeding and swallowing disorders and brain injury. Haven received her master’s degree in communicative disorders from San Diego State University. She is licensed and certified in speech-language pathology and is a current member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and its California chapter. In 2009, she received board-recognized certification in the area of swallowing.

Photo - Speech - QualmanAlice Ramirez, M.S., CF-SLP,  is trilingual in Spanish, English, and American Sign Language and has been working at Rady Children’s since 2023. Her clinical interests include bilingual bimodal language development, hearing loss, cochlear implants, aural rehabilitation, early intervention, and voice disorders. Alice earned her master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Gallaudet University with specialized training in hearing loss and her bachelor’s degree in communication disorders and deaf education from Utah State University. Prior to pursuing a career in Speech Language Pathology, Alice served as a Social Worker for the Department of Social Services Child Protective Services for two years. This experience has fostered her empathetic and compassionate approach to working with families and individuals from diverse backgrounds. Alice’s goal is to empower children and their families with access to multimodal tools and strategies to support their communication.

Photo - Speech - Melissa SartoriMelissa Sartori,  M.S., CCC-SLP, has been a speech-language pathologist since 2009 and has worked at Rady Children’s Hospital since 2011. Melissa’s areas of expertise include social skills/autism spectrum disorder and augmentative-alternative communication. She also has extensive knowledge in early intervention, childhood speech, and language development and disorders. She is a member of the Feeding Team and Cochlear Implant team. Melissa received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech-language pathology from University of the Pacific. She has previously worked in schools, outpatient clinics and hospital settings. She is licensed by the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a current member of the ASHA and the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Andrea Vargas, M.S., CCC-SLP
Andrea is originally from Costa Rica and received master’s degrees in early intervention in deaf education in 2010 and in speech-language pathology in 2014 from Fontbonne University in St. Louis. Prior to beginning working at Rady Children’s in 2018, she worked in as a speech-language pathologist at Mama Lere Hearing School and participated in bilingual language intervention research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Currently, she is providing services to bilingual-multicultural children with diverse communication disorders, including autism and hearing loss. She is licensed by the state of California and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, of which she is also a member.

Photo - Speech - KramerAmanda Wacenske is our lead speech-language pathologist. She has worked in the field since 2009 and has been at Rady Children’s since beginning her career. She has expertise in the areas of voice, transgender voice, vocal cord dysfunction, resonance, cleft palate, craniofacial disorders, bilingualism and early intervention. She is trained in using PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) and Hanen: More Than Words. Amanda is a member of the Cleft Palate team and works in other specialty clinics, including craniofacial disorders and nasoendoscopy. She has facilitated a number of group programs, including First Step and Mommy and Daddy & Me. Amanda received her master’s degree in speech, language, and hearing sciences from San Diego State University, as well as a certificate in bilingual speech-language pathology. She is fluent in Spanish and provides services to bilingual families from around the county. She is licensed by the state of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a current member of the ASHA.

Liana Yee, M.S., CCC-SLP, has been a speech-language pathologist since 2017 and has worked at Rady Children’s since 2019. She is a bilingual Spanish-speaking therapist and has previously practiced abroad at a neuropsychological rehabilitation clinic in Quito, Ecuador. Prior to joining Rady Children’s, Liana worked at Providence at Children’s Hospital of Orange County, and in inpatient care at Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital Long Beach. Liana specializes in cleft palate and craniofacial abnormalities and is a member of the Rady Children’s Cleft Palate Team. She also works closely with cochlear implants and aural (re)habilitation and is a member of the Rady Children’s Cochlear Implant Team. Her other areas of clinical expertise include cognitive language, Down syndrome and autism. Liana received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and her master’s degree from Illinois State University. She is licensed by the State of California, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and has a professional certification as an Autism Clinical Specialist.