Whitehall Pediatrics

Faith received a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Med/Biology from Kutztown University. She earned her Bachelor of Health Science and Master’s of Science in Physical Therapy degree from Philadelphia College of Pharmacy & Science. Faith has been at Cindy Miles & Associates; acquired by Physical Therapy at St. Luke’s. Faith has been trained in Neuro Developmental treatment – completing the Pediatric 8-week course and Baby Treatment course. She has presented research findings at two national conferences. She is a member of the Neuro-Developmental Treatment Association and American Physical Therapy Association including Pediatrics and Aquatics. Her special interests include working to progress functional mobility with individuals with Brachial Plexus Injuries, Cerebral Palsy, Torticollis, Down Syndrome, Hypotonia, Spina bifida/ neurologic involvement.

Andrew has always enjoyed working with children since he was a volunteer at Cindy Miles and Associates Pediatric Therapy in high school. Andrew graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree with afocus in pediatric rehabilitationwhen he completed a yearlong clinical rotation at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Andrew began practicing pediatric physical therapy in 2005 through both outpatient services as well as Early Intervention. Andrew currently is the chairperson of the Pediatric Sports and Fitness special interest group within the APTA organization and is the Co-Facility Director at St Luke’s Cindy Miles Whitehall Pediatrics. Andrew has presented on topics related to orthotics as well as Torticollis. Andrew’s special interests include Cerebral Palsy, Torticollis, Manual Therapy, and sport related rehabilitation in pediatrics.

Taylor has a passion for working with pediatric clients of all ages. She is drawn to patient populations with diagnoses of torticollis, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, Down syndrome, and autism spectrum disorder. Taylor provides services to her clients in both the outpatient setting and Early Intervention through Lehigh County. She holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from DeSales University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Penn State University. She has advanced her clinical skill set after obtaining the Pediatric Practice Certification through Evidence in Motion. Taylor focuses on patient and family centered care that will allow her pediatric clients the highest level of participation in their daily lives. She also strongly believes in allowing children to access their environments with the highest level of independence through various means of mobility. Taylor is a member of the Lehigh Valley Steel Force Chapter of National AMBUCS Inc., and helps to provide therapeutic tricycles to children and adults with disabilities.

With a background in the creative arts as a classical flutist, a love for science, and a passion for helping people, occupational therapy seemed the perfect fit for Melanie. She received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Misericordia University and later became a school-based occupational therapist, where she promoted accessibility to the educational environment and general and specialized curricula for students in grades K-8. During her tenure, Melanie was a recipient of the Allentown School District’s Teacher Innovation Grant for her establishment of a coffee cart for students in the Life Skills curriculum. Melanie’s experience includes working with children with developmental delays, autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, Downs Syndrome, cerebral palsy, and more. A kid at heart, Melanie enjoys planning and implementing fun, client-centered interventions and educating families on resourceful ways for carrying over therapeutic strategies in the home.

Stephanie received her Bachelor’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from East Stroudsburg University. She then graduated with her Master’s of Science in Speech-Language Pathology degree from Nova Southeastern University. Stephanie is certified through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). As a speech therapist who works with a variety of children, she strives to engage clients and help them become effective communicators. Stephanie treats a variety of speech and language delays and disorders specifically articulation delays, phonological disorders, apraxia of speech and receptive and expressive language delays.

Committing her professional career to complex needs pediatrics from prematurity/birth to young adult, Marcel has completed clinical and supervisory positions in acute and sub-acute care, NICU and PICU specialties, out-patient clinics, rehabilitation centers, preschools, medical daycare centers/medical-residential facilities, private practice, and home/community based early intervention. Marcel graduated from West Chester University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Communication Disorders and Florida State University with a Master’s of Science in Speech-Language Pathology degree. She received her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She has earned the ASHA Award for Continuing Education (ACE) 11 times since 1995. Marcel is active in multiple organizations such as ASHA, PSHA (Pennsylvania Speech-Hearing Association), and NESHAP (Northeastern Speech-Hearing Association of PA), where she serves on the Executive Council as Vice President for Programming and Development. She has presented on pediatric feeding and swallowing at both national and state conventions, local organizations, and university graduate track programs. Marcel previously organized the development, inception, and initiation of the Easter Seals Pediatric Feeding Clinic. Specialty areas include medically fragile and complex infant and children, sensory and behavioral feeding trainings and certifications, pediatric dysphagia in NICU/PICU/Trachesotomy/Ventilator Units and home care, as well as continued practice in Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Studies. She obtained her training and certification on NeuroMuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)/Vital Stimulation therapy protocol. She received training with SOS Approach to Feeding, SOFFI (Infant Feeding), PROMPT, and Sensory Integration.

Katie graduated from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology with a concentration in deaf/hard of hearing education. She went on to receive her Master’s of Science in Speech-Language Pathology degree from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. Katie loves to work with children and adults of all ages with a wide range of speech, communication, and swallowing needs. Her treatment specialty areas focus on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Autism, and motor speech disorders. Certifications and specialty training include LSVT Loud and Beckman Oral Motor Program in addition to several additional continuing education courses earning several American Speech-Language Hearing Association awards for continuing education. She believes in utilizing evidence-based treatment approaches along with an individualized, team approach to therapy to maximize progress while incorporating techniques that are sensitive to the neurodiversity movement. In her free time, she enjoys painting and spending time with her family and two dogs.

Kathleen graduated from Temple University with her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Speech Language and Hearing Science degree. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA. Kathleen is experienced in pediatric speech language pathology and has worked with children who have a variety of communication deficits in special education and early intervention programs. She is passionate about working with children and their families to achieve their goals and build meaningful relationships.

Elissa believes that we can make effective changes in movement potential from a very young age and feels that it is a privilege to work with children. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Franklin and Marshall College and her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Thomas Jefferson University. Elissa has been practicing in pediatrics since 2011 and is a Board-Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist. She utilizes aquatic therapy, manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, and orthotic intervention to address children’s individual needs. She works with individuals who have been diagnosed with torticollis, developmental delay, hypermobility, and neurological impairments. Elissa believes in a family-centered approach to rehabilitation and works closely with families to help children achieve their physical therapy goals.

Therese comes from a large family and has always enjoyed being around children from a young age. She holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from DeSales University and a Bachelor’s degree in Sport and Exercise Science from DeSales University. She is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy.  Therese enjoys working with pediatric patients of all ages and diagnoses and collaborating with their families to best achieve their goals together. Therese enjoys finding meaningful and fun ways to engage her patients in play. Outside work, she is an avid runner, enjoys trying out new recipes and restaurants local to the area, and spending time with her husband and family.

Kendra has been a pediatric Occupational Therapist for almost 23 years. Most of that time, Kendra practiced in Early Intervention, with ages 0-3, concentrating on the sensory integration frame of reference. In those years of working with families in their homes, Kendra learned to improve her Spanish speaking abilities and is now able to fully converse with the Spanish speaking community. Kendra has experience in feeding, fine motor skills, and has also worked with the Down Syndrome population at the Eastern PA Down Syndrome Center. Kendra has worked with the autistic population, children with developmental delays, and children with genetic conditions as well. Kendra earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Occupational Therapy degree as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science from Alvernia University. She enjoys working with children of all ages, and the families that care for them. Her passion is educating the families about sensory integration and seeing how their daily lives can change when they follow suggestions that she provides.

Kelsey graduated from DeSales University with a Bachelor’s degree in Sport and Exercise Science and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Northwestern University. Prior to joining Cindy Miles Pediatrics at St. Luke’s in 2018, Kelsey worked at LVHN in their Inpatient Rehabilitation Center. Kelsey received her EIM Pediatric certification in 2020.  She enjoys working with children of any age. She has experience in treating many diagnoses, including children with autism, toe walking, gross motor delays, torticollis, and hypotonia. Kelsey values the teamwork of clinicians and families, as well as evidence-based practice, to guide treatment of all patients.

Jordan graduated from West Chester University with a Bachelor’s in Health Science with a concentration in Occupational Therapy. She graduated with her Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy degree from Gwynedd Mercy University. She has experience in neuro rehabilitation as well as pediatrics in an outpatient setting. She implements a variety of evidence-based, client-centered interventions that are also tailored to the dynamics of the family and caregivers. She believes in providing a safe, sensory rich environment that encourages child-led experiences and promotes the building of functional skills necessary for independence throughout daily living. During her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, friends and two dogs.

Hannah was a scholar-athlete at Bloomsburg University where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology with a minor in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Studies. In 2016, she received a Master’s of Science in Speech Language Pathology degree, with honors, from Monmouth University and subsequently earned a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology from the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA). Hannah has experience working with children through Early Intervention and the outpatient setting. Her pervasive philosophy for each treatment session is to provide the building blocks necessary to enable the child to engage in their highest level of functional communication skills. Hannah believes in integrating sensory approaches within speech and language therapy sessions to improve the child’s self-regulation and communication. She has a passion for working with autistic individuals and uses neurodiversity affirming approaches to afford them the ability to self-advocate and engage using a total communication approach including, but not limited to, AAC, sign language, and gestures. Hannah is currently working with a developmental pediatrician and has specialized training in administration of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2). In 2022, she was honored with a PCRAFT award and will continue to strive to incorporate the values of St. Luke’s University Health Network throughout her therapy sessions.

Juliana received her Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy degree from Elizabethtown College. Juliana has experience with pediatrics in both outpatient and early intervention settings, seeing clients across the lifespan and a wide variety of diagnoses. She also has experience with neuro-rehabilitation as well as feeding and vision therapy. Juliana believes in a creative, evidence-based, client- and family-centered approach to treatment. During her education, Juliana received a minor in Spanish and studied abroad for a semester in Barcelona.

Karen received a Bachelor’s of Science in Education with a concentration on Health Promotion from Bowling Green State University. While raising her 3 children, she later returned to school to become a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant earning her Associate’s degree from Lehigh Carbon Community College in 2012. Karen works with children of all ages across a variety of diagnoses including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Delay, Downs Syndrome, and Cerebral palsy to name a few. During treatment sessions with clients, Karen, utilizes her training in Neuro Development Treatment (NDT), Interactive Metronome (IM), Handwriting Without Tears, and the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) for feeding as approaches to improve her client’s sensory integration, fine and gross motor development, visual motor, self-care, play skills, and feeding skills. Karen is dedicated to helping clients and their families work toward meeting their goals for improving functional skills, achieving optimal development, and improved quality of life.

Rachael received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from Muhlenberg College and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Thomas Jefferson University. Rachael’s clinical experiences include acute care, inpatient rehab and outpatient orthopedic therapy as well as a 10-week pediatric clinical rotation at A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children. She has specialized in pediatric physical therapy during her work at Cindy Miles and Associates; recently merged with Physical Therapy at St. Luke’s; including assisting with the fitness program as a volunteer prior to employment. Rachael is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), including the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy.