Deanne Wayt, MA, CCC-SLP is a state-licensed and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association-certified bilingual speech-language pathologist and clinical educator. She received her bachelor’s degree in French from Wittenberg University in Springfield, OH, and she holds a diploma in French Studies from the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis in Nice, France. Wayt received her master’s degree in Speech-Language
Dr. Alayna E. Townsend is an Assistant Professor in the Master of Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences on the Dallas, TX campus. Dr. Townsend began her journey in higher education in 2015, combining her clinical experience with teaching, mentorship and service. She has spent the last 10 years
Dr. Wendy Tremaine has been an occupational therapist for 35 years. Her primary practice area is pediatrics, and she has worked in various settings, including neonatal intensive care unit, acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, school-based practice and private practice. Her professional areas of expertise include sensory processing, the use of therapeutic listening with various client populations
Lynea Upson is a licensed occupational therapist with 20 years of experience across diverse settings, including acute care, sub-acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, pediatric home health, pediatric outpatient clinics, the public school system and higher education. From 2015 to 2022, Upson was an instructor at Parker University, where she helped establish the occupational therapy program and
With nearly three decades of experience in speech-language pathology, Kathryn Flurry Mercer has worked in a variety of adult and pediatric healthcare settings, as well as diverse educational environments. She joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) in 2019 and works as the clinical coordinator of the MS-SLP program on the Dallas,
Dr. Cynthia (Cyndi) Haynes is a pediatric therapist with more than 20 years of experience. She has worked as a clinician and director across diverse settings, including a regional pediatric hospital, pediatric rehabilitation facility, outpatient clinics, early intervention and community preschools, as well as home- and school-based services. As occupational therapy regional director with Employer
Brooke Weber earned her Bachelor of Arts in Child Development and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Tufts University in Boston, MA. With more than five years of experience, she has dedicated her career to diverse pediatric environments, encompassing home health, schools and outpatient clinics. Weber specializes in serving children with Autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder,
Dr. Justine Faghihifar joined the University in 2023 and serves as an Associate Professor in the Occupational Therapy (OT) programs on the Dallas, TX campus. She holds a Doctor of Occupational Therapy and a Master of Family Studies from Texas Woman’s University . Specializing in Autism Spectrum Disorder, mental health, pediatrics, school systems and sensory
Dr. Macy Burr has a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a minor in psychology. She graduated from Stanbridge University with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2016. She has experience in outpatient pediatric clinics, home health, early intervention and school-based settings. Dr. Burr has researched animal-assisted therapy in occupational therapy. She teams
Dr. Erik Perez earned his Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Texas Pan American in Edinburg, TX and his post professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy with a concentration in Education from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. Dr. Perez accepted a core faculty position in the Occupational Therapy Program at the
Dr. Kristina Hartsook has been practicing occupational therapy since 2015. She graduated from Florida International University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She then completed her Master of Occupational Therapy at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) in 2015. She continued her education and received her post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy from
Dr. Karen Park has extensive experience in pediatric practice in a variety of service settings including early intervention, clinic, school, hospital and outpatient children’s mental health. She is Board Certified in Pediatrics by the American Occupational Therapy Association and holds Advanced Practice certification in swallowing assessment, evaluation and intervention in California. Prior to joining the