Our Team
Dawn Kearney and Laurie Yates created Midlands Therapy Services in 2003 focusing primarily on children ages birth to three after realizing the need for specialized therapy in the pediatric communities of South Carolina. Ten years later, Midlands Therapy Services is one of the largest and most experienced therapy companies in the Midlands. With over 40 years of combined experience, Dawn and Laurie not only continue to provide speech therapy to patients, but they also provide ongoing guidance, advice and training to their contracting therapists to ensure continued quality of care to all of the patients and their families.
Our therapists have experience with an extensive number of diagnoses and concerns including but not limited to:
Down Syndrome
Autism spectrum Disorder
Cerebral palsy
Failure to thrive
Chromosomal abnormalities
Microcephaly
Schizencephaly
Hearing impairments
CHARGE
AAC Devices
Auditory Verbal Therapy
Apraxia
Developmental delay
Feeding/swallowing concerns
Torticolis
Hydrocephaly
Williams Syndrome
Prader-Willi
Angelman Syndrome
PEDIATRIC THERAPISTS
Neely Westbrook, MSP, CCC-SLP • Speech-Language Pathologist • 11 years pediatric experience
Neely graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelors of Science in Communication Disorders and then earned her Masters in Speech Pathology from the University of South Carolina.
Neely has worked with Midlands Therapy Services since 2006 and is experienced in a variety of Pediatric speech/language disorders and delays including those with articulation challenges, Autism spectrum disorder, Down Syndrome, expressive/receptive language delays and feeding delays.
Neely lives in Lexington, SC with her husband, baby, and 2 dogs. She enjoys time with her family and friends, traveling to the beach, and Gamecock football.
Neely provides speech therapy for the following areas: Lexington, West Columbia, Cayce, and the Broad River Road area in Columbia.
Julie Porth Smith, MCD, CCC-SLP, ATP • Speech-Language Pathologist • 18 years pediatric experience
Julie earned her BA in Speech Pathology from Columbia College in 1998 and Masters in Communication Sciences & Disorders from the University of South Carolina in 2003. Julie has worked with Midlands Therapy Services since 2010. She has served children ages 0 -21 in both public & private schools over the past 14 years.
In addition to previously serving students from Lexington School District Four, Beaufort County Schools, and Lexington School District One, Julie has worked in private practice in the low country of SC as well as a PRN therapist with Agape Skilled Nursing Facility. She carries a certification by the SC LLR, the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), and the SC Department of Education. She also carries certification as an Assisstive Technology Professional through the Rehabilitative Engineering Society of North America (RESNA) and specializes in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) evaluations and treatment for non-verbal or limited verbal clients. Julie has had extensive training in working with clients with Autism and has been trained in Applied Behavior Therapy. In addition to traditional speech and language therapy, she also has particular clinical interests in cognitive rehabilitation for clients suffering from strokes, trauma as the result of brain surgery, and traumatic brain injury.
Julie provides speech therapy for the following areas: Saluda County, Gilbert, and Batesburg-Leesville. She is also able to provide AAC consultations and/or evaluations in a clinical setting for any children in the Midlands area.
Christine McLoone, MA, CCC-SLP • Speech-Language Pathologist • 10 years pediatric experience
Christie graduated from Florida State University with her Bachelors of Science in Communication Disorders in 2005 and graduated from the University of Tennessee with her Masters in Speech Pathology in 2008.
Christie has worked for Midlands Therapy Services since 2008. Her clinical experience includes; feeding and oral desensitization in NICU patients, suspected Apraxia and other motor planning disorders, Autism, motor feeding disorders, Down's Syndrome, auditory first language approach in infants and toddlers with hearing impairment, Phonological process disorders, articulation disorders and expressive/recessive language delays.
Christie lives in Charlotte, NC with her high maintenance yet adorable dog. She enjoys traveling to see family and friends.
Christine provides speech therapy for the following areas: Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Indianland, Rock Hill, Lexington and West Columbia, SC
Kate Denton, MSP, CCC-SLP • Speech-Language Pathologist • Over 11 years pediatric experience
Kate Denton received her Bachelors of Science from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia with a major in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a minor in Special Education. She received her Masters Degree from the University of South Carolina in Speech Language Pathology. Kate has been working with the early intervention population for over eight years, and has experience with a wide variety of clients. Kate is passionate about the specific needs of the clients and families of the early intervention population.
In addition to practicing speech language pathology, Kate is a certified yoga instructor. She live in downtown Columbia.
Kate provides speech therapy for the following areas: Downtown Columbia, Southeast Columbia and Forest Acres
Sarah Disasa, MA, CCC-SLP • Speech-Language Pathologist • 11 years pediatric experience
Sarah graduated from Presbyterian College with a BA in English in 2001, and from Appalachian State University with an MA in Speech Pathology in 2005.
Sarah has worked for Midlands Therapy Services since 2010. She has served children in South Carolina since 2006. She is a member of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) and holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC).
Sarah provides speech therapy for the following areas: Downtown Columbia, SC and Northeast Columbia, SC
Misty Taylor, MSP, CCC-SLP • Speech-Language Pathologist
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Misty provides speech therapy for the following areas:
Shannon Medlin, MSP, CCC-SLP • Speech-Language Pathologist • 17 years pediatric experience
Shannon is a graduate of Laurens High School. She then went on to attend Columbia College where she earned her BA in Speech-Language Pathology. After graduation she attended the University of South Carolina where she earned a MSP in Speech-Language Pathology.
Shannon has worked for Midlands therapy Services for 3 years. She has served children in the pediatric community for the last 9 years.
Shannon began her career in Speech Pathology in the Berkeley County School District and then moved to Orangeburg where she was employed by the Calhoun County School District. In August 2004 she began working in Lexington School District One where she continues to serve as a SLP 4 days a week. In 2010 she also began serving the birth to three population through Midlands Therapy Services one day per week.
Shannon lives in Gilbert, SC with her husband and two daughters.
Shannon provides speech therapy for the following areas: Lexington & Gilbert
Julie Tworzyanski, MSP, CCC-SLP • Speech-Language Pathologist
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Julie provides speech therapy for the following areas:
Jamie Gordon, MSP, CCC-SLP • Speech-Language Pathologist • 31 years pediatric experience
Jamie received her BS in Speech Pathology and Audiology from West Virginia University and her Master's in Speech Pathology from the University of South Carolina.
Jamie has worked for Midlands Therapy for 3 years. Jamie is licensed by the Board of South Carolina in Speech-Language Pathology and holds her Certification of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association. She also holds state certification in the area of Speech and Language therapy South Carolina State Department of Education.
A native of Maryland, Jamie has been a South Carolina resident for 28 years where she and her husband have raised 2 sons.
Jamie provides speech therapy for the following areas: Northeast Columbia, SC and Blythewood, SC
Sarah Weatherly, MSP, CCC-SLP • Speech-Language Pathologist • 8 years pediatric experience
Sarah graduated from Clemson University with a degree with in Public Health Science in 2008 and from the University of South Carolina with a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology in 2010.
She has worked for Midlands Therapy Services since 2012. Sarah is a member of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) and holds a Certification of Clinical Competence (CCC). She has experience with preschool and middle school aged children in the home, school and private practice settings.
Sarah provides speech therapy for the following areas: West Columbia, Cayce and Forest Acres, SC
Stephanie Ellis, MSP, CCC-SLP • Speech-Language Pathologist • Over 9 years pediatric experience
Stephanie graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelors in Psychology in 1996 and then earned her Masters in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of South Carolina in 2000.
Stephanie has worked for Midlands Therapy Services since 2010. Her clinical experience includes: feeding and oral desensitization in pediatrics, suspected Apraxia of Speech, Autism, Down's Syndrome, Phonological Process Disorders, articulation disorders and expressive/receptive language delays.
Stephanie lives in Irmo, SC with her husband and three children, ages 10,8 and soon to be 5 years old.
Stephanie provides speech therapy in the following areas: Irmo and Lexington, SC
Caitlin Sund, MHS/OTR/L • Occupational Therapist • 15 years pediatric experience
Caitlin graduated from the University of Florida with her Bachelor's in Occupational Therapy in 2003. She then went on to complete her Master's in Occupational Therapy also at the University of Florida.
Caitlin has worked with Midlands Therapy since 2013. Prior to that she worked in both private out patient clinics as well as early intervention settings. Her work focused on treating children with Sensory Processing Disorder, Sensory Based Feeding Aversions, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Delays, Handwriting Difficulties, Neurological Deficits and Visual Motor Delays. In addition, Caitin gained skills in Therapeutic Listening, Handwriring Without Tears and the Interactive Metronome. She enjoys incorporating her therapeutic activities into the Family routines and makeing sure parents feel involved in their child's treatment.
Caitlin lives in Fort Mill, SC with her husband and three young children. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family.
Caitlin provides therapy in the following areas: Fort Mill/Tega Cay areas of South Carolina
OFFICE STAFF
Kara Hartzog • Office Administrator
Kara Hartzog graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science. She spent the next 3 years as the Director for Children's Programs at AGC Plus in Orangeburg, SC, where she loved being involved in various health and wellness programs.
After some time away from work to start a family, Kara began working for Site Development Engineering as Office Manager, in Lexington, SC, prior to coming on board with Midlands Therapy Services, Inc. in 2010. Kara works with therapist and office personnel to help maintain quality, stress free services for our patients and families.
Kara currently resides in Lexington with her husband and 2 children. She continues to enjoy teaching health and wellness classes in her spare time and relaxing with her family and friends.