Hazel Pangilinan holds a Master’s Degree in Speech Pathology from the University of the Visayas, a Master’s Degree in Learning and Teaching from De La Salle University, a History and Multi-Cultural Education Certification from Alaska Pacific University, and a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA). Hazel has more than ten years’ experience providing clinical services, including working as a Speech Language Pathologist at Fairbanks North Star School District in Alaska for three years and at the Child Early Intervention Medical Center in the U.A.E. for five years. She has a wide range of experience working with children in both school and clinical settings, and has expertise with receptive/expressive language delay, auditory processing disorder, articulation delay, phonological delay/disorder, autism spectrum disorder, fluency disorders, and pragmatic language delay. Hazel is also trained and experienced in Alternative and Augmentative Communication/AAC), Picture Exchange Communication System/PECS, and Level 1 Oral Placement Therapy/TalkTools – techniques to facilitate functional communication. Hazel also provides speech and language workshops for families and professionals. 

Vicky (Kang-Chi) Lo is Speech Pathology Australia certified Speech Language Pathologist. She believes that communication is the cornerstone of being human, and is thus dedicated to providing holistic care to her clients. She graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) with First Class Honours. During her research candidature, she explored areas of Adults with Primary Progressive Aphasia, which led to publication in peer reviewed journal. Vicky has experience working with children and adults within the disability sector across a range of settings, including, preschool, school, aged care and home. She strives to provide evidence based therapy for her clients whilst making sessions fun and engaging. Vicky is accredited by the internationally regarded Hanen Centre to run the ‘More Than Words' Hanen parent training program. She has professional development certificates in Key Word Sign and Australian Sign Language 1. Outside of work, Vicky enjoys staying active and exploring local cafes and bakeries. 

Christian Thornton is a speech-language pathologist based in Fernandina Beach, Florida. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Valdosta State University and a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Jacksonville University. Before joining ShisaCare, Christian focused on enhancing the speech and language abilities of adolescent students to support their academic success. He also gained valuable experience at a private clinic, working with a diverse clientele ranging from 6 months old to adolescent age. His work there covered speech, language, feeding, and pragmatics cases. Christian expresses that witnessing clients, especially children, realizing the communicative power they cultivated during treatment is truly rewarding. It brings him fulfillment to see them apply these skills to achieve their goals, whether academically or socially. Outside of his professional life, Christian enjoys exploring various restaurants, engaging in hiking and running activities, collecting and listening to music, and building meaningful relationships with new friends.

Sara Greenfield earned her bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Missouri State University in 2011 and received her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology from North Carolina Central University in 2013. She also holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). With over ten years of experience, Sara has provided skilled speech and language services to individuals from toddlers to adulthood in various settings, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and both public and cyber school systems. Most recently, she served on the preschool transdisciplinary assessment team in Norfolk, Virginia, determining appropriate educational placements for children transitioning from early intervention. Sara has additional training in D.I.R./Floortime model. She holds a basic certification through The International Council on Development and Learning (ICDL). This model focuses on engaging children to foster social-emotional development. The model focuses on engaging children to foster social-emotional development. In her spare time, Sara enjoys hiking, traveling, and trying new restaurants together with her husband and their two children, Trey and Adalyn.

Charissa Simpson is an ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) certified Speech-Language Pathologist. She received her bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Communication Sciences & Disorders in 2014 from the Pennsylvania State University, and following graduation, she transitioned to North Carolina to complete her Masters of Science in Communication Sciences & Disorders in 2017. Over the years, Charissa has worked in a variety of early intervention clinics, outpatient rehabilitation settings, acute care facilities, nursing homes, assisted livings, and school settings. Charissa’s experience with early intervention includes both in-home and clinic-based care to address feeding disorders, receptive/expressive language delays, phonological disorders, and developmental delays in the pediatric population. Charissa is passionate about engaging with children and their families when providing therapy services in order to help facilitate carryover in the home environment and establish good communication between everyone involved.

Heather A. T. Staton is an ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) certified Speech-Language Pathologist. She received her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders in 2012 from the University of Connecticut. During graduate school, Heather developed a passion for treating individuals with ABI/TBI and completed a Master’s Thesis on “The Effect of Cognitive Rehabilitation on Traumatic Brain Injury in a Single-Subject Design Study.” She presented her research at ASHA in November, 2013 and her research was later published in the journal of Aphasiology, in 2018. Heather has over 9 years of clinical experience as a SLP and has worked in both nursing facilities and acute care facilities, developing expertise in dysaphagia, and swallowing-based disorders, feeding disorders, expressive/ receptive language, fluency, voice in addition to cognitive-communication based disorders and Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC). Heather also has significant group-leading experience and was a co-facilitator of acute rehabilitation family-based team meetings and the sole facilitator of the TBI/ABI support group for L&M Hospital/ Yale New Haven Health in partnership with the Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut for the past 8 years. Heather is certified in: SPEAK OUT! ®, Manual Therapy for Voice and Swallowing Disorders, McNeil Dysphagia Therapy and completed frequent Modified Barium Swallow Studies in her last setting. Since the birth of her daughter, Heather has developed a special interest in pediatric/ infant feeding and is currently in the process of becoming an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Heather is creative and passionate about assisting her clients of all ages and their families achieve their goals. Her interests include running, scuba diving and traveling with her husband and daughter.

Yvette Fraire Bostick is an English-Spanish Bilingual speech-language pathologist. She is ASHA certified and licensed in the State of Texas. She has 15 years of experience evaluating and treating children with speech and language disorders, and working with their families. Her areas of expertise include early intervention (Birth-3), bilingual/multilingual families, children with autism spectrum disorder, working with children with hearing loss, treating oral-motor speech disorders, and working on multidisciplinary teams to provide evaluations and support for children with complex needs and their caregivers. Yvette earned her BS in Communication Sciences and disorders from the University of Texas at Austin and her MS in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Texas at Dallas. Since then, she has worked across settings including: local school districts, private practices, Home Health, Texas Early Childhood Intervention Services, and the children’s hospital in San Diego. She is Bridging level trained in Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (PROMPT). Yvette believes in working on the whole child. It is her passion to support families and caregivers to have the tools and resources needed to help their child. It brings her so much joy to see families learn how to play together and learn together. Yvette and her family moved to Okinawa in August of 2023. When not working, Yvette enjoys adventuring with her Husband and 2 active rambunctious and loving boys. When she has time to herself, Yvette enjoys anything related to food, shopping at local markets, and going on lunch dates with girlfriends. 

Lauren Sponaugle is a Registered Behavior Analyst (RBT) with a Bachelor's degree in Special Education and a minor in American Sign Language. She also holds a Master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, which she completed during the pandemic. Lauren and her husband have been residing in Okinawa since 2021, accompanied by their dog named Penny. They delight in embarking on adventures and beachcombing along the picturesque beaches of Okinawa. Lauren has also acquired her scuba certification, enabling her to explore the captivating underwater world surrounding the island. She is enthusiastic about commencing work and acquiring more experience in the field of ABA.

Joseph Guerrieri is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with several years of experience working as a BCBA as well as a certified Special Education Teacher. He has received a master's degree in education from The George Washington University. He has taught in schools in the United States as well as the Middle East. After teaching in the Middle East, Joseph returned to the US and became a BCBA in Salt Lake City, Utah. He provided in-home services for children and adolescence with ASD. Recently, he has provided direct services and BCBA consultation to a center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Joseph is a jazz enthusiast and enjoys playing drums and learning new instruments.

Marian Tatomir is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over ten years of experience in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Starting as a one-on-one therapist, he progressed to become a BCaBA in 2018 and earned a Master's in Behavior Analysis in 2020 from the Tizard Centre in Canterbury, UK. Since 2021, Marian has been a BCBA, specializing in Functional Behavior Assessments, Skill assessments, Social skills training, and Parent training for children and young people with autism. He has worked internationally in Romania, England, and currently in Japan. Besides his professional pursuits, Marian is passionate about reading and traveling.

Ana Ramayany Kanaoka Dias is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over 8 years of experience in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Ana has worked with children from 3-15 years old diagnosed with ASD, ADHD, Dyslexia, and other disabilities. She has experience working with children with special needs in various settings, such as homes, schools, and support centers. Ana has worked with families from different backgrounds such as Ukraine, Brazil, US, UK, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Italy, China, and Korea. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Disability Sciences from the University of Tsukuba (Japan), and a Master of Arts in Disability Sciences, from the same university. Ana was born in Brazil but was brought up in Japan, making her fluent in Portuguese, Japanese, and English. Her passion is to provide a good quality service so that her clients can attain a better quality of life.

Melody Mello is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over 6 years of experience in the field of ABA. She received her Masters of Science in Education in Educational Psychology from Baylor University in Waco, Texas (Sic' Em Bears). Over the last 6 years, Melody has worked in home, clinic, and community settings with children, adolescents, and adults with autism. Melody is certified in PEAK (level 1) and constantly seeks to improve her practice for the benefit of her clients. Outside of work, Melody enjoys bouldering, hiking, video games, and traveling.

Lindsay Gaughran is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst with 13 years of experience working with children diagnosed on the autism spectrum and their families. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University - San Luis Obispo and a Masters of Science degree in Special Education from Montana State University. Lindsay started her career in San Diego, providing home based ABA services, group and community based services, and parent training. As a clinical supervisor, Lindsay trained new staff, provided parent training, and developed programs for home-based ABA programs. She also served on many IEP teams and collaborated with nearby school districts to provide behavior intervention services and staff training on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis. Lindsay is passionate about early intervention and incorporating the whole family into services as much as possible to ensure the best outcome for long term success. 

Madeline Boswell earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders from Middle Tennessee State University and her Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University. With over 8 years of experience, Madeline has dedicated her career to working with children and adolescents on the autism spectrum, offering both individual and group therapy in various settings. Her professional journey has taken her to different regions, as she has provided Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to individuals in California, Tennessee, and South Carolina before relocating to Okinawa. Madeline's diverse experience reflects her commitment to supporting individuals with autism across different environments and communities.

Jamie Young is a Board-Certified Occupational Therapist with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University. She has over 18 years of clinical experience treating both children and adults in various settings, including outpatient pediatrics, non-profit sector for at-risk youth, subacute care, long term care, skilled nursing and assisted living. While working in Rehab in her hometown of San Francisco, Jamie initiated a task force that provided clinical mentoring in geriatric cognition, group therapy, and medical complexities. After transitioning into management, Jamie’s passion for adventure led her to the Hawaiian Islands where she thrived as a travel therapist and consultant. She created the OT program for the groundbreaking transformation of an old medical campus to an innovative all-inclusive medical/rehab/senior living community. Jamie holds advanced certification in Physical Agent Modalities. She enjoys camping, cooking, beach life and making memories in Okinawa with her husband and toddler.

Erika Morreira is a Board Certified Occupational Therapist with a doctorate in occupational therapy from Pacific University and a bachelor’s in human physiology and psychology from the University of Oregon. She loves children and has worked primarily in outpatient pediatrics throughout her career, as well as in schools, hospitals, and early intervention settings. She is passionate about supporting families through family-centered care and education. Erika is certified in the Handwriting Without Tears® development program and is working toward an autism-related certification. Dr. Erika enjoys being outdoors, singing at church, and exploring Okinawa with her husband and two-year-old daughter.

Allison Harrison is a Board Certified Occupational Therapist (OT) with over 10 years of experience. She completed her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy (MScOT) at Winston-Salem State University and bachelor's degree in Psychology at Mercer University. After completing her MScOT, Allison began her career working as a traveling therapist and developed her skills in a variety of adult and pediatric settings. During this time, she found her passion working with the pediatric population. For the past 5 years, Allison has enjoyed working predominantly as a school-based therapist. She specializes in developmental delays, sensory processing concerns, and visual-motor and visual perceptual skill development. During her free time, Allison enjoys playing pickle ball, hiking with her dog, and walking along the Sunabe seawall with her husband and toddler. Allison is excited to work with clients and their families and strongly believes in a collaborative therapeutic environment.

Dr. Hannah Samaha is a licensed psychologist in the state of Louisiana. She obtained her PhD in School Psychology at the University of Houston. She completed a fellowship in Clinical Child Psychology (birth to 6) at Tulane Medical School. Dr. Hannah specializes in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety. She has worked in various settings including schools, private practice, and hospitals. Dr. Hannah uses evidence-based approaches with children to ensure the best outcomes. She loves working directly with children but also with parents. She has extensive experience working with military families and is a military spouse herself. She is also the mother to two young girls, and they enjoy exploring the best parks and beaches Oki has to offer!

Jade Torres-Vrobel is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with eleven years of experience working with children diagnosed on the autism spectrum and with other developmental disabilities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Maryland Global Campus (formerly UM University College) and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Bowie State University. Jade started her ABA career in Hawaii, providing clinic, home, school, and community-based services. As a clinical supervisor, she trained new staff and provided caregiver training as well as one-on-one direct services, both in-person and remotely. Jade enjoys assessing, programming, and training caregivers, and has experience conducting VB-MAPP, Socially Savvy, ABLLS, and AFLS assessments. Some of her preferred ABA strategies include antecedent modifications, shaping, fading, priming, different reinforcement, errorless teaching, and behavior momentum. Jade’s passion is raising autism awareness and acceptance everywhere she goes as a military spouse. She is currently working on her dream of obtaining a Ph.D. 

Rachel Glazer has been a practicing speech-language pathologist for over 25 years.  She received her Masters of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Teachers College of Columbia University. Prior to her recent move to Okinawa she worked for Pristine Rehab Care in California during the COVID pandemic treating patients and providing parent training virtually.  The majority of her career was spent working for New York City hospitals while raising 2 daughters with her husband. As a member of the Rehabilitation Team at NYU Langone Orthopedic Health and New York Presbyterian Hospital Early Intervention Team, she received training to treat medically involved children with varying communication disorders stemming from musculoskeletal, cognitive and severe pragmatic-language impairments. During her tenure she has provided consultation to clinics including Birth to Three, Preemie and Cranio-facial Clinic.  Rachel is Prompt trained and has competency working with AAC devices. She specializes in treating children (toddlers - school age), addressing needs from early language to phonology and literacy.

Sara Holub is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 12 years of working with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as other developmental disabilities. She received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Florida State University. She began working in the field while living in Washington State. While stationed there, Sara provided ABA services for children ranging in age from 3-18 years old in home, clinic, and school settings. During this time, she also completed her teaching certifications in elementary education (K-6) and ESE (K-12). While living in Germany, Sara completed her Master's degree from the University of West Florida in Exceptional Student Education. She then completed the BCBA coursework through Florida Institute of Technology while living in Norfolk, VA, completing her practicum experience in a clinic setting. Sara worked in a clinic in San Diego, CA as a BCBA in the role of clinical supervisor overseeing multiple children's progress, providing parent training, and revising programs to meet the individual needs of each child. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she also provided telehealth-only services to several children. Sara has experience working with a wide range of insurance providers including Tricare, Blue Cross/ Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, and Medicare. Sara is a naval spouse who has lived all over the world. She has a passion for traveling and exploring the places she lives.

Bethany Grace Royer is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with a strong passion for working with children with disabilities. While her primary experience lies in working with children with autism, Bethany has also extended her expertise to adult and pediatric populations. With a professional tenure of 5 years in the field, she brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her work. Bethany is particularly enthusiastic about research and looks forward to contributing her knowledge to the field by conducting meaningful studies. In the upcoming year, she plans to pursue a PhD in Developmental Psychology, aiming to expand her expertise and better serve her clients and their families. In her personal life, Bethany finds joy in spending time with her husband and her Siamese cat. She also values activities such as exercise, hikes, cooking/baking, writing, and active participation in her local chapel and community. Having been raised with an older sibling with autism, Bethany deeply understands the challenges faced by families dealing with similar situations. She recognizes the importance of family involvement in treatment and eagerly anticipates working collaboratively with families to ensure the success of the child.

Poey (Wai Yu) Cheung is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with experience working with children on the autism spectrum and other special educational needs in various settings, including homes, schools, and medical centers. She earned her master’s degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Bangor University, Wales. Poey initiated her career as an ABA therapist for children and young people with special educational needs in the UK, gaining expertise in 1:1 direct service, staff training, and workshops. Joining ShisaCare, Poey is enthusiastic about working with different students and making a positive impact on their lives and educational paths. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, cooking, eating, driving, and practicing aerial yoga.

Megan Jacobs holds a B.S. in Psychology with a concentration in ABA from Capella University. She is set to embark on her next academic journey, commencing her Master's degree in the Exceptional Student Education and ABA program at the University of West Florida in Spring 2024. Megan brings with her five years of valuable experience working with children on the Autism spectrum, ranging in age from 3 to 16 years. Her journey began as an RBT, and her dedication led her to earn her BCaBA certification in February 2023. In her leisure time, Megan finds joy in reading, swimming, and embarking on adventures across Japan with her two daughters and husband.

Asako Yagi is a native of Kobe, Japan and began her working career as a dental technician. Married to a retired U.S. naval officer and diplomat, she raised four children in Japan, the U.S., Egypt, and Kenya. She has a degree from Keio University and supports ShisaCare by translating documents, managing Japanese governmental and regulatory agency requirements, and providing logical support for company office and employee housing search, leasing, furnishings, and utilities. 

Kiyoe Matsuda mainly worked in the service industry and sales at Toto. For ten years, she was an advisor in the company's showrooms. Following that, she worked in sales for five years. Through this experience, she began to realize her desire to assist more people. Her background in sales sparked an interest in marketing and the culture of Okinawa. Kiyoe's hobbies encompass driving, reading, cooking, and traveling. She has even pursued dancing, having journeyed to New York for dance lessons.

Julia Yagi has a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and master-prep in health sciences from the University of Wyoming. She has studied at Mansfield College at Oxford University in the U.K., has extensive observational and volunteering experience at several hospitals and clinics in Wyoming, and was a sales assistant for an IT-based company in Tokyo. Julia enjoys international travel and engages in a number of sports, especially snowboarding. 

Dani González obtained her bachelor’s degree in theology from the Theological Institute of Mexican Mission Mobilization. With a passion for helping children facing diverse challenges, Dani has acquired experience in this field. She enhanced her skills through training in Guatemala focused on working with children and teenagers. Dani's adventurous spirit has led her to live in various countries including Chile, Turkey, and now Japan, where she remains committed to personal growth and learning opportunities. She is enthusiastic about immersing herself in diverse cultures and dedicated to expanding her language skills.

Coming Soon!

Yumiko Yoshimura earned her Bachelor’s degree in Global Communication and Language from Kansai Gaidai University in Japan. She has also studied abroad at the University of Louisville, learning languages. Yumiko has been learning English since childhood. After graduation, she gained experience in sales and administration within the fashion industry and real estate companies. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring nature, food, and traveling. Yumiko is thrilled to meet everyone at ShisaCare!

Erika Yagi is our authorization tracker at ShisaCare and a PhD student in Social Science & Comparative Education at UCLA. Her research field focuses on Third Culture Kids’ (TCK) home-language retention in the context of learning barriers. She also received her master’s degree in Education from UCLA. Prior to attending UCLA, Erika obtained her B.A. in Elementary Education and German from the University of Wyoming, and worked as an elementary school teacher at an international school in Cameroon. She is passionate about teaching in both of her home languages; English and Japanese.

Marisa Yagi Connelly, the founder of Yagi Speech, created this company to provide quality speech/language services to the international community. She has a bachelor's degree in Art, a bachelor's degree in Communication Disorders, and a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology, all from the University of Wyoming. She has experience in numerous clinical settings including public schools, private schools, charter schools, hospitals, private tutoring, and early intervention clinic. She is accredited by the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) and holds California and Wyoming professional certifications. Read More. 

Angel Garcia is helping Marisa with the billing paperwork for our clients at ShisaCare.