EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Science and interdisciplinary Studies – Texas A&M-CC
Major: Early Childhood Education

Pre-Master’s Leveling Program- Texas Woman’s University
Major: Speech Language Pathology

Master of Science – Texas A&M-Kingsville
Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders

CERTIFICATIONS:

American Speech and Hearing Association Certification of Clinical Competence
License #14091994
Texas State License in Speech Language Pathology
License #110735

PROFESSIONAL:

Jackie Heath was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. She graduated from King High School and attended college at Texas A&M – Corpus Christi. She graduated with a teaching degree and following graduation Jackie moved to Houston, Texas and taught first grade. She loved teaching first grade; teaching reading and language were her favorite moments of the day. Empowering young minds with the gift of literacy was incredible. When her daughter was born she took a break from teaching to stay at home. She moved back to Corpus Christi after a few years and gave birth to her son. While teaching her own children to sign and talk she became passionate about the field of Speech Language Pathology. This sparked her decision to go back to school and pursue a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She completed clinical internships with Texas A&M Kingsville Speech & Hearing Clinic, CCISD, and Spohn South Hospital (rehabilitation facility and in-hospital care). She joined the staff at Pediatric Therapy Associates in September of 2014. She cares for each child she meets like they are one of her own.

PERSONAL:

Jackie enjoys traveling with her family and friends. She likes staying active by running, snow skiing, and paddle boarding. You can find her most weekends enjoying the sun or doing home improvement projects!

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Hearing Science SUNY Cortland
Major: Speech and Hearing Science

Post Baccalaureate Courses:
University of Houston,  Communication Disorders

Master of Education with concentration in Communication Disorders
Texas State University

CERTIFICATIONS:

American Speech and Hearing Association Certification of Clinical Competence
License #01036922

Texas  State License in Speech Pathology
License #14176

PROFESSIONAL:

Mrs. Hopkins has dedicated her career to refining therapy skills in the diagnosis and treatment of Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fluency/Stuttering Disorder, and Speech and Language Delay in children.  She brings patience, experience, creativity, and a sense of humor to work every day!  Mrs. Hopkins believes that every child has a story to tell.  She dedicates her time at PTA to helping her patients tell theirs.

She started her career working with Sandy Mader at Ada Wilson Children’s Hospital, now known as Driscoll Children’s Hospital. She was the first therapist added after Sandy opened the department. After 7 years she left to open Speech Therapy Services, a very successful private practice in Portland, Texas. After 22 years and a new granddaughter, she closed her practice and rejoined Sandy in January of 2015.

PERSONAL:

Margot loves her added free time because she now has two grandchildren she can visit every week. She also enjoys playing tennis, exercising, and travelling.

EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
Major: Biomedical Sciences

Master of Science from Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Major: Communication Sciences & Disorders

CERTIFICATES:
American Speech & Hearing Association Certification of Clinical Competence
License #14116236

Texas State License in Speech-Language Pathology
License #110168

PROFESSIONAL:
Leanna has experience working with both geriatric and pediatric populations in the post-acute medical setting and private practice settings.

• Clinical Experience:

Texas A&M University- Kingsville Speech & Hearing Clinic

Little Lighthouse Children’s Rehab- Alice, TX

Post-Acute Medical Hospital- Corpus Christi, TX

Stella Maris School for Disability Children- Belize City, Belize

• Leanna Joined Pediatric Therapy Associates in June of 2014

PERSONAL:
Leanna enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends. Her passion for speech therapy comes from her love of kids and helping to give a child a chance to communicate. Her experience at the Disability School in Belize has helped shape her as a therapist and given her an outlook on the importance of communication.

EDUCATION:

Master’s of Science in Education – Old Dominion University
Major: Speech-Language Pathology

CERTIFICATIONS:

American Speech and Hearing Association Certification of Clinical Competence
License #01089663

Texas State License in Speech-Pathology
License #18310

PROFESSIONAL:

Terri brings 25 years of experience with children to her current position.  She is a member of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and the Texas Speech-Language Hearing Association and licensed to practice in the State of Texas.  Before joining Pediatric Therapy Associates, she served as a staff speech-language pathologist in the Portsmouth Public School District for 2 years and the Corpus Christi Independent School district for 13 years and as the Lead Speech-Language pathologist in the Corpus Christi Independent School District for 4 years.

Terri’s move to this practice was prompted by a need to work in a more direct and personal way with children and their families.  She enjoys watching the growth of speech and language skills and the positive impact that has on children and their families.  She also enjoys helping families learn and implement techniques to better communicate with their children.

Terri brings experience in working with disorders of articulation, phonology, language, and stuttering.  She understands how to develop and use alternative augmentative communication from simple to complex systems.  She understands the importance of working with families to bring about the highest level of carryover for a positive impact with communication.

PERSONAL:

Terri is a dedicated member of this community and blessed to serve our children and their families.She enjoys travelling, cooking, working out, and spending time with family and friends.

EDUCATION:

Bachelors of Arts – University of Tennessee Chattanooga 

Major: Spanish Literature

Masters of Science- University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Masters: Communication Science Disorders- Speech Language Pathology

CERTIFICATIONS:   

American Speech and Hearing Association Certification of Clinical Competence 

Texas State License in Speech Language Pathology

Tennessee State License in Speech Language Pathology 

PROFESSIONAL:   

Becca Wyssmann received her master’s degree from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 2014 and has since been serving the pediatric population. She has experience working with children, adolescents, and families in home, school and private practice settings. She loves serving the diverse needs of diverse populations. Her specialties are in language, AAC, executive functioning, and literacy.  

PERSONAL:

Becca loves spending time with her family and friends. On the weekend, you can find her going to the beach, going to the aquarium, eating snow cones, and enjoying the sunshine of Corpus!

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders – The University of Texas at Austin

Master of Science in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences – The University of Texas at Austin

CERTIFICATION:

American Speech and Hearing Association Certification of Clinical Competence (License #14434736)

Texas State License in Speech-Language Pathology (License #118146)

The University of Texas at Austin Multicultural Certificate 

PROFESSIONAL:

Amanda Smithwick, M.S., CCC/SLP graduated from Orange Grove High School and moved to Austin, Texas in order to complete her undergraduate and graduate studies at The University of Texas (Hook ‘Em!). She has always felt passionate about returning to South Texas to serve the community that is her “Home”! During her university studies, Amanda completed clinical internships and externships at The Michael and Tami Lang Stuttering Institute, The University of Texas Speech and Hearing Center, The University of Texas Elementary Charter School, Cypress Elementary in Leander Independent School District, as well as Christus Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas. She received specialized training in the area of stuttering, as well as presented research investigating the effects of self-advocacy on children who stutter. Amanda joined the staff at Pediatric Therapy Associates in May 2021 and has greatly enjoyed serving a diverse population of children with speech and language disorders, ranging in age from six months to eighteen years old. Amanda loves her patients and their families, and she works diligently to encourage functional communication inside and outside of the therapy room. 

PERSONAL:

When Amanda is not playing the role of speech-language pathologist, you can often find her crafting, volunteering at her church, or spending time with her family!

area, and she is excited to serve the community that she has always called “Home”!

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Science in Speech Language Pathology

Texas Christian University

Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology 

Steinhardt School of Education, New York University

CERTIFICATIONS:

American Speech and Hearing Association Certification of Clinical Competence

License # 12042413

Texas State License in Speech Language Pathology

License # 101321

PROFESSIONAL: 

Chrisi was first introduced to the world of Speech Language Pathology in 1994 by her younger sister, Clare Judith, who was diagnosed with Trisomy 18.  Clare was soon transferred to Driscoll Children’s Hospital NICU after her birth and remained there for several months. On Christmas Eve, her siblings were allowed into the NICU to visit her.  Clare was treated by a speech-language-pathologist to work on her ability to bottle feed.  To help the tiniest of creatures be able to do the most basic of life sustaining tasks had to be an amazing way to dedicate one’s life’s work. The seed was planted. In the midst of a college career that began with Musical Theatre and Ballet, Chrisi found herself in the Speech Language Pathology program at TCU and on to graduate school at NYU. While studying in NYC, Chrisi enjoyed the varying clinical experiences she gained. After working at Manhattan Eye Ear and Throat Hospital, Brooklyn Hospital Center and Milestone School for Child Development, Chrisi returned to Corpus Christi, Texas to join the rehab team at Driscoll Children’s Hospital. While at Driscoll, Chrisi served on the Craniofacial team and particularly devoted herself to working with children with cleft lip and palate, vocal cord dysfunction and other voice disorders.  Chrisi has enjoyed opportunities to continue her education at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, New York Langone Medical Center, Vanderbilt Voice Center, Johns Hopkins Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Center, and University of Texas Voice Center in San Antonio.  Chrisi appreciates the opportunity to help each of the patients and families that she serves, and is thankful to be part of the amazing team at PTA!

PERSONAL: 

Chrisi grew up in Portland, Texas and attended Gregory Portland High School.  From a very early age Chrisi was active in the arts community here in the Coastal Bend beginning her ballet studies with the Roquemores and then Nancy Sulik, and finding her place in the musical theatre community at the Harbor Playhouse at the age of 7.  She studied drama with Charlotte Brown at GP and went to state and national competitions throughout her high school career. Chrisi began choreographing the Corpus Christi Cathedral Concert Series’ Holiday Spectacular at the age of 15 and continued to both choreograph and perform in the production as a singer and dancer for a 22 year run.  While attending TCU, Chrisi was invited to be the vocalist for TCU Jazz and toured Europe with them, performing at both the Montreux and Vienna Jazz Festivals. Chrisi performed in productions at both TCU and NYU and gained her Actor’s Equity status with a Broadway Tours! production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! Upon her return from New York, Chrisi began her work as a pediatric speech-language pathologist at Driscoll Children’s Hospital and was soon invited by the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra to create two original works for the children of Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rehabilitation to be performed onstage with the CCSO on their holiday concert. The two pieces were repeated annually at the hospital and came to be known as the Holiday Spectacular which ultimately enjoyed an 18-year run and grew to include numerous original works to feature the children along with artists from the community.  Chrisi was co-founder of Sparkling City Light Opera Company, has taught ballet and theatre for a number of organizations and workshops, has performed numerous roles with the Harbor Playhouse, has performed regionally as a guest artist, was Resident Artist with the Corpus Christi Concert Ballet from 2007-2018 and since 2018 has been Principal Artist with the Corpus Christi Ballet.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Arts – Temple University

Major: Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

Minor: Public Health

Master of Arts – Temple University

Major: Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

CERTIFICATIONS:

American Speech and Hearing Association Certification of Clinical Competence 

License #14286606

Texas State License in Speech Language Pathology

License #119391

PROFESSIONAL:

Erin Foley was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She attended Temple University and earned her Master’s in Arts in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences.  Erin has worked in several different settings, including a school, skilled nursing facility, and outpatient pediatric clinic. Erin has experience working with children with language delays and disorders, articulation and phonological disorders, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. She enjoys watching the growth of speech and language skills in the children she works with as well as teaching techniques to families to help them foster better communication with their children. 

PERSONAL:

Erin enjoys traveling, getting outdoors, and adventurous eating. She likes to stay active, so on the weekends you can find her at the gym, walking on the beach, or going for a boat ride!

EDUCATION:

Bachelor in Business Administration, Corpus Christi State University-Corpus Christi

Associates in Applied Science: Culinary Arts, Del Mar College-Corpus Christi

PROFESSIONAL:   

Patti joined PTA in October 2013

•Patti works diligently in keeping the Speech Therapy offices organized and productive.

•Her previous work experience in real estate, property management and teaching provides varied management skills.

PERSONAL: 

Patti enjoys many outdoor activities including: gardening, swimming, walking and night sky watching. She loves traveling and enjoys sharing her adventures as well as tips on “best” places to stay and most importantly “where” to eat. Her love of art is evident by the ever changing art pieces throughout the lobby and offices.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Business Administration – Texas A&M Corpus Christi

Major: Accounting with Honors

PROFESSIONAL:

Betty has had a very rewarding career in healthcare.

Business Manager for the department of Medical Education at Driscoll Children’s Hospital and CPSST, a group of specialty teaching physicians (3 years).

Chief Financial Officer for South Texas Retina Consultants (24 years).

Betty came to work for PTA-Speech after retirement from STRC to work with her daughter, Jackie in 2020. She does the accounting and assists in the front and back office as needed.

PERSONAL:

Betty sings in the choir at St. Pius Catholic Church, is involved in Journey to Damascus, and bible study with her church. She loves to read, sew, kayak, sail and spend time with her family and friends.