I’m Kayla, a Doctor of Occupational Therapy with a passion for helping infants and children feel safe, confident, and successful with feeding. I earned my doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh, one of the nation’s leading programs in occupational therapy, and have intentionally shaped my clinical career around pediatric feeding, swallowing, infant development, and medically complex care.

My approach is responsive, child-led, and relationship-based. I believe meaningful progress happens when we respect a child’s cues while thoughtfully helping them build the skills they need. Feeding therapy should never feel like something being done to a child. Instead, I work alongside children and their families to create positive experiences, build trust, and make steady progress toward individualized goals.

My advanced training includes tethered oral tissues (TOTs), torticollis, Total Motion Release (TMR), infant massage, and VitalStim®/neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for swallowing challenges. I have also pursued advanced education in pediatric feeding and dysphagia, including Catherine Shaker’s Advanced Infant/Pediatric Dysphagia: Problem-Solving Complex Patients and Issues and Pediatric Videofluoroscopic Swallow Studies: From Physiology to Analysis.

During my doctoral training, I completed my capstone in a Level IV NICU, an experience that deepened my commitment to supporting infants and medically complex children beyond the hospital walls. I’m especially passionate about helping families navigate the transition home after the NICU and providing feeding and developmental support in the environments where children spend their everyday lives — including their homes and daycares.

At Rose Pediatric Therapy, my goal is to combine advanced clinical knowledge with individualized, compassionate care so families feel heard, supported, and confident in the next steps for their child.

Because feeding is about so much more than what’s on the plate — it’s about connection, development, safety, and helping your child thrive.