Our Team
Meet the friendly Donovan Rehab Team below...
Melissa Donovan
EdS, M.S., CCC-SLP
Darby Carroll,
MSEd, CCC-SLP
Savannah Dozier, M.S, CF-SLP
(Speech-Language Pathologist/Owner)
Melissa Donovan received her Bachelor of Science degree in Pre-Physical therapy from Oakwood University in Huntsville, AL. She then continued on to Alabama A&M University where she received a Master of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders. Melissa is an energetic therapist who will go over and beyond the call of duty to ensure that a child is receiving the best, quality therapy services for his/her needs. She has worked in the private practice setting treating children with developmental, articulation, language, and fluency disorders secondary to autism, cerebral palsy, and downs syndrome. Melissa has also taken continuing education classes focused on; Sensory disorders and ADHD in children, Speech Sound Disorders, Apraxia, Autism, and various other disciplines.
Melissa is licensed in the state of Georgia and certified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. She has always possessed a sincere love for children and wanted to be able to understand children from a developmental perspective in addition to speech. As a result she decided to further her education in the field of Early Childhood. She completed her Educational Specialist degree in Early childhood in December 2014. She also completed the first level of PROMPT training to aid children with severe apraxia and other articulation delays. She firmly believes that the speech therapy progress of a child is based on serving the child’s speech needs as well as his/her developmental needs. She further believes that successful speech therapy requires team work and collaborative efforts from the clinician, parents, medical community and the school system.
Kirstin Neighoff
Office Manager
(Speech-Language Pathologist)
Darby is a New York native who relocated to Georgia after receiving her Master's degree from The College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY. She has a great passion for speech pathology, working extensively with those with ASD, behavioral challenges, traumatic brain injury, and sensory feeding difficulties. She also has much experience with AAC systems such as LAMP, sign language, and picture exchange.
Darby completed her clinical fellowship at a private practice in Rincon, GA. She then moved to the Hinesville area where she is working with local schools.
When not working, Darby enjoys family time. Her animals, Hippo the cat and Riley the dog often come up in conversation with pictures to follow. Darby and her fiancé are excited to be welcoming a baby boy in September 2022, and look forward to all the new adventures to come!
(Speech-Language Pathologist)
Savannah's hometown is Ludowici, GA. She received both her Bachelors and Masters degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Valdosta State University. Savannah has practicum experience with both adults and pediatrics with a variety of communication needs and disorders including working with children with autism spectrum disorder, articulation and phonological disorders, and expressive and receptive language disorders. She has worked in multiple settings including hospital and school system. Savannah has always enjoyed working with children and coming up with creative activities to make speech fun and educational.
Outside of work she enjoys spending time at the beach, playing with her 3 dogs, and all things Disney.
Richard Glover
MHS, OTR/L, LPTA
Lori Taylor
(Office Assistant)
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Kirstin was born and raised in and around Hinesville, GA. She is currently enrolled at Georgia Southern and working hard towards her degree in Radiology. She previously received her early childhood education certification and worked in childcare for five years. Kirstin loves children and enjoys working with them in all environments. She has two of her own children and enjoys each and every moment of raising them and helping them live fulfilling lives. Kirstin also has a deep love for animals and enjoys every moment spent with her rescue dog. During her free time Kirstin enjoys spending quality time with her family, working out, going out on the boat, and tons of DIY activities.
(Occupational Therapist)
Richard earned his Bachelors of Science in Occupational Therapy (2003) and Masters of Health Science in Occupational Therapy (2005) from The Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. Although his emphasis for his Masters program was Pediatrics, Richard has worked in a variety of clinical settings, ranging from outpatient orthopedics, geriatrics, and school therapy and home health. In addition to over two decades of clinical experience as an occupational therapist, Richard brings his skills as a physical therapist assistant as well.
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Richard is excited about returning to his first love - Pediatrics - at Donovan Rehab and working with a team of therapists that make client-centered and engaging therapeutic interventions their primary focus. Understanding the importance of occupation in children is the driving force behind Richard's treatment approach; discovering purposeful, meaningful and functional activities are at the forefront of his plan of care for each child.
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When he is not devoting his time and talents to the children he works with, he enjoys quality time with his own pre-teen son and teenage daughter. Although he is a native Savannahian, Richard has become invested and involved in the Hinesville community with his fraternity through community service and the Scholars In Action mentoring program in Liberty County.
Lori is a true Georgia peach! She was born and raised in Warner Robins, GA until marrying her high school sweetheart and traveling the world as a military family for 20 years. She has 5 adult children and 4 grand babies, whom she adores with all her heart!
Lori has lived in Ludowici since 2009. She has experience working with children thru the Army’s Family Child Care Program, and with preschool and children’s ministries in multiple churches around the world. She also worked in Long County Schools as a substitute for several years before being hired as a Special Education Paraprofessional, and later as a School Receptionist. She enjoys working with children of all abilities, and loves to see their successes! Being a mom of a special needs child herself, she is passionate about supporting others going and growing through similar experiences.
In her free time, Lori can be found spending time with her family, cooking, and cheering on the Dawgs!
Sullivan Friedrich
M.S., CCC-SLP
(Speech-Language Pathologist)
Sullivan received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Disorders, as well as a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology from Harding University.
Sullivan has worked with a wide variety of populations and disorders, including Autism, Executive Dysfunction, hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, and swallowing disorders in children. Sullivan has experienced outpatient, public school, and private clinic settings. Sullivan loves communicating with parents and children to find the most functional goals and activities. Sullivan is licensed and certified by the state of Georgia as a Speech Language Pathologist.
Taylor Vest
OTR/L
(Occupational Therapist)
Taylor is a Virginia native who recently relocated to the Georgia area since getting married. Taylor graduated magna cum laude from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and a minor in Medicine and Society in 2018. Following her undergraduate studies, she went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Radford University in 2021. She is licensed by the state of Georgia and registered through the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.
Before moving to Georgia, Taylor worked at a private practice providing outpatient and early intervention occupational therapy services to children from birth to 21 years of age. In addition, Taylor worked in acute care at a local hospital. She has worked with a variety of diagnoses including Autism, Cerebral Palsy, developmental delay, Spina Bifida, feeding difficulties, Sensory Processing Disorder, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, traumatic brain injury, visual impairments, etc. Taylor is currently contracted into Long County Schools and Liberty Regional Medical Center in acute care.
Taylor is trained in The Listening Program and Handwriting Without Tears. She plans to attend continuing education courses to further develop in depth-evaluations, treatment skills, and evidence-based practice. Taylor’s clinical interests include sensory integration, neurological disorders, working with children with fine motor and visual motor challenges, visual perception, and Early Intervention.
She loves working with children because they are inspiring, fun to work with, and present new clinical challenges that sharpen her treatment skills. Outside of work, Taylor enjoys traveling with her husband, exercising, baking, reading, and the outdoors. Taylor enjoys building a relationship with not only her patient but your family as well, and can not wait to get to know you!