Our Team
Meet the friendly Donovan Rehab Team below...
Melissa Donovan
EdS, M.S., CCC-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
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.
Darby Carroll,
MSEd, CCC-SLP
(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!
Savannah Dozier, M.S, CF-SLP
(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.
Michelle Sivak
OTD, OTR/L
(Occupational Therapist)
Michelle earned her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy in August 2021 from Rush University in Chicago. Her clinical experiences were in settings including hand therapy, hippotherapy (therapy sessions occurring with child or adult client on horseback), hospital, skilled nursing facility and outpatient with adults at the Savannah VA Outpatient Clinic.
Her career started in biomedical engineering after earning her undergraduate degree at the University of Southern California (Fight On!). She worked for 4 years in this field when she realized she wanted to have a closer connection to the people she was helping, and this led her to her dream job in occupational therapy (OT). She knows OT is right for her because OT helps people of all ages and abilities to live more independent, fulfilling and fun lives!
Michelle is excited to be a part of Donovan Rehab, where she knows therapists are making an exciting, positive, meaningful and fun difference in children's and their families' lives. Her approach to therapy is play-based, client-centered, and family-centered. Treatment sessions will be focused on incorporating the child's interests in order to work towards building skills and achieving goals determined during evaluation, including the goals you have set as a family.
Outside of her professional life, Michelle values being connected to family, friends, nature and animals; caring for the environment; cooking and exploring the world with her husband; reading and learning; and making life FUN!
Chrissy Niver
(Office Assistant)
Chrissy was born and raised in Flint, Michigan where she attended Baker College of Flint in the Early Childhood Education bachelor's program with a minor in English language arts. She has worked with children her whole working life, from babysitting, working in childcare centers, field work, student teaching to volunteering at the Rec center to coach youth sports. Her main goal in a career is to make a difference, even if it's a small difference in a child's life.
She is very enthusiastic and energetic when it comes to her involvement with children. Being around children in all types of environments brings her much happiness. She has been married for almost 11 years to her high school sweetheart and they have 2 children. In her spare time, she enjoys quality family time. They love to travel to all the must see vacation destinations. She also enjoys crafting, meditating and engaging in outdoor activities.