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Meet The Donovan Rehab Team!
At Donovan Rehab, we're more than just therapists. We're a team of passionate professionals dedicated to helping every child reach their fullest potential.
We believe that the best therapy happens when families and clinicians work together in a supportive, encouraging environment.
Speech-Language Pathologists
Melissa Donovan is a Speech-Language Pathologist and the owner of Donovan Rehab. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Pre-Physical therapy from Oakwood University. She then continued on to receive a Master of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders and an Education Specialist (EdS) degree in Early Childhood Education.
Melissa specializes in communication disorders, autism, and developmental delays, and is passionate about helping children reach their fullest potential. 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 both a clinician and business owner, she is a strong advocate for improving access to therapy services, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
She firmly believes that the progress of a child is based on serving the child’s speech needs as well as their developmental needs. She further believes that successful therapy requires collaboration between clinicians, parents, and the school system.
Originally from New York, Darby relocated to South Georgia in 2020 after completing her education to begin her career as a Speech-Language Pathologist. She joined the Donovan Rehab team in 2022 as a part-time therapist and transitioned into a full-time role in 2025. Today, Darby proudly serves as Head Clinician, where she mentors fellow therapists, helps guide clinical excellence, and supports the continued growth of the practice.
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In addition to her role as an experienced pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist, Darby is a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist. She is passionate about evidence-based care and continually seeks opportunities to expand her knowledge and provide the highest quality services to the families she serves.
Outside of working with children, Darby enjoys spending time with her husband and their own two children. She can usually be found traveling to interesting places or learning something new. Darby has much experience working with AAC, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and sensory feeding. She is currently enrolled at New York Medical College to achieve additional training in pediatric feeding and dysphagia.
Emily received her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology, as well as a Master of science degree in Speech Language Pathology, from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Since 2015, Emily has been working with children with various communication disorders. She took a short break in providing services when her family was stationed in Germany. During this time, she enjoyed traveling, raising her own two children, and talking to parents in the community with concerns for the speech/language development of their children.
Emily is a caring and passionate therapist who wants to ensure that all children receive the services they need. Emily has always experienced joy while working with children and feels blessed to have found such a rewarding profession in which to share her gift with others. She enjoys working with parents to help improve a child’s speech and language abilities. Emily holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and is licensed to practice in the state of Georgia.
Olivia is a Speech-Language Pathologist whose passion for the field began with her own experience as a person who stutters. Growing up with communication challenges gave her a deep understanding of the importance of feeling heard, respected, and supported, and it continues to shape her compassionate, individualized approach to care.
She has experience across many care settings. She primarily works with autistic children and children with ADHD, using evidence-based, neuroaffirming practices that honor each child’s unique strengths and communication style. Olivia has also provided services to adults with communication challenges. She has experience using both mid-tech and high-tech AAC systems to support meaningful communication across the lifespan.
Her practice is rooted in neuroaffirming, child-led therapy that prioritizes regulation, engagement, autonomy, and connection. She is committed to creating supportive environments where individuals can communicate authentically, build confidence, and develop meaningful connections with others.
Emma Kennedy is excited to join the Donovan Rehab team as a Clinical Fellow Speech-Language Pathologist. Born and raised in South Georgia, she is a proud alumna of Georgia Southern University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, where she completed her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology.
As a newlywed and recent graduate, Emma is grateful for the opportunity to begin her career at Donovan Rehab. She is passionate about helping individuals improve their communication skills and quality of life and looks forward to learning from her colleagues while continuing to grow as a clinician. Emma is excited to build meaningful relationships with her patients and their families and make a positive impact in the community.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and the beach is her favorite place to relax, recharge, and soak up the sunshine.
Occupational Therapists
Lauren is a Texas native who relocated to Georgia after graduating and getting married. ​She received her Bachelors of Science in Health Science degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas in 2020. She then attended the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio to pursue occupational therapy.
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In May 2024, Lauren received her doctorate degree in occupational therapy. She is a licensed occupational therapist by the state of Georgia and is registered by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy
(NBCOT). During her educational experience, Lauren completed her clinical fieldwork experience in adult inpatient rehabilitation and pediatric outpatient settings.
She has always had a passion for working with children and with being creative, so she is excited to pursue her passions in her dream career of occupational therapy. Outside of work, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband, traveling, exercising, cooking/baking, and learning new hobbies such as knitting and golfing.
Richard earned his Bachelors of Science in Occupational Therapy and Masters of Health Science in Occupational Therapy from The Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. Although his emphasis for his Masters program was in 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 also uses his knowledge as a Physical Therapist Assistant.
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Richard enjoys working with a team of therapists that make client-centered and engaging therapeutic interventions their primary focus. Understanding the importance of occupational therapy 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
Allison is an experienced administrative professional with a strong background in office management, team support, and streamlining day-to-day operations. With years of experience in office administration, she is passionate about creating organized and welcoming environments that allow both staff and families to thrive.
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As the mother of a son with autism, Allison has a personal understanding of the unique strengths, challenges, and milestones that every child and family experiences. This perspective has strengthened her passion for supporting children of all abilities and advocating for inclusive, compassionate care.
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Allison is currently pursuing her degree at American Public University, demonstrating her commitment to continuous personal and professional growth. Outside of work and school, she enjoys spending quality time with her children, getting lost in a good book, and hunting for hidden treasures while thrift shopping.
Chloe is originally from North Georgia and moved to the area to attend Georgia Southern University, where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in May 2025. She is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology with the goal of becoming a pediatric speech-language pathologist.
Chloe joined the Donovan Rehab team in 2025 as an Office Assistant, where she has gained valuable experience in the day-to-day operations of a pediatric therapy clinic. She enjoys learning from the clinical team, supporting the clinic's daily operations, and building strong relationships with the children and families Donovan Rehab serves.
This role has deepened her understanding of the field and strengthened her commitment to future clinical practice. She is excited to continue her graduate studies and looks forward to making a positive impact in the lives of children and their families as a pediatric SLP.
