Meet The Team

R. Mark Hilton, MS, CCC-SLP

I began my career in 1990, after graduating from SUNY Geneseo with a Baccalaureate degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology. I then completed my Master’s degree in Speech Pathology from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY.  

Over the past 25 years, I have worked with Early Intervention and preschool children with various development disabilities such as cleft palates, autism, and hearing loss. I’ve learned the characteristics of psychiatric problems, learning disabilities, and troubled teenagers. I have experience with patients of all ages identifying and treating autism, neurogenic speech disorders, feeding and swallowing rehabilitation, performing bedside swallowing evaluations, and treating adult acquired speech and language disorders. 

After many years working in various multicultural preschool centers, I developed a passion to reach the Hispanic culture and help children in low-income migrant populations. My experience with the Spanish language helps me identify developmental phonological error patterns and recognize language delays in young Spanish-speaking children. I’ve also provided translation services for different school committees. Today, I continue to provide bilingual speech services and Spanish translation personally, working daily to address speech and language needs of young children.  

Currently, I reside in Marion, NY with my wife Michaele. We have ten lovely children together, four cats, and our dog Chloe. I enjoy hiking, hunting, and training for my next Iron-Man or supporting my children’s various activities. 

Kimberley Glise, MS CCC-SLP

I went to undergraduate school at the University of Rochester where I majored in Linguistics and attended Nazareth College of Rochester where I received my Masters of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology in December 1997. I have worked almost exclusively in pediatrics, and have experience in school settings, private practice, early intervention, and outpatient therapy clinics. I have extensive experience in Autism including receiving training in ABA and discreet trial teaching, though I believe each child is different and each method of therapy should be different. Over the years I have gained experience in feeding and swallowing, apraxia of speech, and AAC, all while also working to address language delays and speech sound disorders. I split my year between summers in upstate NY with friends and family and winters in Las Vegas with my husband and adult daughter. In my spare time, I like to kayak and am passionate about traveling the globe with my daughter.

Jennifer Rodriguez, MS, CCC-SLP

Jennifer Rodriguez is a bilingual (Spanish) Speech and Language Pathologist.   She has been practicing as a pediatric SLP since 2009.   Jennifer holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech and Language and Hearing Association, and her Masters of Science in Speech and Language Pathology from Columbia University – Teachers College in NYC.   Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Arts at Cornell University in 2004.  She has active licences in 5 states:  New York, Florida, California, Arizona, and New Mexico.  Jennifer is a seasoned therapist who specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Feeding Therapy, Articulation Disorders, and Language Disorders for children ages birth-21.  Jennifer was born and raised in NYC, and now resides in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.  When Jennifer isn’t working, she loves to travel the world with her daughter and play with her Chihuahua-Yorkie dog, Sparky. 

Alexandra Duenas, OTR-L 

With over 20 years of dedicated experience in pediatric occupational therapy, Alexandra Dueñas, has served diverse populations across early intervention, K-12 school settings, and home care. Throughout her career, Alexandra has worked in various school systems, including Newark, NJ; Tallahassee, FL; Saint Augustine, FL; and Vero Beach, FL, adapting her approach to meet each community’s unique needs. For the last eight years, she has provided specialized pediatric home care services in New York, where her bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish has enabled her to connect deeply with families from varied cultural backgrounds.

Alexandra is particularly committed to supporting Spanish-speaking families through culturally sensitive educational materials, empowering parents to encourage developmental milestones, and enhancing family engagement. She is highly skilled in helping children overcome sensory processing challenges, improve self-care, and develop self-regulation skills essential for academic and social success. Her extensive experience in collaborating across settings and providers ensures seamless transitions and continuous support for families, including those within Hasidic and Orthodox communities. Alexandra’s dedication, cultural competence, and bilingual skills make her a trusted and invaluable resource in pediatric occupational therapy.

Amy Jo Battles

Physical Therapist Assistant

I have been a physical therapist assistant, working in diverse settings including  pools, clinics, homes, and schools for over 28 years.  Throughout my career, I have concentrated on working with children aged 3-21 years and find it to be highly rewarding.  

My specialty lies in curating  goal-oriented therapy sessions focused on improving strength, balance, coordination, and motor skills needed for children to better access their environment (wherever they are) all while making it fun and engaging for my participants. 

Donna Trimm, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Donna is a Columbia University-trained New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker with several years of experience working with children with life-threatening illnesses. Additional credentials include training through the Professional Education Systems Institute from David Kessler, Healing Grief & Loss 2023, and the Internal Family Systems Institute 2024, IFS-Informed Psychotherapist. 

She helps young children navigate emotional and behavioral challenges by addressing root causes and encouraging expression through art, movement, storytelling, and play. This helps them process complex emotions while building self-regulation, resilience, and coping skills suited to their developmental stage.

With extensive experience supporting children facing trauma, anxiety, grief, or transitions, Donna collaborates with caregivers to understand each child’s unique needs and provide strategies to enhance emotional well-being at home. 

Through flexible online sessions, I create a space where children feel seen, heard, and valued, laying the groundwork for lifelong emotional health.

Kiara Gomez

School Psychologist

Hi, I’m Kiara, and I’m a school psychologist with a deep passion for supporting the emotional and academic growth of students. For the past years, I’ve had the privilege of working with students from all walks of life to help them thrive in the classroom and beyond. 

Kyle Backal, DPT

Physical Therapist

Kyle graduated at Daemen College in 2014 with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Kyle began his career in a local short-term rehabilitation and long-term care facility before changing directions to work with children at local schools. Kyle has also worked per diem at nearby hospitals. His experience stretches across all ages and many different settings.

Kyle is proficient in many orthopedic, neurological, and behavioral conditions. With his experience, Kyle has become a well-rounded therapist who is both hard-working and goal-oriented. He is a strong advocate for his patients and will always be on the lookout to improve their quality of life.