Faculty and Staff

Renee Fabus, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, TSHH is the Founder/Chair of the Speech Language Pathology Department at Stony Brook University. She received her bachelor's degree from New York University, her master's of science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Teachers College, and her master’s of philosophy and Ph.D. from Columbia University. In September 2020, she received a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education and Leadership from University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Dr. Fabus is a certified speech-language pathologist for over 20 years who has practiced in a variety of medical settings. She has taught and supervised in programs in the New York City area. She has presented and published articles and books in the areas of stuttering, dysphagia, speech sound disorders and interprofessional education. She has and continues to serve on various regional, state and national committees including being the Past President of the Long Island Speech-Language-Hearing Association and serving on a telehealth committee for the National Academies of Practice and the American Interprofessional Health Collaborative. Additionally, she is currently serving as ASHA SIG-15 Gerontology Editor and on the editorial board of Dysphagia. 

Additionally, Dr. Fabus created an advanced graduate certificate program in Bilingual Education in Spanish in collaboration with Dr. Sarah Jourdain (College of Arts and Sciences) which is housed in the School of Professional Development at Stony Brook University. Drs. Fabus, Jourdain and Shideler received a Clinically Rich Intensive Teacher Institute grant in the amount of $549,750 to offer two Clinically Rich Intensive Teacher Institutes  — one in Bilingual Education (BE) leading to a bilingual extension and a second one in English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), which allows candidates to apply for a certification in ESOL

(CR-ITI BE/ESOL).

Email:  Renee.fabus@stonybrook.edu
Phone: (631) 638-0502

Elisabel Chang, MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD-BE, received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the City University of New York—Brooklyn College, and her Master of Science degree in Communication Disorders: Speech-Language Pathology from Adelphi University. She is a licensed and certified bilingual speech-language pathologist in New York and Florida. She has practiced in a variety of settings (e.g., NYC DOE, medically fragile patients in a home health setting, provided intervention to students in an integrated preschool setting, as well as clients in private practice). In addition, Professor Chang worked as a diagnostician where she implemented linguistically and culturally responsible methods to determine language disorders vs. language differences for students in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, in addition to the NYC DOE before entering higher education. She served as a Clinical Instructor at the University of South Florida where she served a diverse community while helping graduate students transfer their academic knowledge to clinical situations while using evidence-based practices and developing their clinical judgment. She has and continues to educate graduate students how to administer culturally competent assessments and differential diagnosis for linguistically diverse students using standardized and non-standardized measures. Professor Chang has also provided district-wide professional development to staff SLPs and lectured to graduate students on topics such as Cultural Competence in Speech-Language Pathology, Diversity and Inclusion in Speech-Language Pathology, Equality vs. Equity in Speech-Language Pathology, Language Difference vs. Language Disorder, Non-Standardized and Dynamic Assessments, and Culturally and Linguistically Responsible Evaluations.

Joy Kling received both her Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology and her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Psychology from the City University of New York: Queens College. Over the past twenty years, Joy has worked with people of all ages and cultures, in nearly every professional setting. Joy was the clinical supervisor for fluency disorders at the City University of New York: Queens College Speech-Hearing-Language Clinic. In 2009, Joy participated in the highly selective Eastern Workshop for stuttering specialists, a week-long workshop hosted by the Stuttering Foundation of America. She has volunteered her time, spearheading and co-leading the National Stuttering Association Kids’ Chapter on Long Island, NY. Joy manages the CPSE Stuttering clinic at New York Therapy Placement Services in Port Jefferson, New York. She trains and supervises fellow speech-language pathologists in the assessment and treatment of stuttering. Joy owns a private practice in Miller Place, Long Island where she specializes in helping children, teens and adults with stuttering and voice issues, as well as other speech-language related areas. Joy believes in the importance of treating the “whole person” and working in a "team-approach" to therapy. She is excited to share her passion for stuttering with the graduate students at Stony Brook University.

Linda I. Rosa-Lugo, EdD, CCC-SLP, is an ASHA Board-Certified Specialist in Child Language, and ASHA Fellow. She received her doctoral degree from Teachers College, Columbia University. Currently retired from the University of Central Florida in February 2022, she served as the Associate Dean of Faculty Excellence, Graduate Programs and Global Affairs in the College of Health Professions and Sciences at the University of Central Florida (UCF), founding director of the UCF Listening Center, and teaching faculty member in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She is a bilingual speech-language pathologist (SLP) and a teacher of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Her experience includes many years in public schools as an SLP, classroom teacher, and district administrator. Dr. Rosa-Lugo has a long-standing commitment to interprofessional practice and education. She has received collaborative U.S. Department of Education grants in several areas: language/literacy; preparation of SLPs to serve English Language/Multilingual Learners with communication disorders; and listening and spoken language intervention for children and adolescents with hearing loss who come from linguistically diverse homes. Her research and publications during the past 27 years have focused on the areas named above. She currently is a member of ASHAs Board of Directors, serving as the Vice President of Speech-Language Pathology Practice.

 

Ryann Vigliotta is the Staff Assistant for the Speech-Language Pathology and Applied Health Informatics programs. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Earth Science from Dowling College and a Master of Arts degree in Infant/Toddler Early Childhood Special Education with a Middle School extension from St. Joseph’s College. She has worked in various professional and educational environments including working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as other developmental disorders. Prior to joining Stony Brook University, she worked in the hospitality industry where she developed the strong communication skills needed when interacting with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. She previously worked in the Health Benefit Administration field where she assisted the Human Resource department of major domestic and international companies with administering and managing their employees’ health benefits. She is excited to be working with the Speech-Language Pathology department at Stony Brook University where she can utilize her previous work experience and education to aid in the success of its students and faculty.

Dr. Alaina Davis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Howard University where she also received her Ph.D. She is also a licensed Medical Speech-Language Pathologist and a Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer with the Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists. She has expertise in neurologically based communication disorders with adolescents and adults and primarily focuses on traumatic brain injury. Dr. Davis directs the Cognitive-Communicative Skills Research Lab in which the team examines cognitive-communicative deficits associated with sport-related concussion and return-to-learn/play/activity for student-athletes following concussion. Student-athletes are supported through her role on the HU Concussion Management Team. Dr. Davis’ work also addresses understanding of the cognitive and communication styles of adolescents and adults from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds and identifies culturally responsive methods for cognitive-communicative assessment and treatment. In addition, Dr. Davis is the Assistant Director of Graduate Assessment and leads the Graduate Assessment Council. She has interest in program assessment and analyzes the effect of cognitive learning styles on significant learning in academic and clinical activities related to speech-language pathology. Dr. Davis is published in professional journals and has co-authored chapters on TBI. She also co-hosts a podcast called, Sunday Dinner with Drs. Stanford and Davis in which she leads a series called Brain Injury Chronicles with Dr. D. telling the stories of persons with concussion and its effect on their lives.

Research Interests

• Cognitive-communication disorders associated with sport-related concussion and return-to-learn for student-athletes.
• Cognitive learning styles, communication styles, and social discourse of Black athletes and college students.
• Cognitive styles and assessment of learning among college students with and without communication disorders.

Brianna Sullivan, M.A., CCC-SLP has been a practicing Speech Language Pathologist since 2013. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Rhode Island in 2010. She went on to receive her Masters of Art in Speech Language Pathology from St. John’s University in 2013. In 2020, Brianna completed an Advance Certificate in Pediatric Dysphagia from New York Medical College

Brianna has a passion for treating pediatric dysphagia. She studied pediatric dysphagia in graduate school while volunteering at a medical orphanage in Antigua, Guatemala. In 2015, Brianna completed ASHA’s Leadership Development Program for Emerging Leaders with a project focus on the limited graduate training in pediatric dysphagia. She has presented twice at FLASHA’s annual conference; on pediatric dysphagia competencies and the importance of mental health in the success of rehabilitation therapies. She also recently presented at ASHA’s annual conference on early career leadership.

Currently, Brianna leads the NICU Graduate Academy outpatient rehabilitation services at Bethesda Health of Baptist Health South Florida and serves as the senior speech therapist on the intensive feeding team. She trains colleagues, clinical fellows, and graduate students. When Brianna is not providing speech language therapy services, she is engaging in volunteer leadership with the Junior League of the Palm Beaches and hosting book club for her friends. She lives in sunny South Florida with her spunky Boston Terrier, Lilly.

Dr. Fortugno is the Director of Health Sciences Academic Support at Stony Brook Medicine and a Certified School Psychologist specializing in early childhood assessment. He has worked in collegiate education for fifteen years as a faculty member and administrator, presented on educational assessment and autistic spectrum disorders at local and national conferences, and taught courses in statistics, research design, cognitive assessment, and developmental disabilities. Dr. Fortugno worked for several years as a school psychologist, providing assessment, counseling, and consultation services in New York City. He completed his undergraduate studies at Stony Brook University and his graduate work in School Psychology at Fordham University.

Dr. Erin McCarthy is a medical speech pathologist affiliated with the University of Rochester Medical Center and Rochester Regional Health who is a Board-Certified specialist in Swallowing disorders. Dr. McCarthy is also a consultant and guest lecturer for Stryker Medical Company who has presented at the regional, state and national level. She has been in clinical practice for 24 years and has extensive experience in the acute care setting, leadership & supervision, quality improvement, inter-professional practice and academia. Her clinical focus areas are in adult neurogenic acquired swallowing disorders, post-extubation dysphagia as well as utilizing orofacial myofunctional therapy as a treatment modality with patients experiencing dysphagia. Dr McCarthy has a passion for implementation science and is eager to move the profession forward by marrying evidence-based quality improvement initiatives with research. Dr. McCarthy has worked as an adjunct professor at the State University of New York at Geneseo and Nazareth College of Rochester over the past 21 years. Dr. McCarthy truly believes in the power of higher education, so much so that she chose to pursue her Clinical Doctorate degree in Speech-Language Pathology through Northwestern University. Her capstone project focused on designing a randomized control trial study to determine the impact of a consistent oral care program on the mitigation of the development of non-ventilator hospital acquired pneumonia in the acute care setting. In addition, Dr. McCarthy proudly serves as a Foundation Board Member for the Young Women’s College Prep school in Rochester, NY since 2021.

Leah Gillgannon Russo received both her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders and her Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from the City University of New York: Queens College. She began her career as a Speech-Language Pathologist over twenty years ago, where she conducted pediatric communication and dysphagia assessments in various hospital in-patient and out-patient settings, servicing medically fragile infants and young children. Professor Russo developed and directed Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s first Early Intervention Neonatal Intensive Care Graduates Program. In addition, Professor Russo conducted in-service programs and trainings for medical staff.

Professor Russo’s expertise in pediatric dysphagia and the medically fragile population brought her to the NYS Early Intervention Program, where she has conducted thousands of evaluations within the birth to three population. Professor Russo continues to provide community-based speech-language and feeding assessments and therapy for infants and toddlers with a wide range of diagnoses and conditions including, prematurity, rare diseases, neurological conditions, cardiac and pulmonary disorders, craniofacial abnormalities, genetic disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, hearing loss, tethered oral tissues, and global language/communication disorders. Professor Russo also provides evaluations in her private practice and serves as a volunteer consultant for medical providers and private Early Intervention agencies.

Professor Russo is thrilled to share her clinical experiences, expertise, and passion with future clinicians in the Master of Science Program in Speech-Language Pathology at Stony Brook University.

Michelle Lowry Ph.D. CCC-SLP, TSSLD received her bachelor’s degree in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology from Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland, her master’s degree from Seton Hall University, and her Ph.D. from the Department of Interprofessional Health Sciences and Health Administration with a concentration in Leadership at Seton Hall University. Dr. Lowry is a certified speech-language pathologist in New York and New Jersey for over 10 years who has practiced in a variety of settings including private practices, inpatient and outpatient hospital settings, schools, and homecare. And has serviced people of all ages and cultures. In addition, Dr. Lowry works as a diagnostician and evaluator where she implements linguistically and culturally sound methods to determine language disorders vs. language differences for students in the NYC DOE. Dr. Lowry currently owns her own private practice, Speech4parents, where she focuses on providing speech and language services and evaluations to children with a parent education-based approach to therapy. Her research interests include parent education, cultural competence, diversity and inclusion, multicultural issues, underserved populations, literacy, and language development in bilingual and monolingual populations. Dr. Lowry is excited to share her clinical and diagnostic experiences and expertise with future clinicians in the Master of Science Program in Speech-Language Pathology at Stony Brook University.

Selene Yoel, SLPD-CCC-SLP, TSSLD-BE/ MA TESOL, is a licensed and certified bilingual speech language pathologist with over 15 years experience combined in the field of speech-language pathology and education. She is the Founder & Director of NY Speaks, an agency focusing on the assessment and treatment of bilingual/bicultural children that serves the pediatric population in NYC, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties. She completed her doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology at Northwestern University with a concentration in supporting multilingual learners and improving access to services. Selene earned her Master’s Degree from Adelphi University in Communication Sciences and Disorders with her Bilingual Extension in Spanish. She also holds a Master’s in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language (TESOL) from Long Island University and holds permanent NYS Certification in these areas. Areas of clinical interest include: culturally responsive assessments, student/client advocacy, Response to Intervention, and parent/teacher training and coaching.

Aimee received her Bachelor of Science at SUNY Geneseo, and completed her Masters of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Adelphi University. She provides individualized and evidence-based treatment for communication, motor speech, and feeding disorders in children of all ages. Aimee has experience working with children in a variety of settings including public schools, hospitals, and homes. In recent years, Aimee has developed a specialty for treating infants with a variety of feeding challenges, and has earned advanced certifications in this area. She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and is certified in Neonatal Touch and Massage (NTMC). With clinical experience working with infants in the acute medical, homecare, and outpatient medical settings, she is passionate about providing trauma-informed, judgment free care for every family she works with to best support neurodevelopmental outcomes for little ones of all ages.

Caitlin Smith is a graduate of Misericordia University with a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology. She holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA). Caitlin works specifically within the adult population with a concentration in neurology and neurosurgery within acute care settings. Her skills also expand to adult cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, previously working as a clinical specialist in post-transplant recovery. She looks to improve patient experience through innovative approaches to complex conditions affecting cognition, language, and swallowing. She currently practices within Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and serves as a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Surgery.

Elizabeth has been a licensed speech language pathologist for more than 15 years. She received her Bachelor of Arts from St. Joseph’s College and received her Masters of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Adelphi University. She has had the opportunity to gain experience across multiple settings including pediatric/adult outpatient, home care, skilled nursing, sub-acute and long-term care. Her career has focused on being a medical SLP treating a variety of disorders and specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia. She has served as an Adjunct Professor and Clinical Educator for graduate students as well as mentored Clinical Fellows throughout her career. Currently, she is the Department Coordinator of Speech Pathology for IGHL, Inc. The facility provides residential and day habilitation services for the ID population with complex medical diagnosis. She is happy to join the team and continue to share her knowledge with SLP students.

Karen Dikeman, M.A., CCC-SLP is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Dept of Surgery and practices clinically at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. She joined the staff in 2022. She has over 30 years experience as a speech-language pathologist specializing in the care of adult patients with dysphagia, neurological impairments, and pulmonary disease, including tracheostomy and ventilator-dependence. Karen has worked as both a hands-on clinician as well as a director of speech-pathology, pulmonary and rehabilitation programs in acute and sub-acute settings. She is the author of peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and a textbook now in 3rd edition with her co-author Marta Kazandjian. Karen has presented nationally and internationally on the topic of the care of the patient with pulmonary disease and tracheostomy-ventilator dependence. She currently treats both inpatients and outpatients at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.

Kelly is a graduate of Long Island University Speech-Language Pathology Master’s program. She completed her clinical fellowship at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and has a particular interest in assessment and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Kelly serves as a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Surgery and has experience in both inpatient, outpatient and home care settings. Kelly is certified in both LSVT LOUD and SPEAK OUT! treatment approaches designed to maximize communication function in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Kelly primarily works with the adult population in both acute care and outpatient settings at Stony Brook Southampton hospital. Additional areas of interest include evaluation and treatment of swallowing disorders. Kelly also enjoys interdisciplinary collaboration and participates in a monthly inter-professional allied healthcare team, comprised of clinicians from various disciplines to best serve patients and care partners.

Professor Elorriaga, graduated with a Masters of Science in Speech Language Pathology from Penn State University in 1998 and a BS in Communication Disorders from SUNY Geneseo in 1996. She began working at Stony Brook Medicine in 1999 and is currently the Supervisor of Speech Language Pathology. Professor Elorriaga treats patients from neonates to geriatric with a wide range of communication and swallowing disorders. She also serves on the cleft palate/craniofacial team.

Shannon McCaffrey, received her Bachelor of Arts from Iona College in Speech Language Pathology & Audiology and received her Master of Arts degree in Speech Language Pathology from Long Island University. Shannon serves as a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Surgery and has experience in the inpatient, outpatient, and homecare settings. Shannon is certified in SPEAK OUT!®, LSVT and MBSImP. She also has training in Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets framework (PROMPT) and is working toward her certification. Currently, Shannon treats both pediatric and adult patients with a wide range of communication and swallowing disorders at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.

Ilene “Lee” Berger Morris is a board-certified music therapist, a NYS Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, and a Fellow of the Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy. Lee directs the music therapy program at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, NY, and oversees curriculum development for “Sing Out Loud”, a therapeutic chorus program designed to improve vocal abilities in people with Parkinson's disease, through Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and the University’s Department of Speech-Language Pathology. A clinician-researcher, Lee is particularly interested in studying hybrid approaches that capitalize on the intersections of music therapy and other therapeutic disciplines. To this end, she collaborates with other researchers in the School of Health Professions, investigating the potential role of music in improving health, function and well-being. She has extensive clinical experience in both medical and special education settings, and has authored articles about applications of music therapy in people with autism, with hemiplegia, and with Parkinson’s disease.

Marta Kazandjian M.A.CCC-SLP BRS-S, NBC-HWC, FASHA is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Dept of Surgery and Dept. Head at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. She is an ASHA Fellow and is board certified in both swallowing and swallowing disorders as well as in health and wellness coaching. She is an invited national and international speaker and has extensive experience working with complex medically fragile populations in acute, sub-acute and long-term care settings. Marta has been a trailblazer in providing care to patients who have tracheostomies and are ventilator-dependent, with impactful and sustainable programmatic improvements that have resulted in nationally and internationally adopted clinical assessment and treatment protocols. Marta’s work in swallowing and communication impairments in these patient populations has given her a particular interest in palliative and end of life care. She has worked along-side interdisciplinary team professionals to create programs that value the role of the speech pathologist. Her work in swallowing, verbal and non-verbal communication, tracheostomy and ventilator management is best represented by her peer reviewed articles, book chapters and text books including her most recent 3rd edition text Communication and Swallowing Management of Tracheostomized and Ventilator Dependent Individuals, Eat Speak Breathe Publishing, Inc.