Meet the team
Leila Ramirez Salmons (Bilingual)
SLP-CCC, M.A. SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Leila Ramirez Salmons is the founder and owner of Therapy Connections. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Houston, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Disorders from Texas A&M University at Kingsville. Leila is certified by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and licensed by the TDLR. She has over six years of experience in the public school system and over twenty years in private practice. Along with specializations in treating apraxia, dysarthria, language and articulation disorders, autism, and orofacial myofunctional disorders, Leila also has extensive training and expertise in providing pediatric assessments and therapy in both English and Spanish. In August 2008, Leila received a five-year term Gubernatorial Appointment to the Texas State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
Leila Salmons has a strong belief in the therapeutic benefits of yoga. In 2010 she developed a program called Tiny Pretzels, which has been an ongoing program offered at Therapy Connections. She has completed the following training: “Yoga for Kids and Families” teacher training by Kids Yoga, “National Teachers Certification” at the Yoga Institute and “Basic Teacher Training” by Yoga 4 Kids.
Leila has always been interested in applying more than traditional speech therapy approaches to help those better their health both physically and mentally. She watered her passion for mental health by enrolling in a course that focused on applying mindset practices into difficult settings. After 2 years of dedication and time spent with CEO, Tracy Litt, Leila received her certification in becoming a “Master Mind Magic Practitioner”. Now with more experience, Leila has been working with a more diverse audience in helping them conquer their fears and shaping their mindset to produce outcomes in all areas of their life.
By continually updating her skills as a speech-language pathologist through educational seminars and professional development, Leila delivers the most innovative approaches available in the therapy rehabilitation industry. She understands the importance of a growth mindset and offers continuing education courses and workshops for therapists and parents in this area. Leila Salmons MA, CCC/SLP incorporates mindset techniques and tools when necessary in therapy to improve therapy outcomes.
Blair Johnson
M.S. CF-SLP
Blair Johnson is a speech-language pathologist currently completing her clinical fellowship at Therapy Connections. Blair graduated with a Master’s of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and a Bachelor’s of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Texas Christian University. She completed a graduate clinical rotation at Behavior Keys Clinic, a pediatric speech and language clinic in San Antonio, Texas, where she evaluated and treated children with autism spectrum disorder, developmental language delay, articulation, phonological, and feeding disorders. Additionally, Blair finished her graduate externship at Methodist West Hospital in Houston, Texas. At Methodist West, she split time between acute care and outpatient rehabilitation where she evaluated and treated patients with aphasia, dysphagia, dysarthria, cognitive deficits, and voice disorders. Blair is passionate about creating lasting relationships with patients and enhancing each person’s quality of life through the individualized goals she creates.
Cassie Kimble
M.S. CCC-SLP
Cassie Kimble is a Speech-Language Pathologist currently completing her Clinical Fellowship. She holds a Master of Science and Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Baylor University. While in graduate school, Cassie gained experience evaluating and treating pre-school and school-aged children with various speech, language, and feeding disorders in the school and clinical settings. She also gained experience in the hospital setting evaluating and treating adults with various communication and swallowing disorders. Cassie is passionate about working with all ages to help grow their communication and language skills.
Lauren Fitzgerald
M.A. CCC-SLP
Lauren Fitzgerald is a fully licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. She holds a Master of Arts and Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Houston. During her time in graduate school, she gained experience evaluating and treating patients across the lifespan from newborn to geriatric patients with a wide variety of communication and swallowing disorders in clinical and hospital settings. Lauren is passionate about involving families to make treatment a team effort.
Dinna Pineda (Bilingual)
M.A. CCC-SLP
Dinna Pineda is a Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist currently completing her Clinical Fellowship. She obtained her Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Houston. While in graduate school, she gained clinical experience evaluating and treating various communication and swallowing disorders for pediatric and adult clients. She provided services in Spanish and English to clients and patients in schools, community clinics, and acute care and outpatient settings. She is passionate about building relationships with her clients and their families and helping clients find successful means of communication through client-centered therapy.
Laura Morales (Bilingual)
SLP-CCC, M.A. SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Laura Morales is a Bilingual speech pathologist who received her Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas, and has 28 years of experience helping children and adults with communication disorders. Early childhood, medically fragile, culturally and linguistically different populations, as well as the hearing impaired are her specialties. She enjoys using different strategies and techniques to assist children and adults achieve successful communication skills for everyday situations. Laura has worked in hospital, school, and clinical settings in the Houston area. She has been a delegate of the People to People (P2P) International Ambassadorship program with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and participated in international professional/cultural workshops in South Africa, Israel, and Brazil with speech pathologists from those countries.
Dana Cran
SLP-CCC, M.S. SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Dana Cran has been a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist since 2002. She holds a Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Rockhurst University in Kansas City and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kansas. Dana is currently a licensed SLP in Texas, Georgia and California and holds her ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence. She has experience working across a variety of settings with the birth-18 population including preschools, elementary schools, early intervention, home health, non-profit medical clinics and teletherapy. Dana is experienced in diagnosing and treating pediatric language and articulation disorders and has a special interest in treating phonological processing disorders. One of her favorite aspects of working with the pediatric population is building relationships with families and providing them with strategies to help improve their children’s communication skills.
Tracy Simien
SLP-CCC, M.A. SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Tracy Simien holds a Master of Arts degree in Communication Disorders and a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Houston. Tracy has experience treating preschool and school-age children with various forms of communication disorders including receptive/expressive language deficits, social communication skills, articulation, and phonological disorders using structured games and therapeutic play. She also has experience working with children diagnosed with Autism, Down Syndrome, hearing loss, and various developmental delays.
Dalia Umana (Bilingual)
SLP-CCC, M.A. SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Dalia Umana holds a Master of Arts degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Houston and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Disorders from Our Lady of the Lake University. Dalia joined the Therapy Connections team in 2017 as a Speech Language Pathologist-Assistant, where she developed a passion for treating preschool and school-age children. She is currently completing her Clinical Fellowship Year. While in graduate school, Dalia gained experience evaluating and treating children with various forms of communication disorders, developmental delays, and hearing loss. She also gained experience evaluating and treating adults with various communication and swallowing disorders.
Elizabeth Alam
SLP-CCC, M.A. SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Elizabeth Alam has been a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist for over 10 years. She specializes in Pediatric Speech, Language, and Feeding disorders. She joined the Therapy Connections team in 2011 and is experienced in working with children birth-18 years, with speech, language, feeding, voice, and fluency disorders.
Veronica Sustaita (Bilingual)
OFFICE MANAGER
Veronica Sustaita serves as the Office Manager for Therapy Connections where she is responsible for ensuring operations run smoothly in order to provide a positive experience for our patients. Additionally, Veronica manages the Billing and Insurance where she produces timely and accurate claims processing.
Gabriella Herrera
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Meet Gabriella Herrera our administrative assistant! Gabriella graduated with her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Houston and has years’ experience working with kids on the spectrum. She provides office support and a smile to create an enjoyable working environment for everyone. When she is not in office, she is out reading a book or taking pride in her backyard garden. Gabriella is always available to provide help when in need.