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TheraPlay Junction, Inc.
TheraPlay Junction Team
Shameeka Latham, Office Manager
Shameeka Latham is a Craven County native that resides in the Vanceboro area. She is the proud parent of three beautiful children and a very handsome grandson. She is a 2012 graduate of Craven Community College. In her free time she likes to work on her Cricut and spend time with her grandson, family and friends. Shameeka joined the TheraPlay Junction family in January 2012 as an Administrative Assistant and is now our Office Manager.
Maranda was born in Knoxville, TN but grew up in Cove City, NC. She moved back to the New Bern area with her son in 2016. She enjoys educating families about Congenital Heart Defects, Epilepsy, and Mental Health issues. She has done a lot of volunteer work with Easter Seals UCP and with Triangle Mended Little Hearts in Wake County, NC. In her free time, she loves swimming, reading and watching movies. Maranda joined the TheraPlay Junction family in 2016.
Maranda Duff, Administrative Assistant
Michelle Lowry has been actively working in the field of Occupational Therapy since 1996. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Occupational Therapy from East Carolina University and then earned her Masters Of Science in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State. She has experience working with both children and adults in home, clinic, residential, and school settings. Her special interests when working with children are in regards to feeding and sensory integration issues.
Michelle Lowry, Occupational Therapy
Melissa Dixon, Speech-Language Pathologist
Melissa came to North Carolina in 1989 from South Dakota and has been here ever since. She attended East Carolina University. She is married and has four children. Currently she is active in church and children’s choir, scrapbooking, sewing, and reading. She assists with team sports that her children are involved in and attends many sports and activities at East Carolina University. Melissa is employed with TheraPlay Junction as a Speech-Language Pathologist.
Sam was born and raised in Lancaster PA. She obtained her Bachelors of Science in Exercise Science with minors in Disability Studies and Health, Physical Activity, and Disability from the University of Delaware. She also competed for the UD varsity swim team. She then completed her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Alvernia University. Sam has been involved with the Special Olympics since she was in elementary school as well as a summer camp counselor for kids with special needs. As a competitive swimmer, Sam grew up coaching her whole life which also laid the groundwork for her passion for working with kids. In her free time, Sam enjoys going to the beach, spending time with family, and playing with her dogs Zoey, Bailey, and Gus.
Samantha Marino, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Alyssa was raised in Berwick, Pennsylvania and obtained her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Campbell University School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences located in Buies Creek, North Carolina in December of 2016. Alyssa is also a 2012 graduate of Lebanon Valley College located in Pennsylvania where she obtained her Bachelor of Health Science degree. Since the age of 10, Alyssa grew up competitively swimming which has led to many opportunities to teach children how to swim and to coach age group swimming which is where her passion for pediatrics began. In her spare time, Alyssa loves to spend time at the beach, swim, visit her family, and spend time with her dog Nala. Alyssa has been with the TheraPlay Junction team since March of 2017.
Alyssa Slusser, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Jessi is a Craven County native who currently resides with her husband and two children in Greenville, NC. She graduated from East Carolina University with her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2005. She has worked in pediatric private practice for brief periods of her career as well as in the acute care setting at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, now Vidant Medical Center. She has spent the last 7 years as a therapist in the school system for Craven County. She began her career with Theraplay Junction in September 2015. Jessi has training in Handwriting without Tears, Beckman Oral Motor Protocol, and Interactive Metronome. She enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, and cheering on the East Carolina Pirates!
Jessi West, Occupational Therapist
Anna Leonard, Occupational Therapist
Anna is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota where she graduated from the College of St. Catherine in 1981 with her degree in Occupational Therapy. She worked in Adolescent/Adult Psychiatry in St. Paul, MN and Spinal Cord Injury at the VA in Memphis, TN. Anna moved to North Carolina in 2003 where she worked for PORT Human Services. She changed her specialty to pediatrics in 2009 and joined TheraPlay Junction in July 2016. Anna has enjoyed her professional career as an OT along with leisure activities including ballet, ballroom dancing, art, music and travel to Alaska, Japan, Europe and the Caribbean.
Susanna Nichols, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Susanna is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Her husband’s military career is what brings them to the coastal Carolina region. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology from Louisiana State University. She received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University in Baton Rouge as well. She grew up volunteering and working at many summer camps for children, setting the foundation of her passion for pediatrics. She happily joined the TheraPlay Junction team in June of 2023, shortly after moving to North Carolina. Susanna is passionate about the one-on-one care that TPJ provides, while collaborating with the best team to give the highest quality service to their patients. In her free time, Susanna enjoys spending time outside with her husband, Taylor, playing with their dog, Maggie, going to the beach, and cheering on her LSU tigers!
Heather Fowler, Occupational Therapist
Heather was born and raised in Connecticut. She graduated from Bay Path University in Massachusetts with her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2018. Heather moved to the area August of 2018 to live with her husband, who is an active duty U.S. Marine. Heather has always aspired to become a pediatric OT and she’s thrilled to become part of the TPJ team. In her spare time, Heather enjoys spending time at the beach, crafting, and exploring with her husband and rescue dog, Abby.
Lisa Madigan-Carey, Physical Therapist
Lisa is originally from Maryland and has moved New Bern in 2019. She is enjoying life in North Carolina, living on her sailboat with her husband and spending time with family and 6 grandchildren. Lisa comes to the New Bern area with over 25 years of experience working in the field of pediatric physical therapy. Lisa received her bachelor’s degree from Boston University and her master’s degree from Long Island University. She has extensive experience in pediatric rehabilitation serving individuals and their families with variety of neurological and developmental disabilities. Lisa has had the pleasure of working in a variety of pediatric setting including early intervention, inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient rehabilitation.
Lisa also is an NDTA physical therapy instructor and has taught education courses nationally and internationally since 2010. Lisa has courses in NDTA, Myofascial Release and Torticollis. In the winter time, Lisa is an adaptive ski instructor and works with service disabled veterans and children with developmental disabilities.
Jennifer Aufiero, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Jennifer was raised in Southern Maryland. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology- Exercise Science from James Madison University and received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Jennifer has had the privilege of working in a variety of settings including outpatient, home health and skilled nursing all over the country while doing travel therapy. She has been with TPJ since 2018 where she has loved pursuing her passion for pediatrics. Jennifer, with her husband, Tony, have two wonderful children with a third on the way. In her spare time, she enjoys time with her family including dog, kolohe, going to the beach, and reading.
Sarrita Derucher-Bruns, Occupational Therapist
Sarrita is originally from Central New York and moved to NC with her husband in 2018. She received her M.S. in Occupational Therapy from Utica College in 2016 and has worked in pediatrics since receiving her degree. She has experience in pre-school and school-based settings, and she began her career with TheraPlay Junction in September 2019. In her spare time, Sarrita enjoys spending time with her family, reading, baking, and going to the beach.
Trent Curlings, Physical Therapist Assistant
Trent was born and raised in New Bern, NC. As a New Bern native, after graduating high school he enrolled and obtained his associates in applied science through Craven Community College’s PTA program. He was first a student at TheraPlay and became an active part of the team following his graduation in 2021. In his spare time Trent loves visiting the mountains of NC, staying active, and spending time with his friends, family, and dogs.
Administrative Team
Occupational Therapists
Physical Therapists
Speech Therapists
Linda Barden, Billing Assistant
Linda lives and works remotely from Agawam, MA where she lives with her son and dogs. Linda joined the TheraPlay Junction family in February 2022 with a background in Bookkeeping to assist in our billing department and became a full time employee five months later. Linda is the younger sister of TheraPlay Junctions Founder/Owner, Cathy Gould. In her free time, Linda enjoys raising, breeding, and showing her Pugs and Australian Shepherds.
Stacie Whitfield, Occupational Therapist
Stacie is an occupational therapist from Kinston, NC. She graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne University with her M.S. in Occupational Therapy in 2019, after receiving her B.A. in Psychology from Meredith College in 2017. She has worked in the private outpatient setting since the beginning of her OT career. She enjoys working with children, and has a special interest in feeding therapy. When she is not at work, she enjoys reading, baking, crocheting, trips to the mountains, and spending time with her husband.
JoAnn Melton is a 1994 graduate of Martin Community College. She has been treating pediatric patients with TheraPlay Junction since January, 2010. JoAnn also enjoys working with the geriatric population in her contract positions with the nursing home. In her spare time she enjoys reading and spending time with her husband, James and her two children.
JoAnn Melton, Physical Therapist Assistant
Desiree Sarchet, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Desiree received her Associates of Occupational Therapy Assistant degree in 2018 in VA, worked in a variety of different fields (skilled nursing, public schools and private setting) in Virginia Beach VA and Fayetteville, NC. Desiree later decided to move to New Bern in April 2023 to be closer to her amazing parents Jeff and Cheryl. She enjoys working with all the children either using board games, crafts, messy play and other activities to engage clients in the session.
In her spare time will knit, cross-stick, read, listen to podcasts, spend time with her parents or go on special adventures with her boyfriend, Jason.
Xochitl was born in San Bernardino, California. Xol, as she's affectionately called by her family, moved to NC when she was 7 and then moved away to Texas. They moved back to NC in 2013. Xochitl spends a lot of her time on the beach during the summer months. When she's not working, Xol is spending time with her boyfriend, her family and her dog Maggy. Xol joined the TheraPlay Junction family in July of 2023. She is very excited about the new adventure that TheraPlay Junction brings to her life.
Xochitl Corona, Therapy Tech
Cameron Bunn, Therapy Tech
Cameron is from Bath, North Carolina. She is currently attending Craven Community College's Physical Therapist Assistant program. Upon graduation in May 2024, Cameron is eager to continue her professional journey with TheraPlay Junction as a PTA! She enjoys working with children, and is passionate about physical therapy. In her spare time, Cameron enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her cat, Oscar. She also enjoys reading, fitness, and painting.
Jude Crowley, Physical Therapist Assistant
Jude was born in Atlantic City, NJ. There he spent the first several years of his childhood, before moving to Duplin County NC where he has lived since. He graduated from the PTA program at Craven Community College in 2023. Jude had the opportunity to work with the Theraplay Junction team as part of his clinical education and fell in love with the world of pediatric physical therapy. He has a background in aviation and became a pilot in 2007. In his free time, Jude enjoys woodworking, metalworking, and spending time hiking, fishing, and camping with his wife and 3 children.
