Our Staff

Dawn Leland-Heino, PT/MOMT, is a pediatric physical therapist who, along with her husband Craig, opened La Luz Therapies LLC in 2014 with the goal of providing a community-based center offering pediatric therapy services for babies, toddlers, children, and youth. Dawn has been a practicing physical therapist since her graduation from the University of Minnesota in 1980. She went on to earn a master’s degree in manual therapy from the Ola Grimsby Institute of Norway. Dawn has been providing pediatric physical therapy in Northern New Mexico for some 40 years, having the opportunity to serve children in school -based settings, early intervention home visiting, and outpatient settings. Dawn uses an eclectic approach to the treatment of babies, children, and youth, drawing on education and experience in motor learning theory, manual therapy/musculoskeletal techniques. Dawn has become a specialist in the treatment of torticollis and plagiocephaly, with 28 years of experience working with special babies and toddlers. Dawn shares her gratitude for the opportunity to get to know, serve, and learn from the children and families of northern New Mexico.

Kaycee Hinckley, MOTR/L, has worked as an occupational therapist (OT) in Espanola and Taos for over 13 years. She brings her experience as an educator, children’s theater director, and circus teacher to offer creative, engaging therapy to kids and families in Northern New Mexico. As an occupational therapist, she works closely with families to determine therapy priorities and ensure that therapies support children's success at home and in the community. She draws on neurodiversity-informed approaches, sensory integration theory, neurofeedback, relationship-driven care, child development, and dramatic play to inform her therapeutic approach. Her goal is always to center children’s dignity, supporting them to reach for independence and autonomy. In collaboration with a clinical psychologist in Santa Fe, Kaycee is now offering comprehensive, in-person autism evaluations to children and families in Northern New Mexico. She also leads group sessions at La Luz during the summer, where she has previously coordinated LEGO and craft groups. Kaycee's long-term commitment to OT and children in the Taos and surrounding communities makes her an invaluable asset to our team.

Katherine (“Kate”) Bogart, M.S., CCC-SLP We are thrilled to welcome the newest member of our team, Kate! With over 25 years of experience as a pediatric speech language pathologist, Kate brings a wealth of knowledge to the families we serve. She has worked with children and families in the home, community, preschool, and clinic settings across the United States, including Vermont, Washington state, Maine, and Massachusetts.

Kate has a long track record of not only providing services to children but also mentoring and supervising new speech-language pathologists. In addition, she has served as an early intervention service coordinator, helping families navigate additional supports and school transitions.

Kate brings specialized knowledge in feeding and serves as one of our feeding specialists here at La Luz. We feel incredibly fortunate to have her on our team and are pleased to share that she has already had a positive impact on children in our community.

Lisa Smith Kurkjian, M.S. CCC-SLPL, worked in graphic design and fine art for 20 years before transitioning into education. She spent 10 years as a teacher and special education assistant, where she developed a strong foundation in supporting diverse learning and developmental needs. Inspired by this work, Lisa returned to school to earn her master’s degree in speech-language pathology.

Since joining La Luz in 2019, Lisa has brought her background in the arts and education to enrich her therapy approach, bringing creativity, warmth, and a sense of fun to La Luz. Lisa specializes in assistive communication devices and has played a key role in launching and expanding their use for children in the Taos community. Lisa's favorite part of her work is helping children find their voice, gain confidence, and connect more fully with the world around them.

Roberta, M.S. OTA, is a long -standing member of the New Mexico therapist community, working as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. Roberta brings her expertise in rehabilitation therapy, ergonomic assessments, and assistive technology to La Luz, where she develops a well-grounded, well-thought-out service plan for all clients.

Roberta is passionate about disability advocacy and inclusion and has previously served as the Vice Chair of the Mayor’s Committee on Disability in Santa Fe.