Our Staff

 

Dawn Leland-Heino, PT MOMT, is a physical therapist that has been providing physical therapy services to children, youth, and families in Northern NM since 1986.  Dawn received a Bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Minnesota and a Master’s degree from the Ola Grimsby Institute of Norway.  Dawn and her husband Craig opened La Luz Therapies in 2014 with the goal of creating a community-based center that could provide pediatric therapy services and other opportunities for families and exceptional children and youth.  Dawn has 25 years of experience providing physical therapy services to babies and toddlers and 40+ years of experience providing physical therapy services to children and youth of all ages in a variety of settings.  Dawn’s approach is child and family centered and she uses an eclectic therapy strategy by combing many healing and treatment techniques. These include, but are not limited to: craniosacral techniques, myofascial release, soft tissue and joint mobilization, neuroreeducation, and play-based interventions.

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Deb Schmalbach, MS OTR/L, has been living in New Mexico for 28 years and Taos for 6 years.  A native Marylander, she has an undergraduate in OT from Tufts University in Boston (1981) and loved the profession so much she got a Masters in OT with a specialty in Pediatrics from Towson State University in Maryland, in 1988.  She is certified in Sensory Integration and Yoga instruction, and has extensive training in neurodevelopmental treatment, behavior management, evaluating and treating individuals with spectrum disorders (including administration of the ADOS), use of assistive technology as an adjunct to therapy, craniosacral and myofascial therapies and adapting devices and materials to meet an individual child’s learning style.

Deb says: “My primary purpose, as an OT, is to support and educate families as they navigate the daily challenges presented to a child with movement, behavioral and sensory processing differences.  Over the last 39 years I have developed a very child directed, eclectic form of therapy based on the belief that the body is designed to heal itself and with structure and opportunity a child will seek what they need to find balance and greater independence.”

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Heather Steele, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, has been working as a speech and language pathologist for 22 years, and is passionate about helping children to optimize their communication to excel in and enjoy their lives. Heather also enjoys building relationships with families to work as a team to best meet each child’s needs. Her favorite thing about living and working in Taos is the beauty and diversity of the landscape and people. Heather received her Master’s of Education in Communication Disorders from the University of Virginia. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors, hiking, biking, camping, and cooking.

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Florina Cordova, MS SLP, is a speech and language pathologist that has 20+ years working in the field. She brings patience and a calm demeanor to the office, and she specializes in providing speech and language intervention in Spanish and working with bilingual families. She received her M.S. in Speech and Language Pathology from UNM and is passionate about helping children to learn effective communication and supporting them in enjoying books and reading. In her free time, Florina likes spending time outside, watching movies, listening to music and attending concerts, spending time with her family and pets, and doing craft activities. 

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Lisa Smith Kurkjian, M.S. CCC-SLP, says her favorite part about being a speech and language pathologist is the clients, and she brings her creativity, sense of fun, and compassion to work each day. She is dedicated to promoting effective communication and helping individuals achieve personal success and gain confidence. Lisa worked with children for many years before becoming an SLP—she spent over ten years as a preschool teacher, worked in special education in K-8, and also worked as an after school tutor. Lisa appreciates the beauty and small community of Taos, and enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with family.

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Kaycee Hinckley, MOTR/L, is an occupational therapist with over 10 years of experience working with children and families. She also draws upon her previous background as a teacher, arts educator, and circus arts instructor to provide family-centered, kid-friendly therapy services. As an occupational therapist she uses the occupations of childhood (playing, family routines, eating, dressing, bathing, etc.) as both the intervention and the outcome in developing children’s increased independence and autonomy. She works closely with families to choose the priorities of therapy and to make sure that the therapies are supporting children’s needs at home and in the community. She utilizes  sensory integration theory, coaching approaches, child development, and dramatic play to inform her therapeutic approach. Kaycee is currently providing evaluations only.

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