Who We Are

Dr. Jessica Galgano is a speech-language pathologist and the Founder and Executive Director of Open Lines Speech and Communication. Her personal experience growing up with a parent who suffered a combat-wounded Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) while serving in Vietnam drove her to master the art and science of neurological rehabilitation. She founded her visionary clinic, Open Lines Speech and Communication, on the principle that it is never too late to improve one’s speech-language and cognitive abilities.

Dr. Galgano collaborates and consults with many prestigious and world-renown academic institutions. She advocates for political change including legislative policies that uphold individual rights, supportive community services, and access to skillful professionals across a person’s lifespan. She has developed a proprietary approach, the PRESENCE™ Approach, that applies an array of evidence-based practices from a variety of disciplines to the field of speech-language pathology. She is bicoastal, practicing in New York City and Los Angeles.

The highest standards of academic and clinical practice are reflected in Dr. Galgano’s professional experience. She received her doctoral degree in Biobehavioral Sciences from Columbia University, where she conducted research on the neural underpinnings of voice and speech using brain imaging modalities. Dr. Galgano is an LSVT LOUD® clinical expert and faculty instructor with LSVT Global, Inc., for whom she regularly teaches and lectures about evidence-based intensive therapy programs for people with neurologically based communication disorders at major medical institutions in the US and worldwide. She is one of six LSVT LOUD® faculty instructors in the world.

Dr. Galgano is proud to be an Executive Board Member of the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences (ANCDS), an association that supports practitioners who serve individuals with neurologic communication disorders by providing education, training, and certification opportunities to promote high-quality professional service. She also acts as Vice President and Treasurer of the Parkinson’s Unity Walk, an organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for research to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

Beyond her work with adult neurological speech-language pathology, close relationships with the Bank Street School for Children, The Spence School, and Corlears School for over a decade have supported Dr. Galgano’s numerous years of clinical experience as a pediatric speech-language pathologist. In addition to clinical work, she has examined the effectiveness of intensive voice treatment in children with neurogenic speech disorders secondary to Cerebral Palsy and in children with Autism.

Dr. Galgano has held research scientist positions at NYU Langone School of Medicine and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and currently holds a faculty instructor position at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She is an adjunct professor with NYU, Columbia University, Teachers College, and San Francisco State University where she teaches graduate coursework in the areas of neurogenic communication disorders that result from acquired (e.g., stroke) and progressive neurological disease (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, cognitive changes).

With the PRESENCE™ Approach, Dr. Galgano has melded her research, clinical, and personal experience into a unique approach that all Open Lines clinicians are trained in. This holistic approach to treatment blends scientific rigor with deep listening and empathic inquiry; helping Open Lines’ clients cope with the day-to-day realities of communication challenges. Dr. Galgano is confident her integrated approach can help you meet your goals with confidence and dignity too!

Olivia Kelly received her Master’s of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Teachers College, Columbia University. She holds additional certifications in LSVT LOUD®, Teaching Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD), and Speech Systems Intelligibility Treatment (SSIT).

Olivia brings a background as a medical social worker to her work as a Speech and Language Pathologist, providing her with expertise and insight on the psychosocial impact of illness, disability, and communication impairments on an individual, family, and community. As an SLP, Olivia’s work with both pediatric and adult populations is grounded in a person-centered model of care wherein she hopes to support individuals to reach their full potential. Her experience includes the treatment of adults living with neurogenic communication disorders, including aphasia, apraxia, and dysarthria. She has additionally worked in public and charter school systems as well as clinical settings treating and evaluating children with an array of speech and language disorders including fluency disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and a variety of developmental delays.

In addition to her clinical work, Olivia has assisted research conducted in Dr. Lisa Edmond’s Aphasia Rehabilitation and Bilingualism Research Lab at Columbia University. She assisted research on Dr. Edmond’s Verb Network Strengthening Treatment (VNeST) and Marion Leamon’s study examining conversation skills in people with aphasia.

Zaina Khoury received her Master’s of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders with Bilingual Extension in Arabic and Spanish from Teachers College, Columbia University. She holds additional certifications in LSVT LOUD®, Teaching Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD), Speech Systems Intelligibility Treatment (SSIT), Bilingual Extension (Arabic and Spanish), and Visual Analysis of Swallowing Efficiency and Safety (VASES).

As a bilingual speech and language pathologist, Zaina is passionate about cultural competence and humility through person-centered, evidence-based practice. Zaina brings extensive clinical experience across the lifespan with a variety of speech and language disorders. Her experience with children includes in-person and virtual assessment and treatment of monolingual and bilingual children with a wide variety of speech, language, and feeding delays as a result of developmental delays, craniofacial abnormalities, and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Zaina also has comprehensive experience with in-person and virtual assessment and treatment of adults with diagnoses including aphasia, apraxia, dysarthria, voice disorders, neurodegenerative disorders (i.e., Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s dementia), fluency disorders, and cognitive deficits second to stroke or traumatic brain injury. Zaina prioritizes functionality and personal goals alongside evidence-based clinical care.

Aside from her clinical work, Zaina has developed bilingual assessment materials in Levantine Arabic for the diagnosis of speech and language disorders under the observation of Dr. Catherine Crowley at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Bridget Barrett received her Master’s of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from New York University. She holds additional certifications in LSVT LOUD for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and other neurologically based communication difficulties, LSVT LOUD…for Kids! and the Teaching Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD).

Bridget has a wide range of clinical experiences at NYU Langone School of Medicine, NYU Langone Cochlear Implant Center, RUSK Rehabilitation at the Ambulatory Care Center, and a plethora of NYC private schools. Her expertise includes pre-school-aged language stimulation, school-aged language, articulation, and literacy therapy. Bridget is passionate about working with school-aged students to help them reach their full potential socially and in the classroom!

Bridget’s clinical practice is rooted in evidence-based practice and person-centered therapy to ensure the highest quality care for each patient. She is passionate about implementing functional speech-language therapy across the lifespan, particularly with children from birth to 18 years. Working with families, caregivers, teachers, and allied health professionals is of the utmost importance to Bridget as she understands the value of a whole-person approach to development and rehabilitation.

Brianna Rogers is the Supervising Speech-Language Pathologist at Open Lines. She received her Master’s of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Teachers College, Columbia University, and holds additional certifications in LSVT LOUD, Teaching Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD), and Speech Systems Intelligibility Treatment (SSIT).

With an established background in treatment of neurological disorders, Brianna has extensive experience working with adults who want to increase quality of life while dealing with a neurodegenerative disease, are recovering from stroke/brain injury, or are working professionals looking to refine their skills. Her expertise involves preparing individuals to return to work after stroke/brain injury through intensive treatment. Intensive treatment involves challenging clients with high-level cognitive tasks that are individualized to the specific role they want to resume through daily sessions. For individuals who have retired, her specialty is helping clients enjoy their favorite activities and remain connected with friends and family.

And for those who are already working, Brianna is an expert at helping clients refine their communication skills, which has led many to promotions and increased success in their respective fields. Brianna understands every person/family is different and works closely with clients to understand their specific goals so they can achieve these goals during the course of treatment. Managing the trauma and heightened emotions of a speech and language disorder can be very trying on an individual, but Brianna provides support to clients/families during the entire treatment process and works collaboratively with other professionals to get you the comprehensive care you need.

Brianna also has significant experience working with children with speech and language disorders as a result of developmental delay, cerebral palsy, autism, TBI, hydrocephalus, microcephaly, and other medically complex conditions. Her background in child development guides her treatment approaches in helping kids grow and develop so they can enjoy being kids. With an understanding of how hectic family life can be, Brianna specializes in helping families provide a supportive language environment while integrating exercises into their typical daily routine so families are not burdened with additional work. Just as every adult is different, each child is different and Brianna works with families to understand their specific needs and what approach will work best for their children.

In addition to her clinical work, Brianna has taught guest lectures on the anatomy and physiology of speech mechanisms at San Francisco State University. She has also assisted research conducted by Dr. Jennifer Roberts and Dr. Kathleen Scott on the language development of internationally adopted children. Further, she assisted research on the efficacy of Emotional Vocal Exploration Therapy (EVEnt) for individuals on the autism spectrum conducted at the Atlas Foundation for Autism. Most recently she assisted Dr. Jessica Galgano who researched functional connectivity of neurological structures involved in speech.

Grace received her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Teachers College, Columbia University. She holds additional certifications in LSVT LOUD for adults and children, Teaching Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD), and Speech Systems Intelligibility Treatment (SSIT). She is also fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese.

As a clinician, Grace is committed to providing care that is specifically tailored for each client as well as providing functional therapy that allows clients to see results in their day-to-day life. She is passionate about helping individuals rebuild and improve their communicative confidence and efficacy. Grace's specialties when working with adults include post-stroke aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia, and progressive neurological communication disorders. She has helped retired individuals meet their goals of recovering verbal communication, increasing their quality of life, and their ability to connect with loved ones. She has also helped working individuals meet their goals of returning to work by providing intensive intervention that supports the rebuilding of language and the higher level cognitive skills specific to each individual's occupation.

She has worked in early intervention, clinical and school settings treating and evaluating children with an array of speech and language disorders as a result of developmental delay, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder or TBI. When working with individuals, Grace understands the importance of providing education and support for the whole family so that individuals feel motivated, happy, and excited to attend sessions. With this in mind, Grace is able to provide intensive intervention for both pediatric and adult individuals, supporting them through month-long intensive programs where individuals are fully supported, committed to practice at home, and able to meet their goals.

In addition to clinical work, she is keenly interested in research and has worked with Dr. Jessica Galgano on the applications of LSVT LOUD on treating dysarthria in various clinical populations.