Meilani Connolly is a licensed occupational therapist with more than 20 years of experience, including the past decade dedicated to pediatric care in school-based and hospital settings. She holds a B.S. in Occupational Therapy from San José State University and an M.S. in Occupational Therapy from Mount Mary University. In addition to her California licensure, she is a Certified Autism Specialist (CAS) through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). Her ongoing professional development reflects her deep commitment to lifelong learning and evidence-based practice.

Meilani’s career has taken her across a wide range of settings, from hospitals and early intervention programs to home health and public schools in San Francisco. She also spent two years as a traveling therapist across the U.S. before moving to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where she mentored local therapists and volunteered at a children’s clinic serving underserved children with cerebral palsy, learning disorders, and neurological conditions.

Passionate about empowering children to build the skills they need for school and daily life, Meilani partners closely with families to promote confidence, independence, and growth. Outside of her work, she enjoys hiking and spending time with her husband and their two teenage sons—most often while cheering from the sidelines of football, soccer, and baseball games.

Angelia is an early childhood specialist with a background in nursing, education, and the arts. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Education, is a Registered Nurse, and earned her bachelor’s in Studio Art and Design from UC Davis.

For four years, she owned and operated a licensed family childcare facility, gaining extensive hands-on experience with infants and toddlers. Her unique blend of clinical knowledge, creative expression, and early learning expertise helps her support each child’s development with care and intention.

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Angelia now enjoys rediscovering the city’s hidden gems through the eyes of her young son.

Peter is a dedicated physical therapist with a doctorate from Samuel Merritt University. As a Chinese American native of San Francisco, California, Peter brings a unique blend of cultural insight and professional expertise to his practice.

With a solid foundation in both clinical care and business operations, Peter has honed his skills to ensure optimal outcomes for his patients. His hands-on experience in management and strategic planning fuels his passion for building a therapy company that serves as a beacon of empowerment and support for children and families alike.

Driven by a vision of inclusivity and success, Peter is committed to creating an environment where every child can thrive and every parent feels empowered. Join Peter on this transformative journey at Build Learn Thrive.

Regine is a compassionate pediatric occupational therapist with 10 years of experience in home, school, and clinic settings. She values cultural humility and takes a holistic, collaborative, and family-centered approach to care. Regine is passionate about empowering children to build confidence and reach developmental milestones through meaningful, evidence-based interventions.

She holds a B.A. in Psychology and a B.S. in Public Health Sciences from UC Irvine, and earned her M.S. in Occupational Therapy from Dominican University of California. Regine is continually inspired by the resilience of the children she works with and is dedicated to improving their quality of life through creative, engaging experiences.

In her free time, she enjoys traveling, chasing sunsets, dancing, live music, and spending time with her loved ones.

Amanda earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Development from the University of San Diego and her master’s in Occupational Therapy from Dominican University of California. She has experience supporting children with sensory, motor, and developmental challenges in both clinical and community settings. Amanda is also certified in the ConTiGo™ approach and incorporates nature-based therapy into her work.

She values a holistic, strength-based approach and partners closely with families to create sessions that are fun, goal-driven, and meaningful.

Outside the clinic, Amanda enjoys reading outdoors, bouldering, trying new food spots, and hiking with her partner and Corgi.

Bailey is a pediatric occupational and feeding therapist known for her creative, playful approach to helping children build skills and gain independence. She earned her Master’s in Occupational Therapy from Dominican University of California in San Rafael.

Bailey has experience working with families in a variety of settings, including in-home, in-clinic, and virtual environments. She began her journey into feeding therapy through the Sequential-Oral-Sensory (SOS) Approach and is committed to expanding her expertise through ongoing continuing education.

Outside of work, Bailey enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, playing soccer, and cozying up with a good book and her cat.

Rachel is a licensed physical therapist with 12 years of experience, the past 5 of which have been dedicated exclusively to pediatrics. She brings energy, playfulness, and genuine care to every session—often having just as much fun as the kids she works with while blowing bubbles or exploring toys together.

Outside of work, Rachel enjoys camping, biking, working on her campervan, and catching live music whenever she can.

Joseph is a dedicated speech-language pathologist with over four years of experience supporting children with a wide range of communication needs. He specializes in evidence-based, individualized interventions that enhance speech, language, and social communication skills. Joseph has a particular passion for working with school-age children and those with complex communication needs who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems.

He is experienced in both individual and group therapy, delivered in-person and virtually, and strives to make communication accessible and meaningful for every child. Known for his compassionate and client-centered approach, Joseph creates a supportive and inclusive environment where children feel empowered to express themselves. By staying current with research in speech, language, and hearing sciences—as well as advances in AAC technology—Joseph ensures his clients receive the most effective tools and strategies to thrive.

Christelle is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist who is passionate about helping children build strong, functional communication skills. She earned her Bachelor’s in Communicative Disorders and her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from San Francisco State University.

Christelle has worked primarily in school settings, supporting children from early intervention through high school with a wide range of communication needs and developmental disabilities. Her approach is collaborative, compassionate, and tailored to each child’s unique strengths and goals.

She finds the most joy in working closely with families, educators, and fellow professionals to help students succeed both in and out of the classroom. Outside of work, Christelle enjoys traveling and discovering new cuisines.

Courtney is a passionate pediatric physical therapist with over seven years of clinical experience. She earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2017 and became a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy in 2021. Courtney has worked in a variety of settings—including outpatient clinics, acute care, home health, and telehealth—and specializes in Early Intervention. She has experience supporting children from birth through age 21 with a wide range of medical diagnoses and developmental delays.

Courtney’s favorite part of her work is empowering parents to feel confident in the vital role they play in their child’s progress, while helping each child build strength, independence, and confidence. She currently lives in California with her two rescue dogs and enjoys hiking, staying active, and spending time with loved ones. One of her personal goals is to join a mission trip to Central America to support underserved children and families.

Susan Dambroff is a special educator with over 25 years of experience, specializing in early intervention and supporting children with social and communication challenges. She has worked in the San Francisco Unified School District as a Special Education Teacher, Autism Specialist, and Inclusive Practices Coach.

Susan loves creating play- and language-rich environments where children feel engaged and connected. She often brings music, movement, and sensory activities into her work—sometimes with her guitar in hand—to encourage social interaction, communication, and self-regulation.

Her approach is also guided by training in several evidence-based practices, including the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Floortime, Social Thinking, the Alert Program for Self-Regulation, and Integrated Play Groups.

Jonathan Gopen, OTR/L, is a highly experienced Occupational Therapist with over 30 years of practice across a wide range of settings. A 1992 graduate of Boston University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy, Jonathan has worked in skilled nursing facilities, school systems, home health, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, acute care hospitals, and free-standing clinics. His career has taken him across nine states, where he has served in roles ranging from staff therapist to Regional Manager for large rehabilitation organizations.

Jonathan has had the privilege of working with individuals across the lifespan, from premature infants to older adults, gaining a deep understanding of the unique needs at every stage of development. While his professional journey has been broad and diverse, his true passion lies in working with the pediatric population. He is dedicated to helping children build confidence, independence, and the skills they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom. Jonathan’s commitment to collaboration, individualized care, and lifelong learning continues to guide his practice and fuel his enthusiasm for the field of occupational therapy.

Haleli is an occupational therapist, yoga instructor, and musician who grew up in the Bay Area. She has experience across diverse settings, including outpatient, inpatient, community-based mental health, schools, and specialized clinics, with an emphasis on neurorehabilitation and chronic pain management. Haleli is eager to continue learning and growing in her practice. In her free time, she loves surfing, practicing yoga, attending live music events, traveling, and exploring new places. She’s excited to bring her energy, creativity, and heart to every space she enters!