Meet Our Providers
Our Speech Therapists specialize in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of communication disorders. You'll meet with one of our therapists to assess your needs and consult on a treatment plan. Working with you, our experts will work to help improve your capabilities.
Speech Therapists
Cara Burdette, MS CCC-SLP
Cara is a graduate of Emerson College with a Master's in Speech Science. She has 17 years experience in medically based speech therapy. She has been with Sturdy for 11 years. She is a registered MBSiMP, certified in LSVT LOUD for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, cancer rehabilitation, is a Co-lead Stroke group facilitator, and speaks at community Parkinson's support groups as well. She prides her practice with listening to the patient and caregivers and feels this allows for a true patient/clinician team approach to the problem. She feels this approach gives confidence to her patients in their communication abilities which allows them to start interacting with family and friends again.
Jessica Cavallini, MS CCC-SLP
Jessica received her B.S. in Biology with a minor in Biochemistry from Fairfield University. She went on to receive a Master of Science in Communication disorders from University of Rhode Island. She has 18 years of experience that ranges from Fairlawn Rehabilitation, RIH/Hasbro, and nursing home facilities. She has been with Sturdy for 7 years and is also a per diem at Kent Hospital. Her focus is swallowing, and swallowing disorders, Motor Speech Disorders, Augmentive and Alternative Communication (AAC), Head and neck cancers, adult speech and language disorders, and cognition. She is the primary Speech Therapist for the Food School.
Leadership
The Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapists that make up the Rehabilitation team are under the guidance of an experienced leadership team.
Keri Dickinson, PT
Keri is a Northeastern University Graduate and has been with Sturdy for 21 years. She made the transition to Director of the
Rehabilitation Department in 2012 and continues to treat as a general practitioner half the time. She enjoys working with all genres of rehabilitation, especially the more complex conditions. She was a dancer for 30 years and remains active with this community.
Sheri Kenney, MPT
Sheri graduated from American International College in 1998 with a Master's Degree in Physical Therapy. She has been with Sturdy Memorial Hospital for the last 20 years. She is the Clinical Coordinator of Inpatient Rehabilitation Services. She is an APTA certified Clinical Instructor and serves as the department's Clinical Education Coordinator. She has special training in vestibular rehabilitation and focuses her time in the evaluation and treatment of our acute care patient population. She enjoys working with orthopedic patients, balance issues, vestibular diagnoses, and the geriatric clientele. She is involved in promoting and educating the importance physical therapy has in the acute care setting. Sheri is a married mother of two boys who loves spending time with her family. Her and her husband also share a love for Halloween and have a large display every year where Sheri designs and creates many of the props used.
