Meet The Team
Speech Language Pathologist
Dipali Bhakta, M.S., CCC-SLP
Dipali Bhakta, a South Mississippi native from Hattiesburg, is a passionate speech-language therapist with extensive experience in pediatric settings and leadership roles. Specializing in working with autistic children, addressing developmental delays, managing rare pediatric disorders, and utilizing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), she is dedicated to meeting each child's unique needs. Beyond her practice, Dipali channels her creativity into cooking a variety of cuisines, reflecting her personalized and innovative approach to helping children achieve their full potential.
Occupational Therapist
Carolyn Peters, M.S. OTR/L
Carolyn is a dedicated pediatric occupational therapist with specialized training in sensory integration, reflex integration, DIR/Floortime, and is a Certified Interactive Metronome Provider. She uses a child-led approach to create engaging and effective therapy sessions that address developmental and sensory challenges. Proficient in sensory-based feeding therapy, Carolyn helps children overcome feeding difficulties and build positive mealtime experiences. Her expertise supports foundational motor skill development, emotional growth, and cognitive processing through play and purposeful activities. Carolyn also collaborates with families to empower them with strategies to support their child’s progress at home and in the community. Fun Fact: Carolyn has worked with individuals ranging from infancy to 105 years old!
Speech Language Pathologist
Shelby Simmons, M.S., CF-SLP
I am a Speech-Language Pathologist in my clinical fellowship year, originally from Hattiesburg, MS. I earned both my Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Hearing Sciences and Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from The University of Southern Mississippi. My passion for helping children and fascination with speech and language development inspire my work in areas such as expressive and receptive language disorders, pediatric feeding, Autism, Down Syndrome, articulation disorders, and augmentative and alternative communication. I love partnering with children and their families to help them achieve their goals and thrive. I’m grateful to be part of the PALs Pediatric Therapy team!
Speech Language Therapy Assistant
Bernetta Prichett
I am a compassionate and dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant from Pass Christian, MS, with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Pathology & Audiology from the University of Southern Mississippi. With over 10 years of experience working with children in school settings, I am passionate about helping them overcome communication challenges and gain confidence in their abilities. Currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders, I strive to create a supportive environment where children feel encouraged to express themselves while collaborating closely with educators and families to foster growth. I am grateful to work alongside talented therapists who continue to inspire and guide me.
Administrative Assistant
Sarah Landrum
My name is Sarah Landrum. I'm married with two kids, a 7 year old named Hunter and a nearly 2 year old named Hannah. My husband Zach and I have been married for 11 years. I enjoy a nice day at the beach or creek, a Sunday dinner with extended family, and starting most mornings off at the gym. My family and I are huge Mississippi Seawolves hockey fans and attend every home game in Biloxi. I've worked as a teacher assistant for 8 years in the public school system, and have worked for about 4 years as a Receptionist at a local pediatric clinic. I enjoy working with kids. I'm loving it here at Pals and am looking forward to meeting you.