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 Pathologist

Martha Dart, M.C.D., CCC-SLP

I’m Martha! I’m a Speech Language Pathologist with a passion for serving children with complex and unique communication needs. My more than ten-year career path has led me through different roles, all of which have given me invaluable knowledge and experience serving children of all ages and abilities. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from LSU in 2015 and subsequently spent five years teaching mostly math and science to fourth grade students. Following this, I earned a second bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of South Florida in 2021 and then my master’s degree in Communication Disorders in 2023. I completed my clinical fellowship as a school-based SLP in Denver, CO before moving back home to Louisiana to continue my career serving children and their communication journey. My clinical experience has allowed me to hone my skills and support children with complex communication needs such as non-speakers or limited speakers, AAC users, children on the Autism spectrum, and more, to improve independence and confidence within their everyday lives. I believe in a child-led approach that starts with connection, relationship-building, and sensory regulation and leads to authentic, spontaneous communication allowing the child that to feel more confident and joyful in their ability to communicate with the world around them. I’m so proud to be a part of the PALs team!”

Occupational Therapist

Emily Gray, OTD, OTR/L, CLT

I am Emily Gray, a Doctor in Occupational Therapy. My journey in this field is has been driven by a deep passion for helping others thrive, and that passion continues to grow everyday- especially in my work with the amazing kids here at Pals Pediatric Therapy. 

I'm loving my new season of life as a new mom to a sweet six month old baby boy. One of our favorite new routines is reading to my son and watching his curiosity and joy unfold each day. 

Occupational Therapist

Linda Harris, OTR/L

Linda has a masters degree in Occupational Therapy. She has extensive in diverse settings. She has implemented effective therapeutic intervention for self care, fine motor, visual motor, visual perception, feeding, reflex integration, emotional regulation, sensory processing, and play.  

Her favorite things about being a pediatric OT is teaching little ones skills they'll use for the rest of their lives. We get to be another positive adult in their lives to help children feel safe, understood, and grow to their fullest potential 

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.