Board Members and Staff

Chair of the Board: Mary L. Hebert

Board Officers: Sophie Desmarais, Manon Desrosiers, Peter Guidote, Robert P. Metcalfe,  Andrew T. Molson (past president), Sara J. Provencher, Rosalee C. Shenker, Ph.D., Marie-Francoise Jothy, Maureen Brennan, Katherine Kostiuk.

All clinicians at the Montreal Fluency Centre (MFC) are certified clinicians, and are members of their respective professional organizations:

Executive Director:

Dr. Rosalee Shenker Ph.D.
Phone: 514.489.4320 (Extension 242)
rosalee.shenker@montrealfluency.com
Rosalee has specialized in fluency disorders for over 40 years. She is also Adjunct Professor at McGill University, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, teaching a graduate course in Stuttering Disorders in Children. As a founding member of the Lidcombe Program Training Consortium she coordinates clinical training for this program in North America and has provided presentations and workshops to more than 1000 clinicians. Rosalee has published in peer reviewed journals and contributed chapters on Stuttering to various textbooks. Her most recent work includes long term follow up of maintenance of fluency in children and school age children treated with the Lidcombe Program for early stuttering.

Speech Pathologists:

Andrea Gingras, M.SLP, S-LP (C)
Speech-Language Pathologist – Clinical Manager
Phone: 514.489.4320 (Extension 226)
andrea.gingras@montrealfluency.com
Andrea Gingras is a speech-language pathologist and has been involved with the early vision of the Centre since joining in 1995.
Her areas of expertise include school-age language disorders and reading disabilities. She is also a member of the mentoring team that offers training and clinical workshops in the area of language and literacy. Andrea’s clinical research interests are in the areas of Emergent Literacy as well as Bilingual Reading Disorders.

Patricia Arana, M.Sc.,  S-LP(C)
Speech-Language Pathologist
Phone: 514.489.4320 (Extension 234)
patricia.arana@montrealfluency.com
Patricia is a fluent Spanish speaker who has worked at the Montreal Fluency Centre since graduating from the University of British Columbia in May 2007. Patricia assesses and treats preschoolers and school-age children with various speech and language difficulties in both English and Spanish. At the clinic, Patricia is developing a specialty in early intervention for toddlers with delayed speech and language (emerging communication skills). Patricia also provides speech and language services to the Cree School Board in Northern Quebec as part of the MFC community partnerships.

Alina Boghen, M.Sc., S-LP (Maternity leave)
Speech-Language Pathologist
Phone: 514.489.4320 (Extension 222)
alina.boghen@montrealfluency.com
Alina Boghen is a Speech-Language Pathologist who has been part of the MFC’s team since 2006. Alina offers a range of practice in the areas of speech, language, literacy and stuttering. Alina evaluates and treats both preschoolers and school-aged children. Alina is involved in the development of bilingual programs at the MFC and also provided speech and language services to the Cree School Board in Northern Quebec as part of the MFC community partnerships.

Marie Bourgault-Côté, M.O.A., S-LP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Phone: 514.489.4320 (Extension 224)
marie.bourgaultcote@montrealfluency.com
Marie Bourgault-Côté graduated from the Université de Montréal in 1999.  She started her career in the greater Toronto area as a bilingual speech pathologist in a rehabilitation center for children.  After returning to Montreal, Marie worked primarily in different school settings, where she offered assessment and treatment of speech and language impairments.  Marie joined the MFC in September 2006, continuing her work with school-aged children presenting difficulties especially in the areas of expressive and receptive language.  Marie is currently developing a specialty in stuttering disorders in English and French speaking preschool and school-aged children using the Lidcombe program.

Antonietta Conte, M.Sc., S-LP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Phone: 514.489.4320 (Extension 236)
antonietta.conte@montrealfluency.com
Antonietta has worked at the MFC since graduating from McGill in 1998. She offers a wide range of general practice but has also developed a specialty in the assessment and treatment of children with language-based learning disabilities, as well as literacy, from early school age to high school. In the past few years, Antonietta has become the clinician responsible for overseeing the clinical mentoring of junior clinicians, as well as the supervision and mentoring of students in Speech Pathology at the internship level.

Lindsay Maxon, MA, CCC (Maternity leave)
Speech-Language Pathologist
Phone: 514.489.4320 (Extension 225)
lindsay.maxon@montrealfluency.com

Upon graduating from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 2003, Lindsay has worked primarily in the school setting in Massachusetts as both a Speech-Language Pathologist and then later as a Special Education Team Chairperson. She also created a private practice with a focus on adults with significant needs. Lindsay joined the MFC in October 2008 as a member of the preschool- and school-aged team. She assesses and treats a variety of speech and language disorders as well as language-based reading disabilities. Lindsay also provides speech and language services to the Cree School Board in Northern Quebec as part of the MFC community partnerships.

Catherine Rebellati, M.Sc., S-LP(C)
Speech-Language Pathologist
Phone: 514.489.4320 (Extension 247)
catherine.rebellati@montrealfluency.com
Catherine has worked at the MFC since graduating from the University of British Columbia in 1997. She assesses and treats children with a wide variety of speech and language disorders. Her practice specializes in early intervention for children with emerging communication skills; preschool speech and language disorders and early phonological awareness and literacy promotion.

Gissella Santayana, M.Sc., SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Phone: 514.489.4320 (Extension 246)
gissella.santayana@montrealfluency.com
Gissella Santayana graduated from Ottawa University in 2003. Upon graduating she worked with the adult population in a rehabilitation center. Prior to working at The Montreal Fluency Centre, she worked in private practice with children with speech and language disorders. Gissella joined the Montreal Fluency Center in March 2009 where she assesses and treats children with a wide variety of speech and language disorders. Her practice specializes in early intervention for children with emerging communication skills; preschool speech and language disorders. She is developing a specialization in fluency disorders using the Lidcombe Program for early stuttering intervention.

Tammy Nemes-Saskin, M.A., S-LP(C)
Speech-Language Pathologist
Phone: 514.489.4320 (Extension 235)
tammy.saskin@montrealfluency.com
Tammy graduated from the State University of New York in 2005. She then worked in a school setting in Boston, MA and joined the MFC in September 2006. Tammy offers a wide range of general practice including assessment and treatment of speech and language impairments in preschool and school-age children. Tammy is also responsible for implementing the MFC Oral Language Project in kindergarten through grade 2 at a local elementary school.

Yael Shaffir, M.Sc (A), S-LP (C)
Speech-Language Pathologist
Phone: 514.489-4320 (Extension 249)
yael.shaffir@montrealfluency.com
Yael has worked at the MFC since graduating from McGill in 2000. She assesses and treats a wide range of speech and language impairments in particular, school age children with language-based learning and reading disabilities. Yael has been involved in the MFC’s school based Oral Language Projects, and this year has helped to develop and implement a new project involving the upper elementary grades.Yael has also helped to develop and run the MFC’s Social Language Group.

Psychologist

Marlene Desjardins, Ph.D.
Psychologist – Clinical Director for The Taylor Adolescent Program
Phone: 514.489.4320 (Extension 230)
marlene.desjardins@montrealfluency.com
Marlene has been working at the MFC since September 2005, having consulted to the centre for two years prior to that. At the MFC, Marlene provides comprehensive psycho-educational assessments, one-on-one remedial therapy, and consultations to parents, teachers, and tutors. She co-directs the in-house service Integrated Resources for Independent Learning (IRIL), and is planning to pursue clinical research in the area of treatment efficacy. Marlene obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree (Honours Psychology) from the University of Ottawa, a Master of Arts degree (Educational Psychology) from McGill University, and Ph.D. degree (School and Child-clinical Psychology) from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto. She has worked with children and adolescents who have learning disabilities for the past 12 years.

Other Staff:

Kayle Sykes
Intake Coordinator & Administrator
Phone: 514.489.4320 (Extension 237)
info@montrealfluency.com
Kayle is a recent addition to the Montreal Fluency Centre. In her role as Intake Coordinator, she primarily serves as the first contact for parents looking for services for their children. She also lends general administrative support to the clinic and helps oversee the volunteer program. Kayle graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts and pursues book conservation and fine bookbinding in her spare time.