Staff

This is who we are, and what we look like

Welcome.

I’m Linda Brown and I’m glad you’re here to find out more about BrightStart.

As a pediatric Occupational Therapist, I know firsthand that consistent nursing and therapy for medically fragile infants and children is crucial in promoting the best outcomes possible. That led me to create BrightStart Pediatrics.

But BrightStart is so much more than just nursing and therapy. My vision for a PPEC was and still is quite different.

More than anything about the center, it’s the people who make BrightStart such an important part of the lives of families we serve.

You’ll meet just some of our staff here. I am blessed to have assembled an entire team of caring, dedicated people to provide our services for medically fragile patients and their families.

Thank you again for visiting. I look forward to welcoming you into our BrightStart family.

  • Linda Brown BrightStart Pediatrics Program Director

  • Linda Brown

    Program Director

    Director & Creator of BrightStart Pediatrics

    I am a pediatric Occupational Therapist active in the Orlando healthcare community since 1990; I also hold a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Webster University. BrightStart began because I worked in a PPEC center, fell in love with the concept but knew it could be so much more. In the years since 2003 when the first BrightStart location opened, the program has expanded its reach and defined a standard of quality for PPEC. I am thankful for every day, for every family that crosses our path, for every little face that lights up our day, and for every employee who loves our kids like I do. Our goal is to give the best of ourselves so these children can get the bright start they deserve.

  • Caroline

    Orlando Location Director

    Joined BrightStart: August 2006

    “Caroline is the Location Director for our Orlando center. She oversees the staff, hires new personnel, handles payroll and billing functions for both locations, coordinates field trips, manages day to day office functions, and much, much more. Caroline provides a well-organized process for everything to keep us on track; she is truly our “detail” specialist. Beyond the details, Caroline cares about our kids and our team. She has built a wonderful staff that puts so much heart into everything they do. We are very fortunate to have Caroline at the helm of this bustling, dynamic center!”

  • Staff Image: Caroline Delgado

  • Sharon Bogan BrightStart Sanford Location Director

  • Sharon

    Sanford Location Director

    Joined BrightStart: July 2008

    “Sharon is the Location Director of our Sanford center. She coordinates the transportation for this center, and could on any given morning, be driving a transport van at 6 a.m.!  She coordinates field trips, oversees the staff, hires new personnel, manages day to day office functions, and much, much more. Her dedication to our kids and her staff is evident in everything she does. She works hard to ensure that quality care is first on everyone’s mind. Underneath her hard work exterior is the biggest heart you’ll ever find. She’s an amazing person and an outstanding leader.”

  • Joann

    Winter Garden Location Director

    Joined BrightStart: January 2007

    “Joann brings nine years of experience to our new BrightStart location, having been a key staff member at the Orlando center since 2007. Coordinating transportation, billing, and many other administrative functions, she’s been integral to our success. Wonderfully energetic and personable, Joann shows love and dedication in everything she does.”

  • Joann Maldonado BrightStart Winter Garden Location Director

  • Pete Stoll BrightStart Pediatrics

     

  • Pete

    Intake & Media

    Joined BrightStart: January 2008

    “Pete serves many roles, some of them within the same day. He meets with new BrightStart families to introduce our service; he coordinates referrals with each location; he is a member of several community service boards; he built and manages our web site; he creates all of our printed and presentation materials used in community outreach; he standardizes our forms, and is available for whatever else he is called upon to do.  Around the center and our activities, he’s the guy with the camera. Now you understand why I can’t settle on a title; maybe invaluable! Pete has incredibly high standards, perfect for what he does … and a crazy sense of humor. I don’t know where we would be without him.”

Orlando Clinical Leadership Team

 

  • Staff Image: Evelyn Gonzalez RNEvelyn

     

    RN  Director of Nursing

     

Orlando Therapy Team

 

  • Staff Image: Donna Doxsee Physical TherapistDonna

     

    Physical Therapist

  • Staff Image: Melanie Fagan PTAMelanie

     

    PTA

  • Staff image: Eileen Bohan OTREileen

     

    Occupational Therapist

  • Staff Image: Shabana Abdul COTAShabana

     

    COTA

  • Staff Image: Deanne Gaydos Speech Language PathologistDeanne

     

    Speech Language Pathologist

Sanford Clinical Leadership Team

 

  • Photo: Karen Peters RNKaren

     

    RN  Director of Nursing

Sanford Therapy Team

 

  • Staff Image: Barb Canal PTBarb

     

    Physical Therapist

  • Angela Sartwell PTAAngela

     

    PTA

  • Photo: Julie Rosenzweig OTRJulie

     

    Occupational Therapist

  • Amanda Gonzales COTAAmanda

     

    COTA

  • Staff Image: Jessie Aqualina STJessie

     

    Speech Language Pathologist

Winter Garden Clinical Leadership Team

 

  • Staff Image: Rebecca Varney RN

    Rebecca

     

    RN Director of Nursing

Winter Garden Therapy Team

 

  • Staff Image: Melanie Fagan PTAMelanie

     

    PTA

  • Staff image: Ryan Hoesten SLPRyan

     

    Speech Language Pathologist