Our staff consists of occupational and physical therapists and speech-language pathologists who have
extensive training in pediatric rehabilitation.
Lora Anderson, PT, Department Manager
Lora Anderson received her bachelor of science in physical therapy from the University of
Minnesota. She joined Mercy Hospital as the manager of Rehab Services in 2006,
overseeing the hospital rehab department and the Kenny Kids Pediatric Rehabilitation
Clinic. She enjoys working with this fabulous staff at Kenny Kids and seeing the impact
each therapist has on the lives of the kids they work with and their families.
Sara Rohde, OTR/L, Coordinator
Sara Rohde received her bachelors of science in occupational therapy from the University
of Minnesota. She has been a staff therapist at Kenny Kids since 1995 and also has
experience working in early childhood special education. She has extensive training in
sensory integration and feeding disorders, and she holds specialty certifications in physical
agent modalities and in administering the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests. Her
specialty areas include feeding, motor delays and sensory integration, and treating children
with autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, ADD/ADHD, cerebral palsy and
neuromuscular disorders. She enjoys seeing childrens’ faces and hearing their laughter as
they experience everyday play activities for the first time.
Deborah Baumgarten, MA, CCC-SLP
Deborah Baumgarten received her master of arts in communication disorders from the
University of Minnesota. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-
Language Pathology through the American Speech Hearing Association (ASHA) and is a
member of the Minnesota Speech Hearing Association (MSHA). She was a member of the
rehab staff that began a multidisciplinary pediatric outpatient program at Mercy Hospital,
which eventually grew into Kenny Kids Pediatric Rehabilitation Program. She has advanced
training in pediatric apraxia of speech, oral-motor dysfunction, dysphagia/swallowing disorders,
and traumatic brain injury. She enjoys working with children and seeing the joy in their eyes when they
master new skills.
Sara E. Carroll, MA, CCC-SLP
Sara Carroll received her bachelor of science in communication disorders from St. Cloud
State University and master of arts in speech language pathology from University of
Minnesota-Duluth. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Language
Pathology from the American Speech Hearing Association. She has been a Kenny Kids
therapist since 2003. She has advanced training in oral motor/feeding skills. Her specialty
interest areas include autism spectrum disorders, oral/motor feeding and language
development.
Traci Haus, MS, CCC-SLP
Traci Haus received her bachelor of science in speech/language/hearing sciences and master
of science in speech-language pathology from Minnesota State University-Moorhead. She
holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology through the
American Speech/Language/Hearing Association. She has been a Kenny Kids speech
pathologist since June 2007, and she works at all of the Allina hospitals throughout the
Twin Cities Metro area. Areas of specialty training include Beckman’s oral motor program,
deep pharyngeal neuromuscular stimulation, and VitalStim, all targeting dysphagia in
children/adults. Her favorite part about working here is the multidisciplinary team approach
used, with all of the therapists participating together to maximize each child’s potential.
Carrie Johnson, PT
Carrie Johnson received her bachelor of arts degree from College of St. Scholastica. She has
worked at Kenny Kids as a staff physical therapist since 1990. She was a member of the
rehab staff that began a multidisciplinary pediatric outpatient program at Mercy Hospital,
which eventually grew into Kenny Kids Pediatric Rehabilitation. Her specialty areas include
her holistic approach to treatment of the child and family, along with her extensive
experience in handling children with neurological impairments. She enjoys finding
strengths in children’s abilities and in finding ways to enhance them.
Darla Johnson, OTR/L
Darla Johnson received a her bachelor of science with a dual degree in occupational
therapy and psychology from the University of North Dakota. She has worked at Kenny
Kids as a pediatric therapist since 1997. She has extensive continuing education in areas of
sensory processing, feeding skills and handwriting. She has specialized training in the
sequential oral sensory approach to feeding. Her specialty areas include treating children
with autism/pervasive developmental disorder, developmental delay, ADD/ADHD, brain
injuries, cerebral palsy, sensory processing disorders, genetic disorders and feeding disorders.
Her favorite part of working with children and their families is watching them realize their
full potential and seeing the confidence they gain through learning new skills.
Barbara Katzenstein, PT
Barbara Katzenstein received her bachelor of science degree in physical therapy from Boston
University. She is pediatrics certified in NDT and has also taken a continuing education
course in serial casting and casting for orthotics. She has worked in early intervention and
preschool programs, as well as pediatric orthopaedics and rehabilitation. Barbara started
working at Kenny Kids in 1997. Her specialties include treatment of cerebral palsy, neurological
and orthopaedic deficits, torticollis and fragile medical diagnoses. It makes her day
when the kids smile and run into the gym, excited to “play,” and when their faces light up
when they learn a new skill.
Sarah Leathers, PT
Sarah Leathers received her bachelors of science in exercise and sports science from the
University of Wyoming, and her masters of physical therapy from the University of North
Dakota. Sarah joined the Kenny Kids staff in 2006. She has advanced training in pediatric
Pilates and NDT. Her specialty and interest areas include treating torticollis, and neurological
and developmental delays. Sarah enjoys helping kids get stronger and attain new skills
through make-believe play.
Christine Leibel, OTR/L
Christine Leibel received her bachelor of science degree in occupational therapy from the
College of St. Catherine. She has worked with Kenny Kids Pediatric Rehabilitation since
1998 and became a permanent staff therapist in 2001. She has extensive continuing
education in the areas of sensory processing, feeding skills and handwriting skills, and is
certified in physical agent modalities. Her specialty areas are in treating children with
autism/pervasive developmental disorders, ADD/ADHD, arthritis, brachial plexus injuries,
brain injuries, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, sensory processing disorders, feeding
disorders and genetic syndromes. Her passion in working at the Kenny Kids Pediatric
Rehabilitation Program is working with children to maximize their functional skills through
play and achieve increased independence in their life.
Lisa Luke, OTR/L
Lisa Luke received her bachelor of science degree in psychology from Bradley University
and her master of occupational therapy from St. Ambrose University. She was a student at
Kenny Kids in 2002 and became a substitute staff therapist at Kenny Kids in 2006. She
holds advanced training in handwriting, sensory integration and oral motor skills. Her
favorite part about working at Kenny Kids is seeing the children flourish and use their
various abilities to succeed in their individual environments.
Mary Lundt MS, CCC-SLP
Mary Lundt received her bachelor of science in communication from South Dakota State
University and her masters of science in speech language pathology from Fort Hays State
University. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology
through the American Speech Hearing Association. She has been a Kenny Kids speech
therapist since 1997. She has advanced training in feeding and oral motor skills, some of
which include the sequential oral sensory approach to feeding, and Beckman oral motor
protocol. Additional areas of specialty training and interest include developmental verbal
apraxia, autism spectrum disorders and the introduction of augmentative communication
tools. She enjoys working with the children and families served by Kenny Kids Pediatric
Rehabilitation Program to assist in maximizing each child’s progress while taking a team approach.
Karmyn Pieper, OTR/L
Karmyn Pieper received her bachelors of arts in health sciences and her master of arts in
occupational therapy from the College of St. Scholastica. She has been a staff therapist at
Kenny Kids since 2002. She has specialized training in the sequential oral sensory approach
to feeding, handwriting and vision, and she holds certification in physical agent modalities
or PAMS. Her specialty areas are autism treatment, sensory integration, treatment of
brachial plexus injuries and feeding evaluations, as well as experience with treating
neurological and orthopaedic patients. Her favorite part of working at Kenny Kids is playing
with children and watching them achieve success or learn a new skill while participating
in therapy.
Krista Simmons MS, CCC-SLP
Krista Simmons received her bachelor of science in communication disorders and master of
science in speech language pathology at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. She
holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology through the
American Speech Hearing Association and is a member of the Minnesota Speech Hearing
Association. She has been a Kenny Kids speech therapist since 2005. She has advanced
training in pediatric dysphagia and feeding/swallowing dysfunction. Areas of specialty
training and interest include auditory processing disorders, stuttering and tracheostomy/
ventilator dependent children/adults. Her favorite part of working with kids is their contagious
enthusiasm and watching their language skills blossom to express their individual personalities.
Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute
Kenny Kids Pediatric Rehabilitation Program
3111 124th Ave. NW
Coon Rapids, MN 55433
763-236-7337
763-236-8966 fax
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