The pediatric outpatient therapy team at UNC Health Lenoir is dedicated to providing the highest quality care for children. Whether your child needs support for a developmental delay or specialized therapy following an injury or medical condition, our goal is to help them grow, heal, and thrive. Our therapists bring decades of experience, use the latest techniques and tools, and focus on personalized, family-centered care in a welcoming environment.
Occupational Therapy
Paige Vissman
My name is Paige Vissman. I am an Occupational Therapist. I graduated in 2016 from Pitt Community College and worked as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant for 5 years before returning to Carbarrus College of Health Sciences to obtain my Masters in Occupational Therapy in 2022. I have 2 years of pediatric therapy experience and have worked in a private practice setting while also going into schools, daycares, and ABA clinics.
Lauren Howard
My name is Lauren Howard. I am a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant and the Pediatric Therapy Coordinator at UNC Health Lenoir and Kinston native. I graduated in 2018 from Pitt Community College. I have 7 years of pediatric therapy experience with a certification in autism. I have worked in an outpatient private practice setting while also going into daycares, homes and ABA clinics.
Kari Farrow
My name is Kari Farrow. I am an Occupational Therapist. I graduated from Pitt Community College in 2016 from the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. I worked as an occupational therapy assistant for 5 ½ years, while receiving a Bachelor's of Science and Master's of Occupational Therapy degree at Cabarrus College, graduating in 2022. I have experience working with adults and pediatrics in various settings including the school system, acute care children's hospital, inpatient rehab, and outpatient rehab. I also am a Certified Brain Injury Specialist.
Speech Therapy
Kristen Harris
My name is Kristen Harris. I am a senior speech-language pathologist and Kinston native. I received my Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from East Carolina University in 2012. I primarily treated pediatrics over the past 4 years and have my autism clinical specialist certification.
Samantha McClure
My name is Samantha McClure. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences & Disorders from Appalachian State University in 2020 and Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at the Medical University of South Carolina in 2023. Certified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), I hold dual licenses from the North Carolina and South Carolina Boards of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. With experience in both the school setting and at a pediatric outpatient clinic, I have worked with children facing various challenges, including articulation and phonological disorders, expressive-receptive language disorders, fluency issues, pragmatic language difficulties, and those who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
Physical Therapy
Leslie Burton
My name is Leslie Burton. I am a licensed Physical Therapist with special interest in pediatric therapy. I graduated in 2023 from Washington University at St. louis with my Doctorate of Physical Therapy, and have a Bachelor's of Science in Health and Human Performance: concentration- Exercise Science, and minored in Psychology. I have 3 years of pediatric therapy experience and love to help kids be kids!
Keely Lester
My name is Keely Lester, and I am a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. I graduated from Marshall University in 2020 and Mountwest Community and Technical College in 2022. I have worked in pediatrics since 2022 in a variety of settings including early intervention, school-based therapy, and outpatient. I have special interests in assistive technology, gait training, and working with diagnoses such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, and torticollis.
