Our Speech Pathologists

Melanie Giles, MA, CCC-SLP is a Speech Language Pathologist with over ten years experience in the diagnosis and management of pediatric and adult dysphagic patients. She has performed over 3,000 MBSS and is also trained in FEES (Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing). Melanie has worked in a variety of settings including skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, and outpatient clinics. She works closely with ENT practices to provide optimal care in the evaluation and treatment of dysphagic patients. Melanie is an adjunct professor to Massachusetts and New Hampshire Speech Pathology graduate programs, supervising practicums for students. She is an owner and a Managing Partner of MassTex Imaging, providing training to all speech pathologists in MBSS. Melanie is licensed to practice in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.

Joan Kelly Arsenault, MA, CCC-SLP is a Speech Language Pathologist with over 25 years of experience in dysphagia management with infants, children and adults including MBSS and FEES. Joan has spoken and presented both nationally and at the state level in the areas of pediatric and adult dysphagia including head and neck cancer, neurological disorders, and infant feeding disorders. She has developed adult and pediatric dysphagia programs in acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, and outpatient settings. Joan has worked on interdisciplinary pediatric feeding teams, worked closely with ENT and prosthodontists for improved swallowing outcomes for head and neck cancer, and collaborated directly with numerous radiologists and GI physicians to implement and develop MBSS programs. Joan has worked in a variety of settings including acute care, skilled nursing facilities, home care, and outpatient clinics. She has taught dysphagia courses at the graduate level and is an adjunct professor to several Boston area graduate programs. Joan is an owner and a Managing Partner of MassTex Imaging and is the Quality Assurance Manager for MassTex Imaging. She provides training to all speech pathologists in MBSS and oversees the quality assurance program as well as performing MBSS throughout the state for both pediatric and adult dysphasic patients. Joan is licensed to practice in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Amy Litwack, MS CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist with 13 years of clinical experience in adult neurogenics, specializing in identifying and treating swallowing disorders. She has worked in acute medical and rehab hospitals, completing over 2,000 MBSS. In addition to her clinical work, she is an instructor and clinical supervisor at a local Boston graduate program in speech pathology.

Jessica Seay, CCC-SLP is a graduate of Emerson College who has worked with adult swallowing and neurogenic disorders since 2004. She has experience in acute care with an emphasis on trach/vent and spinal cord injuries. She also worked in an outpatient chemo/radiation clinic with head and neck cancer patients. Jessica has been a part of developing many programs in various settings including FEES diagnostic studies in an acute care hospital and outpatient setting. Throughout her career she has performed over 2,000 MBSS and 500 FEES studies in a variety of settings and mobile clinics. Jessica also works as a clinical supervisor and feeding/swallowing/voice specialist (LSVT) at Speech Therapy Group in Beverly, Massachusetts.

April Izzi, MA CCC-SLP, a native of Massachusetts, received her Master’s of Science in Education from The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, and began working in area hospitals attending to acute care patients and conducting Modified Barium Swallows. Relocating back to Massachusetts in 2001, she has worked primarily with adult neurogenic disorders and dysphagia in acute care settings, adult and adolescent TBI and cognition in short term rehabilitation settings and dysphagia in skilled nursing facilities. Since 2010 she has worked in hospitals assessing patients with neurogenic disorders, including trachs and vents, and in Clinics providing therapy to patients with voice disorders, speech and language issues from stroke, and Head & Neck Cancer patients battling Dysphagia. April is a member of ASHA and has state licensure in Massachusetts along with professional licensure in the UK. Joining the team at Mass Tex Imaging, April brings her experience of conducting well over 1000 MBS's, to date.