About Berns Therapy Solutions

JoAnne Berns is a speech-language pathologist specializing in the intersection of language and learning. She began her career as an elementary school teacher and discovered the field of speech-language pathology while student teaching in Williamson County. After graduating summa cum laude from Vanderbilt University's Peabody College, she went on to earn her degree in speech-language pathology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

During her graduate studies, JoAnne received specialized training in language and literacy through a U.S. Department of Education training grant. She completed her clinical fellowship at a large private practice, treating preschool and school-aged children with a wide range of speech-language needs, and went on to serve at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Reading Clinic, where she specialized in helping children with language-based learning disorders build their literacy skills. Before founding her own practice, JoAnne worked as a speech-language pathologist at Currey Ingram Academy in Brentwood, TN.

As a former teacher and mother of three, JoAnne "gets it" when it comes to building communication skills both in the classroom and at home. She also writes for The Informed SLP, a national evidence-based resource that reviews and summarizes the latest research for tens of thousands of speech-language pathologists nationwide.

Emily Byram graduated with highest distinction from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill with a double major in Communication Sciences and Psychology. She continued her studies there to receive a B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology, receiving a U.S. Department of Education Social Inclusion Grant. She completed her clinical fellowship year in the public school systems serving preschool and elementary age children.

She then worked at the National Center for Childhood Deafness at the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center as the team leader of the speech pathology team, serving on the pediatric cochlear implant team, leading parent-toddler groups, and providing auditory verbal therapy sessions with children with hearing loss and their families.

Erika is a graduate of The University of Akron receiving her Bachelors in Speech and Language Pathology and Audiology. She continued at Cleveland State University receiving her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology. Erika began working at Mahoning County's Board of Developmentally Disabled- Leonard Kirtz school serving moderate to profound delayed/disabled students ages 5-22.

Prior to joining Berns Therapy Solutions, Erika worked at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center providing pediatric speech-language therapy for five years. She was also the lead treating and consultative clinician at Vanderbilt's Peabody School of Education- Susan Gray School.

Mikah graduated from Appalachian State University in North Carolina. She worked with children across Davidson County for Metro Nashville Public Schools for eleven years. During her time in the schools she specialized in working with multilingual students especially those who speak Spanish as their first language. She spent a month in Quito, Ecuador in the summer of 2012 working with children with multiple disabilities and refining her knowledge of the Spanish language.

Mikah has a passion for literacy and the interplay between language and academic achievement. She enjoys gardening and spending time with her husband, three daughters and six chickens.

Tatum graduated with honors from University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Language Pathology. She continued at University of Tennessee to pursue her Masters of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. She completed her clinical fellowship year in private practice and remained there for more comprehensive experience in diagnosing and treating a wide range of speech and language disorders, as well as gaining insight on appropriate and effective ways to counsel families on diagnoses and treatment strategies. She then began working as a clinician in the public school system, providing IEP services and training opportunities for educators and parents.

Lorrie graduated summa cum laude from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Lorrie is dedicated to ensuring patients receive the care they need and works diligently to facilitate communication between patients and providers at Berns Therapy Solutions as well as the Nashville community at large.