Meet Our Occupational Therapists
Our team of certified occupational therapists has decades of experience providing care to patients of all ages. Learn more about each member of our team, including their areas of clinical interest.
Brooke Belden
Brooke Belden graduated with her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2018. She followed her passion after graduation and specialized in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation. She became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2023. She is devoted to helping her patients return to their maximum level of functioning. Outside of work, Brooke enjoys time with family and friends, all outdoor activities, and traveling.
Theresa Breen
Theresa is a pediatric occupational therapist at South Shore Health.
Crystal Cote
Crystal always wanted to help people. Beginning her journey into the OT field at Springfield College, a foundation of working with children was laid as she worked at the campus daycare and as an aide for children with Autism. Her love for working with children has continued at South Shore Health for more than 10 years. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her family/friends and going to the beach.
Clinical Interests: Pediatrics, Autism care
Roger Cufaude
Since graduating with his Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Roger has provided therapeutic interventions in various settings such as sports medicine, orthopedics, and neurological rehabilitation. His professional interests include specialization in upper extremity rehabilitation and orthotic fabrication. Outside of the clinic, he enjoys hiking, skiing, and traveling with friends and family.
Marykate Galluzzo
Mary “Marykate” Galluzzo, OTD, OTR/L graduated from Tufts University with her master’s and post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy with a focus in adaptive swimming. Marykate is passionate about providing evidence-based and patient-centered care for children of all ages and abilities. Marykate is a certified children’s yoga instructor and an adaptive swim instructor. She specializes in working with children with sensory processing and emotional regulation challenges as well as Autism Spectrum Disorder. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, paddle boarding and traveling with her husband, and their dog Timmy.
Clinical Interests: Clinical research, Autism Spectrum Disorder, sensory challenges, developmental delays and adaptive sports.
Julie Garber
Julie Garber, OTR/L has worked as a pediatric occupational therapist at South Shore Hospital since 2016. An alumnus of St. Ambrose University (1995), her passion to help children reach their potential along with her work experiences in early intervention, school-based therapy, and private practice guide her practice daily. She is passionate about working with patients who have a variety of developmental delays, sensory processing/modulation challenges, Autism, or physical challenges from a stroke or traumatic brain injury. She has special training in Autism, sensory processing, Therapeutic Listening®, and is a Certified Educator of Infant Massage (CEIM). A mother of eight, in her free time she enjoys baking, gardening, and time with her family.
Clinical Interests: Developmental delays, Autism, sensory challenges
Kathy Kowalski
Kathy Kowalski, OTR/L, CHT has practiced Occupational Therapy for more than 20 years. She earned the designation of Certified Hand Therapist in 2001 and has focused her clinical practice to specialize in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation. Her specific areas of interest include complex tendon injuries, fracture care, and the fabricating of custom splints. Her priority is to return patients to the highest level of function using the best therapy techniques available.
Clinical Interests: Hand therapy, custom splinting
Peggy Leung
Peggy graduated from Boston University in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy. She has worked in a variety of settings, including acute care and home care, but her passion is in outpatient orthopedic rehab. She completed her master’s degree in occupational therapy with concentration in upper extremity rehab in 2010 at Tufts University. Peggy became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2014 and she specializes in injuries/conditions involving the elbow, wrist and hand. Outside of work, she enjoys reading and traveling with her family.
Clinical Interests: Hand therapy, upper extremity therapy
Nancy Tran
Nancy Tran, OTR/L, received her Master’s in Occupational Therapy from Boston University. Nancy has focused her expertise on supporting children of all ages and abilities across the continuum of care. She has experience with working with children in a variety of settings including pediatric inpatient acute rehabilitation, long-term acute care, outpatient, special education, and early intervention. Her special interests includes working with children with developmental delays, multiple medical complexities, neurological disorders, low vision, and cortical/cerebral visual impairment. With a passion for providing holistic care, Nancy is committed to empower all children to play, grow, and learn by embracing their unique strengths. In her free time, she loves hanging out with her dog, trying new restaurants, and playing videogames.
Clinical Interests: sensory challenges, developmental delays, neurological disorders, visual perceptual challenges
