Speech-Language Pathologists

Director

Tamara Wasserman-Wincko, MS, CCC-SLP, is the Director of the Speech-Language Pathology Division, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She earned her master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University in Florida and remained on staff in the Department of Otolaryngology following her clinical fellowship. Today, she oversees the provision of clinical services in five hospitals and develops opportunities for staff professional development. She established the UPMC speech service line in 2021 and currently co-chairs this team in the standardization of care practice. Ms. Wasserman-Wincko specializes in the evaluation and treatment of swallowing disorders, with a special interest in the head and neck cancer population. She has given many lectures on this topic at national and international conferences over her career. In 2019, she was recognized by the American Speech & Hearing Association (ASHA) for outstanding clinical achievement and received a presidential citation from the Triological Society in 2014. Ms. Wasserman-Wincko supports the Swallowing Disorder Center team and the UPMC Head & Neck Cancer Survivorship Program.

Clinical Leadership Team

Kathryn Krobot, MA, CCC-SLP (Kate), is the manager of Speech-Language Pathology in the Department of Otolaryngology at UPMC Presbyterian and Montefiore Hospitals. She received her bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Pittsburgh. Her clinical and educational training is in adult acute care speech-language pathology with emphasis on dysphagia, tracheostomized patients, and the stroke/neurological populations. She also works with total laryngectomy in the Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic and swallowing therapy patients in the Swallowing Disorders Center. Kate is instrumental in the training of new hires and mentoring clinical fellows. As the leader of a team of 12 clinicians, Kate seeks to guide her team in providing the highest level of patient care in a complicated inpatient setting. In her role as Speech-Language Pathology representative during Stroke meetings and JCAHO surveys, Kate regularly works on a multidisciplinary team that provides Joint Commission Comprehensive Stroke Center-level care to acute stroke patients.

Kristen Stablein, MS, CCC-SLP, is the Manager of acute care Speech-Language Pathology at UPMC Shadyside, UPMC East, and UPMC St. Margaret. Kristen attended Duquesne University for both undergraduate and graduate coursework, earning her Bachelor of Science in 2008 and her Master of Speech-Language Pathology in 2009. She joined the Department of Otolaryngology in August 2012. Throughout her time in the department, she has worked at several UPMC hospitals. Currently, she works at UPMC Shadyside with acute oncology patients. She also assists with inpatient rehabilitation coverage and outpatient dysphagia therapy. She serves on the Speech System's Committee and the UPMC Shadyside Interdisciplinary Stroke Committee.

Melanie R. Gasbarro, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is the Manager of the Speech-Language Pathology team on the Inpatient Rehabilitation units at UPMC Montefiore, St. Margaret, and East. She received her master's degree from the State University of New York at Fredonia and has undergone additional training to receive her certification as a brain injury specialist. Melanie evaluates and treats patients with dysphagia, cognitive-linguistic, motor speech, and language disorders. She has a special interest in developing person-specific goals and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to foster patients' return to independence.

Danielle Columbe, MA, CCC-SLP, is the manager of Speech-Language Pathology at UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital and Select Specialty Hospital at UPMC Montefiore. She is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University and earned her master's degree from the University of Akron. She has been with the Department of Otolaryngology since 1999, where she began her career as a Clinical Fellow. Danielle works closely with ENT surgeons and leads a specialized team of clinicians who provide voice restoration in head and neck cancer patients following total laryngectomy. She has the privilege of helping to guide the total laryngectomy journey that often begins with presurgical education and includes regular post-operative outpatient services focused on patients achieving optimal breathing, voicing, and swallowing for a lifetime. Danielle is also on the Swallowing Disorders Center Team, where she participates in the care of persons with dysphagia.