Meet the SeniorBridge Melbourne Team
Dorothy Burns, RN, MSN, MBA
Regional Executive Director
Dorothy's diverse background and more than 35 years experience in healthcare and hospital management significantly influence her clinical and operational leadership of SeniorBridge's branches in the coastal communities of central Florida. Prior to joining the SeniorBridge family she served as Vice President of Clinical Operations at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne where she led strategic planning and monitored safety and quality control for surgical, trauma and patient care services. Before her promotion to Vice President, Dorothy was the Director of Patient Care Services and was instrumental in the development of the hospital's Heart Center. She went on to lead an award winning team designing stroke care and organ donation programs. Specializing in critical care, Dorothy's nursing career includes serving as a Nurse Manager in the Intensive Care Unit at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Pennsylvania and more than 12 years as a rehabilitative, home care and long term care nurse. She is an adjunct nursing faculty member at Brevard Community College in Palm Bay and at University of Central Florida in Orlando. Dorothy holds a Master of Science in Nursing with a Clinical Nurse Specialty from Widener University in Pennsylvania and a Master of Business Administration from University of Central Florida. She is licensed by the State of Florida as a Registered Nurse.
Feryn Lang, RN, MSN
Regional Director of Client Services
Feryn joins SeniorBridge with more than 30 years of healthcare experience. She most recently served as the Director of Nursing for Wuesthoff Health Systems' Progressive Care Center where her leadership and management of the nursing department included clinical oversight for the 114-bed facility and implementation of programs to ensure resident safety and quality services. Her extensive administration background spans more than 16 years and includes directing skilled nursing and assisted living facilities such as Atlantic Shores in Melbourne, Florida as well as Germantown Home and Arden Courts both of Pennsylvania. She has also worked as a Geriatric Care Manager for Senior Solutions where she consulted with families, monitored frail adults and handled safe transitions. Throughout her career, Feryn has been a dedicated advocate for and passionately facilitated best practice standards for the care of the older adult. She received her nursing diploma from St. Peter's Medical Center in New Jersey and advanced nursing education at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. Through this course of study she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, summa cum laude, and Master of Science in Nursing as a Geriatric Clinical Specialist. Feryn holds a current Florida RN license.
Chris White
Director of Professional Relations
Chris has more than 5 years of healthcare marketing and sales experience, with particular expertise in new business development and territory management. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, Chris served as Admissions Liaison at Indian River Center in West Melbourne, Florida developing market and territory awareness in Brevard County, increasing referral sources, and creating brand recognition. Previously, Chris also served as Area Director of Marketing and Recruiting at Clear Choice Health Care implementing marketing and sales strategies and at Life Care Center of Palm Bay as Assistant Executive Director, where he passed state and federal examinations to become a licensed Nursing Home Administrator. Chris earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of North Florida and plays an active part of his community serving on the Board of Directors for Brevard Heart Association, volunteering for Meals on Wheels in Melbourne, Florida and he is also a member of the Melbourne Regional Chamber of East Central Florida.
Nancy Kollanda, RN, BS, MS, CCM
Care Manager
Nancy brings more than 30 years of professional nursing experience with an extensive management background in acute care and skilled nursing facility settings. Her commitment to excellence is reflected in her provision of patient-centered care and a strong approach to patient advocacy. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, Nancy served as Care Manager at Health First, Inc. where she collaborated with fellow associates to ensure continuity of care, implemented medical policies and performed reviews for medical necessity. Other career highlights include evaluating and identifying health care delivery services as In-patient Nurse Case Manager at Wuesthoff Health System in Rockledge, Florida and conducting clinical assessments as RN Medical Analyst at Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Nancy earned a diploma from The Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and both her Bachelors degree in business and Masters degree in Healthcare Management from California Coast University in Santa Ana, California.
Marcia Schick, LCSW
Care Manager
Marcia brings more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare field with particular expertise in counseling patients of the mental health population in the hospital and treatment center settings. Her commitment to excellence encompasses all areas of her work as a Care Manager including strong patient care and advocacy. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, Marcia served as Military Family Life Consultant for the community, individuals, couples and family needs at army posts. Throughout her time, she conducted clinical assessments of soldiers and their loved ones to determine further care/counseling needs, educated the community regarding psychosocial effects of deployment and reintegration of soldiers and provided support to Army Recruiters. Other career highlights include providing individual case management as a Private Practice Psychotherapist of individual, couples and family therapy and conducting courses regarding eating disorders for patients as Treatment & Program Therapist for The Rader Institute- Inpatient Easting Disorder Treatment Center. Marcia earned both her Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work from University of Central Florida and completed the Clinical Sexology Program at American Academy of Clinical Sexologists at Maimonides University. She holds licensure in the state of Florida as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, is an American Board of Sexuality Certified Clinical Sexologist and a state of Florida Registered and Qualified Clinical Supervisor. Marcia also holds certifications as a Florida Certified Hypnotherapist and Certified Health Rhythms Group Empowerment Drumming Facilitator.
Diane Silkowski, LPN
Care Manager
Diane was a Geriatric Care Manager for Senior Care Management Services, prior to joining SeniorBridge in 2009. She has been a nurse for 15 years, and has worked with people who have cerebral palsy, multiple medical conditions, and special needs. She worked closely with ARNPs and MDs, supervised caregivers, and taught infection control protocol to staff at Cerebral Palsy of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Diane has also been an acute care nurse for patients in crisis at a psychiatric inpatient hospital, St. Barnabas Behavioral Health, in Toms River, New Jersey. In 2004, she relocated to Florida, where she focused on the geriatric population as Charge Nurse on the Dementia Unit at Autumn House, in Vierra, a private assisted living facility. Diane graduated with honors in nursing from Ocean County Vocational Technical School, Toms River, NJ. There, she achieved a clinical achievement award from the Nursing School Program. She is currently working on obtaining her Care Management Certification.
Rose Anne Taylor, RN, CCM, QRP
Care Manager
Rose brings a wide range of past nursing experience to Senior Bridge. She most recently spent 18 years working for Intracorp, a division of CIGNA, as a nurse case manager coordinating medical treatment for injured workers. She is a Qualified Rehabilitation Provider for the State of Florida (QRP) and is also a Certified Case Manager (CCM). After graduating from the Johns Hopkins Hospital School of Nursing in Baltimore, Maryland, she worked for the City of Baltimore in Public Health and at the City Hospital. Additional experience in orthopedic, medical and surgical nursing care was gained over the years working part time while raising a family. She worked full time as an Occupational Health Nurse for the GM Desert Proving Grounds in Mesa, Arizona and later as Head Nurse at Kahn’s Meats in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a volunteer for Health First Hospice in Melbourne, Florida, she provides respite for caregivers.
Brenda Taylor
Care Manager Assistant
Brenda has over 20 years experience in the healthcare field. During the last few years, Brenda has worked in the geriatric and home care management field for Senior Care Management Services as a Case Manager Assistant. Before joining Senior Care Management, she spent 8 years working for a neurosurgeon in Melbourne, Florida as a medical assistant. She attended Tucson College in Arizona and has a Medical Assistant diploma. Brenda volunteers as President of the American Legion Auxiliary in Palm Bay, Florida.