Synapse House is open for IN PERSON Services.
Meet Our Team
Pattie Zinski, Development Director
Deborah Giesler, MS, CCC/SLP, Executive Director
Deborah Giesler, MS, CCC/SLP, Executive Director
Coming soon!
Deborah Giesler, MS, CCC/SLP, Executive Director
Deborah Giesler, MS, CCC/SLP, Executive Director
Deborah Giesler, MS, CCC/SLP, Executive Director
Deborah graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and from Governor's State University with a Master of Science in Communication Disorders. She began her career as a speech pathologist and Brain Injury Team Leader on the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Lutheran General Hospital.
Vera Kramer, Business Development Manager
Deborah Giesler, MS, CCC/SLP, Executive Director
Mary Drabik, Employment Services Coordinator
Coming soon!
Mary Drabik, Employment Services Coordinator
Kristina Chapman-Rapp, M.S.Ed. C.P.T G.E.I. , Work Unit Coordinator & Exercise Physiologist
Mary Drabik, Employment Services Coordinator
Mary graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Social Work. She joined Synapse House in June of 2017 and started the first employment program here. Her background is vocational rehabilitation and has worked for 30 years in disability employment, primarily, with the mentally ill population. She has been active in advocacy groups, pushed for legislative change in benefits, funding and access for disabled people and has created and managed several programs that provide training, preparation, support and job placement for people with disabilities.
Kristina Chapman-Rapp, M.S.Ed. C.P.T G.E.I. , Work Unit Coordinator & Exercise Physiologist
Kristina Chapman-Rapp, M.S.Ed. C.P.T G.E.I. , Work Unit Coordinator & Exercise Physiologist
Kristina Chapman-Rapp, M.S.Ed. C.P.T G.E.I. , Work Unit Coordinator & Exercise Physiologist
Kristina graduated from Northern Illinois University in August 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in Education, and a Master’s degree in Science and Education in May 2011.
Kristina’s interest in exercise physiology began when she discovered “Exercise is Medicine” throughout her bachelor’s degree, and her internship in cardiac rehabilitation at Edward Heart Hospital, Naperville.
Erika Panatera, MS, OTR/L, Work Unit Coordinator, Occupational Therapist
Kristina Chapman-Rapp, M.S.Ed. C.P.T G.E.I. , Work Unit Coordinator & Exercise Physiologist
Kristina Chapman-Rapp, M.S.Ed. C.P.T G.E.I. , Work Unit Coordinator & Exercise Physiologist
Erika graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in 2018 in Psychology with a master's degree in Occupational Therapy from Lewis University in 2021
She just became a new OT in June and became interested and passionate about ABI/TBI during her fieldwork rotation here at Synapse House this year.
As an occupational therapist, she is motivated to help our members do the things that make them who they are and get them back to doing the things they were before!
Megan McClain, MS,OTR/L, Work Unit Coordinator, Occupational Therapist
Linda Groenewold, MA, CCC/SLP, Work Unit Coordinator, Speech-Language Pathologist
Linda Groenewold, MA, CCC/SLP, Work Unit Coordinator, Speech-Language Pathologist
Megan graduated from Miami University in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and from Cleveland State University in 2007 with a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy (OT).
Megan’s interest in neurology started during her internship at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD and has grown throughout her career.
Linda Groenewold, MA, CCC/SLP, Work Unit Coordinator, Speech-Language Pathologist
Linda Groenewold, MA, CCC/SLP, Work Unit Coordinator, Speech-Language Pathologist
Linda Groenewold, MA, CCC/SLP, Work Unit Coordinator, Speech-Language Pathologist
Linda holds a bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology, both from the University of Denver. She has worked with adults with a variety of neurological disorders for the past 38 years in the Chicagoland area.
Linda specialty and interests lie with individuals with acquired brain injury. She is committed to helping improve speech, language, cognitive and swallowing functions for an overall improved quality of life.
Linda first joined the Synapse House in 2018 as a weekly volunteer. In September, 2020 the opportunity arose to join the staff as one of the work unit coordinators and she has been onboard in this capacity since.
Nathan Fair, Culinary Unit, Transportation
Linda Groenewold, MA, CCC/SLP, Work Unit Coordinator, Speech-Language Pathologist
Helen Wood, MOT, OTR/L, Work Unit Coordinator, Occupational Therapist
Coming soon!
Helen Wood, MOT, OTR/L, Work Unit Coordinator, Occupational Therapist
Helen Wood, MOT, OTR/L, Work Unit Coordinator, Occupational Therapist
Helen Wood, MOT, OTR/L, Work Unit Coordinator, Occupational Therapist
Helen graduated from Augustana College in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication sciences and disorders and a minor in Spanish. In 2014, Helen completed the Master of Occupational Therapy program at Saint Ambrose University and completed her Level II Fieldwork Clinical Rotations focusing on acute rehabilitation and brain injury rehabilitation.
Accreditation, Membership & License
International Brain Injury Clubhouse Alliance (IBICA)
International Brain Injury Clubhouse Alliance (IBICA)
International Brain Injury Clubhouse Alliance (IBICA)
Synapse House is an active member of the International Brain Injury Clubhouse Alliance (IBICA).
Commission on Accreditation of Facilities
International Brain Injury Clubhouse Alliance (IBICA)
International Brain Injury Clubhouse Alliance (IBICA)
Synapse House is proud to have received a Three Year Accreditation for Community Integration through the Commission on Accreditation of Facilities (CARF).
DuPage County Health Department
International Brain Injury Clubhouse Alliance (IBICA)
DuPage County Health Department
Synapse House is licensed/permitted by the DuPage County Health Department to operate an Annual Category II Food Establishment.