Kristen DeLuca, MS, CCC-SLP, is the lead craniofacial speech-language pathologist for the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Cleft and Craniofacial Program, Velopharyngeal Dysfunction Clinic and the 22q Program. She received her bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Geneseo and continued with her master’s in Communicative Disorders and Sciences at James Madison University. Kristen began working with children with cleft palate and craniofacial conditions in 2004 and has dedicated her career to this specialized field. Kristen provides presentations as a national expert on cleft palate and craniofacial anomalies, velopharyngeal dysfunction and feeding. She is an active member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA) and the Florida Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (FCPA).  Kristen understands the importance of multidisciplinary, family-centered team care. Kristen’s most rewarding experiences are working alongside the families we serve to educate and empower them to raise happy and healthy children.