Mission:  To enhance the long-term neurological, psychological, and physical recovery of combat Veterans and active-duty personnel through integrated outpatient care that highlights the impact of traumatic brain injury and is tailored to their unique operational demands and lived experiences.

The Synapse Integrated Therapy Center provides evidence-based, interdisciplinary care across three core domains: Physical Therapy (Orthopedic & Vestibular), Mental Health Therapy (Trauma and Suicide Prevention), and Speech-Language Pathology (Neurological and Cognitive-Communication Rehabilitation). 

Services are delivered by fully licensed, vetted providers with experience and competency in treating the unique needs of combat veterans.  The center functions as a continuum-of-care resource for service members and veterans transitioning out of TBI assessment programs within the warrior care network or intrepid center of excellence, while also supporting those facing service gaps in local care.  Each client attends their appointments in a three-hour cohort receiving all three modalities (PT, MH and ST) in one block (45 minutes per service) with (15 minute) breaks between services. This model reduces time spent missing work and going to multiple appointments at multiple locations.  

Annie is the founder and owner of Cortex Initiative. She is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist through the Brain Injury Association of America and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Old Dominion University with a minor in Special Education, and a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from James Madison University. Annie started her career as a middle school special education teacher and a multi-sport coach. She later became an outpatient SLP in a local hospital system, where she treated patients with a vast range of medically complex diagnoses, was the lead SLP for both the ALS and MS clinics at a nearby neurology practice, and co-facilitated a support group for people with Spasmodic Dysphonia. In addition to outpatient therapy clinics, she has worked in acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation settings, long-term care facilities, and skilled nursing facilities.

Annie has extensive clinical experience in general speech pathology with the adult population, including disorders of speech, language, cognition, voice, resonance, and swallowing. Her specific interests include working with clients who have suffered brain injuries, brain tumors, strokes, or have progressive neurological diseases, as well as clients with disorders of the voice.  She has dedicated much of her career to developing and refining materials, resources, and interventions that help strengthen the cognitive and language abilities of high-performing military service members and civilians with a history of mild traumatic brain injury.  Annie enjoys educating family members on the impact of TBI and regularly collaborates with other professionals nationwide to ensure superior care for her clients. She is nationally certified with leadership and clinical supervision experience.

Annie is the proud mother of a young son, two stepchildren, and the best doodle-dog, Bobo. She enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, traveling, and volunteering with her husband’s military hockey charity, Warrior for Life Fund.

Jessica Branham, LCSW has been practicing in the field of clinical social work for 14 years.  She earned her BA in psychology from James Madison University in 2006 and her Master’s of Science in Social Work from Columbia University in 2008.  With a strong focus on work with children, adolescents and families, Ms. Branham completed clinical rotations throughout New York City before permanently relocating to Virginia Beach.  She worked at Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters, supporting children and their families dealing with chronic and life changing illness.  For the last 10 years Ms. Branham has been embedded locally with the Navy focusing primarily on the wellbeing of those serving as tactical specialists in naval special warfare.  She developed expertise in care of those dealing with trauma and is trained in cognitive behavioral therapy for trauma, prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy and eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.  Working with a tactical population allowed her to also specialize in mental performance, leadership development and personal growth.  Ms. Branham is passionate about the health and wellbeing of those who are driven to perform in their chosen field whether that means traditional mental health treatment or enhancement of skills through performance coaching.  She provides care that is personally tailored to each individual and based on their specific goals.  Ms. Branham is currently the owner and operator of Balanced Growth Therapy and Consulting in Virginia Beach.  In this practice which opened in 2023 she provides treatment, mental performance enhancement and individual and group consultation.  Ms. Branham is married with two children and in her free time she enjoys being outside, traveling and spending time with her friends and family.

Dr. Erin St. Germain is a physical therapist specializing in neurological rehabilitation. She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from the University of North Florida and holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland. She is a Board-Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist (NCS) through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) and a certified Clinical Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist.

Dr. St. Germain has extensive clinical experience across both inpatient and outpatient settings. She currently practices as an Inpatient Rehabilitation and Acute Care Physical Therapist, where she focuses on evidence-based rehabilitation for patients with complex neurological and orthopedic conditions, including stroke, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and amputations. Previously, she served as a Neurological Physical Therapist in an outpatient setting, where she treated patients undergoing vestibular, neurological, and pulmonary rehabilitation.

Additionally, Dr. St. Germain currently teaches as an Adjunct Professor at South University, where she leads courses in Neurological Therapeutic Intervention. She has also served as an Innovation Advisor for the Louis B. Thalheimer Fund for Translational Research at Johns Hopkins University, supporting early-stage innovation projects in rehabilitation sciences.

Outside of her professional work, Dr. St. Germain enjoys spending time with her family, surfing, and hiking. She also enjoys volunteering with adaptive sports programs such as Life Rolls On.