Our Leadership
Board of Directors
Our board guides the horizon of our mission, ensuring every individual has a clear path to rise above barriers to world-class care. They provide strategic direction, governance oversight, and deep commitment to building a facility that changes lives.
Meet Our Board Members
Melinda Corbett
Bio
Read MoreMelinda Corbett Founder and Board Chair
Melinda Corbett is a finance executive, nonprofit founder, and advocate in the field of neurorehabilitation. She is the founder of D1 Strong – The Journey, an organization established following her family’s experience navigating traumatic brain injury and the challenges of accessing appropriate rehabilitation care. That experience shaped her commitment to building a structured, high-quality environment focused on improving recovery outcomes and supporting families through every stage of the rehabilitation journey.
Melinda currently serves as Vice President of Finance at CCG Advisors, where she oversees all financial operations, including accounting, payroll, benefits, and retirement planning. She brings more than 30 years of experience in accounting, finance, and organizational leadership. Her previous roles include Finance Manager for the Georgia Conservancy, where she managed budgeting, audits, and grants, and Arthur Andersen, where she advanced to Manager in tax and corporate recovery, working on complex restructuring and turnaround engagements for major national companies.
In addition to her professional work, Melinda serves as Chairwoman of Rise Neurorehab Institute, where she helps guide efforts to advance innovation, access, and quality in neurological recovery care.
A mother of four and long-time community volunteer, Melinda has been deeply involved in educational, faith-based, and youth organizations. She brings a unique combination of professional expertise and personal insight to her work, leading D1 Strong with a focus on accountability, operational excellence, and meaningful patient-centered care.
Dr. Alan Peljovich
Bio
Read MoreDr. Uma Desai
Bio
Read MoreDr. Allan Peljovich
Allan Peljovich is a practicing Hand & Upper Extremity Surgeon with expertise in pediatrics and neurogenic disorders. He has been the consulting hand surgeon at the Shepherd Center since 2000, and maintains an active practice there. He has published several articles, and book chapters concerning the care of children, adolescents and adults with central nervous system disorders including spinal cord injury and spasticity. Dr. Peljovich is also the Medical Director of the Hand Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where he oversees several of its programs including Brachial Plexus Clinic. He brings an expertise in the care of people who suffer from complex neurological disorders and has extensive experience delivering this care in both the hospital and outpatient setting.
Dr. Uma S. Desai
Uma S. Desai, MD is a board-certified Family Physician with more than 21 years of experience caring for patients and families in a primary care setting. Throughout her career, Dr. Desai built meaningful, long-term relationships with her patients, providing compassionate, comprehensive care with a focus on prevention, education, and overall well-being.
Since retiring from clinical practice in 2021, Dr. Desai has dedicated her time and energy to giving back to her community. Drawing on her background in primary care, preventive medicine, and patient advocacy, she remains deeply committed to improving access to care and ensuring individuals and families have the resources needed to navigate their health journeys with confidence and dignity. She has a particular interest in supporting individuals living with spinal cord injuries, advocating for access to the care, education, and resources necessary to maintain quality of life.
Dr. Desai is inspired by the mission of D1 Strong – The Journey. She believes in the transformative impact that appropriate treatment, guidance, and support provides in helping individuals with neurological injuries build resilience and achieve their full potential. Through her service on the board, Dr. Desai is honored to support efforts that strengthen individuals, families, and the broader community.
Liz Hagan
Bio
Read MoreScott Smith
Bio
Read MoreSriti Fusillo
Bio
Read MoreCaitlin Jones Co-Founder & Executive Director PT, DPT, NCS, CMTPT/DN, CPST
Caitlin Jones is the co-founder and Executive Director of Rise Neurorehab Institute. She graduated from University of Georgia in 2010 and earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Emory University in 2013. She has worked in all phases of the rehabilitation continuum, including inpatient rehabilitation for both Spinal Cord Injury and Acquired Brain Injury at Shepherd Center, with pediatrics at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and outpatient services at NextStep Atlanta. Caitlin earned the title of Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy in 2017 and Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist in Dry Needling in 2022. Throughout her professional career, Caitlin has served as a Rehabilitation Clinical Specialist for Spinal Cord Injury and has been actively involved in clinical leadership roles and program development. She was the award recipient for the Atlanta Business Chronicle Healthcare Hero in 2023 for her development of a community outreach program that supported adolescents with a spinal cord injury transitioning to adulthood. She is strongly involved in clinical education, including developing and teaching continuing education courses for advanced wheelchair skills, spinal cord injury mobility, and lower extremity casting and bracing. She is also a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician and involved in traumatic brain and spinal cord injury prevention through community car seat safety initiatives. Caitlin is also highly involved in the role of advanced technology in rehabilitation and is engaged in leading clinical research initiatives for cutting-edge new rehab devices.
Caitlin and her husband have 3 young children. As a family, they are actively involved in their church and enjoy long days filled with watersports at the lake. Caitlin also enjoys Peloton exercise classes, taking care of her backyard chickens, and snowboarding.
Scott Smith
Scott Smith is the CEO of Habitat Partners, bringing diverse leadership experience across both nonprofit and for-profit sectors to the board. Previously, he co-founded The Barn Group (TBG) in 2013, where he served as President and CEO for a decade, growing the organization from inception to a nonprofit with a multimillion-dollar annual budget and endowment portfolio. Under his leadership, TBG facilitated the conservation of over 200 properties comprising more than 47,000 acres across 29 states.
Mr. Smith has served on multiple boards of directors, including The Southern Conservation Trust. His career demonstrates strategic organizational leadership with a proven track record in business development, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable growth.
Prior to his nonprofit leadership, Mr. Smith spent 15 years in management and sales, culminating in a store manager role in the retail sector. His approach to leadership emphasizes client development, operational excellence, and results-driven service.
Sriti Fusillo
Sriti Fusillo brings over 12 years of expertise in sales and marketing within the luxury wine industry. With a background that uniquely blends science, entrepreneurship and a deep passion for wine, she has carved out a distinguished career that positions her perfectly for leading the national sales and marketing efforts for VintEdge Wine Group.
She began her career in science, earning a degree in Microbiology from the University of Arizona and contributing to the groundbreaking Human Genome Project, before channeling her entrepreneurial spirit into founding a successful children’s accessories brand licensed to Disney.
Sriti’s passion for wine guided her next career move. In 2014, she established her wine brokerage in Southern California, a venture that quickly attracted prominent producers. Her success led to senior leadership roles at Morlet Family Vineyards as Director of National Sales, followed by Opus One Winery overseeing the Southwest, and later LVMH, where she represented some of the world’s most iconic Champagne and Wine brands, including Krug, Dom Perignon, and Joseph Phelps Vineyards.
Drawn back to Napa Valley estates, Sriti returned to consulting for select clients including Arrow&Branch, Coronet, and Brilliant Mistake, and now stewards a tightly curated portfolio of exceptional small producers at VintEdge Wine Group. Sriti resides in Orange County, California with her husband and two children. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys travel, cooking, reading, and fitness. Despite a career defined by meaningful accomplishments, she considers motherhood her most rewarding achievement.
Why Governance Matters
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, our loyalty belongs to the families we serve , not shareholders. Our board ensures:
- Transparent financial management
- Integrity in Action
- Mission-driven priorities
- Quality standards in care
- Accessibility for all
This accountability means your donations, your trust, and your care are in responsible hands.