About Us

Dr. Ledakis, Ph.D. is a clinical neuropsychologist and the founder and Director of Brandywine Neuropsychology Associates (BNA). Prior to starting Brandywine Neuropsychology Associates in 2013, Dr. Ledakis was the Director of Neuropsychological Services at Riddle Memorial Hospital with the Center for Neuroscience from 2002 through 2013 where he provided neuropsychological assessment services to adults with a primary focus in the assessment of memory, cognition, mood and the impact of such on behaviors and daily functioning in older adults. In particular, Dr. Ledakis has special interests in early diagnosis and treatment of dementia, other neurologic-based illnesses (including stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, ischemic vascular disease, seizure disorders), and the neuropsychological impact of chronic (and often co-occurring) systemic medical illness, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease, hyperlipidemia, kidney and liver disease. He also routinely works with individuals with chronic mood disorders and adults with ADHD.

Dr. Ledakis has spent his career working closely with primary medical care professionals, neurologists, psychiatrists, and clinical psychologists as part of the evaluation and care of his patients. In addition to providing services in the outpatient office setting, Dr. Ledakis (along with his colleagues at Brandywine Neuropsychology Services) provides neuropsychological consultation services in situ at several local Continued Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), Assisted Living / Personal Care, and Skilled Nursing facilities in PA. Dr. Ledakis also conducts forensic evaluations related to legal competency / legal decision-making capacity. Dr. Ledakis received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology (with focus and specialization in Clinical Neuropsychology) from Drexel University in 2000. He completed his pre-doctoral internship at the Veteran's Affairs Medical Center of Coatesville in 2000 and his post-doctoral training and Fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in 2002. Dr. Ledakis is licensed in Pennsylvania and Delaware and is accepting new patients.

Dr. Payne is a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Pennsylvania. She completed her undergraduate work at the University of Pennsylvania, and went on to achieve a dual MBA/Psy.D degree through the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology at Widener University. During her graduate training, she focused on adult and pediatric neuropsychological and psychological assessment. She completed neuropsychological training at several local hospitals, including the Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, Hahnemann Hospital, and Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital. She received post-graduate training at a local private practice, splitting her time between office evaluations and inpatient treatment at St. Mary's Medical Center in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

Following completion of her post-graduate internship, she has remained in private practice, working for several years at the Center for Neuroscience, again splitting her time between her outpatient practice and inpatient care at Riddle Memorial Hospital. Most recently, she has come to Brandywine Neuropsychology Associates, seeing clients for office evaluations and also traveling to several local continuing care retirement communities to offer evaluation to residents in their own homes. Dr. Payne is trained as a true lifespan practitioner, and has extensive experience working with children, teens, adults, and geriatric patient populations. She works with individuals who are hoping to find out more information about diagnosis and treatment options for attention disorders such as ADHD, memory disorders such as dementia, and a variety of mood disorders and neurological and medical issues. Dr. Payne takes a holistic approach to the evaluation process, and focuses on the way that mood and cognition interact. She is also a trained therapist, working in the modalities of cognitive behavioral therapy and positive psychology.

Dr. Kennedy, Psy.D. received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and he completed his post doctoral training and internship in clinical neuropsychology at the Center for Neurological and Neurodevelopment Health in New Jersey. Dr. Kennedy has specialized training in neuropsychological testing in both pediatric and young adult populations with a variety of presenting problems including ADHD, Learning Disorders including Dyslexia, Mild Cognitive Impairments related to concussions and seizure disorders, Mood Disorders, Intellectual Disabilities, Anxiety Disorder, and Tic Disorders including Tourette's.

Additionally, Dr. Kennedy has expertise in the assessment and diagnosis of children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders and can use the ADOS when needed. Each neuropsychological evaluation includes a diagnosis, a summary of the individual's strengths and weaknesses, and individually tailored treatment recommendations for both the school and home environments. Dr. Kennedy is currently licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and is accepting new patients. Dr. Kennedy has also undergone specialized training in cognitive behavioral therapy and comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics in both pediatric and adult patients and he is a certified brain injury specialist. Outside of his clinical work, Dr. Kennedy holds adjunct faculty positions at both Rowan University and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and provides supervision for doctorate level students and post doctorate residences seeking licensure.

Dr. Breslin is a licensed psychologist in the state of Pennsylvania. She earned her undergraduate and master's degree in Clinical Psychology from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, then completed a master's degree and doctorate from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She received her neuropsychological training at Jefferson University Hospital, Moss Rehab Hospital, and the Penn Memory Center. She completed her doctoral internship in clinical neuropsychology at Penn Medicine/Lancaster General Hospital.

She conducted her post-doctoral training in the Department of Neurology at the University of Virginia Health System where she specialized in working with adults and older adults with neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Multiple Sclerosis. Dr. Breslin also has specialized training in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and is a certified brain injury specialist. Research interests include epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease, and factors that impact neuropsychological performance.

Dr. Sestito is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and licensed to practice in Pennsylvania. She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at Temple University. After working as a research coordinator and psychometrician in an older adult population, Dr. Sestito earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Drexel University with a concentration in clinical neuropsychology. During her time at Drexel, she completed externships at Jefferson University Hospital's Department of Neurology and the UPenn's Department of Psychiatry. Her research work focused on improving everyday functioning in adults with dementia and severe mental illness.

Dr. Sestito completed her pre-doctoral internship at Long Island Jewish Medical Center/Zucker-Hillside Hospital. Following completion of her doctoral degree, she received her post-doctoral fellowship training at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, TX, working with veterans including newly discharged soldiers coping with brain injuries and post-traumatic stress. Since returning to the Philadelphia area, Dr. Sestito has continued to work with adults with a variety of neurological and psychiatric conditions, including ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression, dementia, and movement disorders. She has joined Brandywine Neuropsychology Associates and sees clients both in the office and in various community settings. Dr. Sestito's clinical approach is evidence-based and focuses on the whole person and their unique experiences.

Dr. Gallo earned her PhD from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA after completing her pre-doctoral internship training at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School's University Behavioral HealthCare Center. Dr. Gallo has specialized training in measuring cognitive, psychological and behavioral symptoms and their impact on patients' functional status and well-being. She evaluates adults presenting with a range of known or suspected neurological, medical and psychological disorders. Her training specialty within neuropsychology is aging and dementia.

Prior to joining Brandywine Neuropsychology Associates, she worked within the neurology division of Global Neurosciences Institute (GNI) as a clinical neuropsychologist, contributing to decisions about candidacy for Deep Brain Stimulation surgery among patients with essential tremor and Parkinson's disease. Before that, she spent two years as a clinical neuropsychologist within the Department of Neurology at Drexel University's College of Medicine, and nine years as a teaching faculty member within the Department of Psychology at Drexel University. She also co-authored the Behavioral and Psychological Assessment of Dementia (BPAD), a clinical rating scale used in the assessment of dementia published by PAR, Inc.

Dr. Walker Mekonnen is a licensed psychologist in the state of Pennsylvania. She completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in neuropsychology from the Institute of Graduate Clinical Psychology at Widener University. She completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in the department of Neurology at the University of Virginia where she specialized in working with older adults in the assessment of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson's disease, and vascular dementia.

Prior to returning to Pennsylvania, Dr. Walker Mekonnen worked as a clinical neuropsychologist for Atrium Health in Charlotte, NC, where she held specialty dementia and concussion clinics and was a key member of interdisciplinary presurgical teams for patients with Parkinson's disease and epilepsy. Her approach to working with patients is therapeutic in nature, focusing on each person as a whole individual and providing tailored, evidence-based recommendations. She believes in making healthcare and knowledge about neuropsychological evaluations more accessible, and has given multiple community talks regarding cognitive health at nursing homes, independent living facilities, churches, and meetings hosted by the Alzheimer's Association and the Parkinson's Foundation.

Dr. Scott received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology, with specializations in Neuropsychology and School Psychology, from the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology at Widener University, where she was honored with the Academic and Clinical Excellence Award for outstanding achievement in scholarship and clinical practice. Before entering psychology, Dr. Scott began her career as a special education teacher, supporting students and providing consultation and professional development to educators. While teaching, she earned a master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland. She then worked as a psychometrist, administering neuropsychological assessments before pursuing her doctorate. Throughout her doctoral training, Dr. Scott completed comprehensive neuropsychological and psychoeducational evaluations in both private practice and school settings. During her predoctoral internship, she conducted neuropsychological evaluations for children, adolescents, and young adults in private practices in the tristate area, and she also has experience conducting evaluations with adults.

Dr. Scott's primary clinical interests include neurodevelopmental differences, particularly ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities. She takes a developmental, contextual, and neurodiversity-affirming approach. Drawing on her background in both education and neuropsychology, she is passionate about helping children, adolescents, and their families better understand neurodevelopmental differences through comprehensive, individualized evaluations. Her goal is to provide clarity, meaningful insights, and practical recommendations that empower families, educators, and other providers to better understand and support each individual's unique profile.