Jennifer Pacileo is the owner and founder of Southern Pediatric Therapy. A Memphis native, Jennifer moved to Hernando, Mississippi in 2017 with her husband Derek and their three sons, Brooks, Brody, and Briggs. Deeply rooted in the Hernando community, her family actively volunteers with the Hernando Parks & Rec Department and serves on several local committees.

Jennifer is a licensed Occupational Therapist, holding the OTR/L credential, which signifies she is nationally registered and state licensed to practice. She is also a Certified Infant Massage Instructor – Level 2 (CIMI-2), trained to teach families how to use massage to support infant development and bonding. As a Certified Autism Specialist (CAS), she brings targeted expertise to children with autism spectrum disorders, and as an ADHD Certified Rehabilitation Services Provider (ADHD-RSP), she is equipped to support children with attention and executive functioning challenges in therapy settings.

Jennifer went to OT school at Belmont University in Nashville, where she earned her Master’s in Occupational Therapy with an emphasis on business and leadership. She has been an occupational therapy provider since 2013 with a specialty in pediatrics. In 2018, after twelve years of perseverance, prayer, and strategic planning, Jennifer realized her dream by opening Southern Pediatric Therapy in Hernando, Mississippi. What began as a one-person operation has grown into a thriving clinic with a team of thirty healthcare professionals.

Jennifer’s mission for Southern Pediatric Therapy is to provide a professional, loving, and impactful space for her team, patients, and families. She recently trained with the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute to offer pediatric pelvic floor services at SPT. She also created the Rising Stars Sports Program, funded Buddy Benches for a local elementary school, and most recently announced the launch of a new nonprofit, the Southern Community Foundation, at the annual SPT Benefit Gala in March. The foundation will support projects and provide assistance to benefit children in the Hernando community. She is passionate about bringing even more inclusive and supportive opportunities to children across Hernando and surrounding areas.