Billing
Kaylan Chee
Billing Manager
Contact Information: kaylan.chee@usu.edu | 435-797-0290
Kaylan oversees the center’s billing operations, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and accuracy. She enjoys supporting staff members, assisting clients with the financial aspects of their visits, and contributing to the center’s overall mission. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, exploring the outdoors, and diving into a good book.
Misha Cantwell
Billing Specialist
Contact Information: misha.cantwell@usu.edu | 435-797-1115
Misha's role at the SCCE is behavioral health billing for the BSS and the CRCS clinics. She can also cover and answer questions for the Psychology clinic. She loves working with insurances to get coverage for our clients and is very passionate about access to mental health services. She enjoys traveling with her family, animals, music concerts, and is a Foodie.
Emily Thompson
Billing and Credentialing Specialist
Contact Information: emily.scothernthompson@usu.edu | 435-797-1346
Hey there! I’m Emily, a Billing and Credentialing Specialist. I love making the behind-the-scenes magic happen, from adding insurance coverage to answering billing questions and working with clients on payment plans. Helping people get the care they need (without the billing stress!) is what makes my job so rewarding.
Outside of work, I enjoy camping, crafting, reading, and spending time with my family. I’m also currently working toward my MBA through online courses, which keeps me busy in the best way!
Kandee Thompson
Billing Specialist
Contact Information: kandee.thompson@usu.edu | 435-797-1657
I have been in the medical field for over 25 years and have loved the experience that comes with helping people. My favorite area has been in the billing department. It gives me the chance to solve hard cases and give a resolution to patient’s problem. I feel like I am solving a mystery a lot of the time. I have been with the Sorenson Center for 6 years and have enjoyed working with all the providers and staff. I feel like I am part of an amazing team that has a goal to help in the best way possible. When I am not at work solving mysteries, I love to spend time with my family, including furbabies.
Compliance
Joni Black, MJ, CHPC
Compliance Officer
Contact Information: joni.black@usu.edu | 435-797-0141
Joni oversees the SCCE Compliance Program, ensuring the Center complies with HIPAA and other healthcare laws. She manages risk, develops policies, provides training, and supports faculty, staff, and students in fostering a culture of compliance. Committed to the SCCE’s mission and the people it serves, Joni strives to make compliance approachable and meaningful. When she’s not working, she enjoys attending concerts, camping, riding RZRs, and traveling—especially to tropical destinations.
Laura Crofts
Compliance Coordinator
Contact Information: laura.crofts@usu.edu | 435-797-1165
Laura serves as a Compliance Coordinator at SCCE, where she plays a key role in ensuring billing compliance and managing patient records. With over 15 years of experience in healthcare, she verifies that clinical documentation and billing practices meet regulatory and payer standards, supporting the center’s commitment to ethical and efficient care. Laura also oversees the processing of patient record requests, ensuring secure and timely access under HIPAA and organizational policies. Her extensive experience and dedication contribute to the center’s mission of delivering high-quality care with integrity and consistency. Laura finds joy in family time, mountain trails, spontaneous road trips, and cheering from the sidelines. She's all about making memories and soaking up the little moments.
Whitney Mortenson
Compliance Assistant
Contact Information: whitney.mortenson@usu.edu
Whitney supports the Compliance Office at the SCCE by assisting with onboarding and offboarding processes and helping students, faculty, and staff stay compliant with HIPAA regulations. Her work promotes a culture of accountability and integrity across the organization. Outside of work, Whitney enjoys spending quality time with her family, tending her garden, and exploring new places through travel.
Melanie Rust
Compliance Coordinator
Contact Information: melanie.rust@usu.edu | 435-797-0993
Melanie assists the Compliance Office by overseeing onboarding and offboarding procedures and ensuring adherence to HIPAA privacy and security standards. Outside of work, she enjoys going to concerts, traveling for MLB games (go Mariners!), and spending quality time with family.
Operations
Emily McWhinney
Operations Manager
Contact Information: emily.mcwhinney@usu.edu, 435-797-3822
Emily oversees Sorenson Center operations with the aim of providing Utah residents with high quality care and a positive experience in all service lines. Emily supports the operational team and works to streamline processes to reduce the barriers to health care. While Emily’s background is in behavioral health with a focus on youth and parenting, she greatly enjoys the interdisciplinary mission of the Sorenson Center and all there is to learn from other fields represented through the clinical services and research.
Emma Buckley
Client Care Representative
Contact Information: SorensonSpeech@usu.edu, 435-797-1375
Emma is the Client Care Representative for the Speech and Language clinic. They enjoy meeting new people, and they love helping people get the care they need. Outside of work, they also enjoy painting, watching horror movies, and hiking with their dog.
Afton Gustafson
Client Care Representative
Contact Information: SorensonBehaviorSupport@usu.edu, SorensonCRC@usu.edu | 435-797-3403
Lori Jarvis
Client Care Representative
Contact Information: SorensonMFT@usu.edu, SorensonDCC@usu.edu, SorensonAssessment@usu.edu, 435-797-7430
Lori Jarvis grew up in Oregon and earned a degree in psychology from BYU. She enjoys spending time with her husband, children, bonus children, extended family and their two mischievous Bernedoodles. Having recently relocated to Cache Valley, Lori is loving her new community and work at USU.
Emma Steed
Client Care Representative
Contact Information: SorensonHearingandBalance@usu.edu, SorensonPT@usu.edu, 435-797-1374
Emma is a Client Care Representative (CCR) at the Sorenson Center for Clinical Excellence, where she supports both the Hearing & Balance and the Physical Therapy Clinics. She is passionate about creating a welcoming, organized, and supportive environment for clients and clinicians. Emma’s role includes coordinating schedules, assisting patients, and ensuring the clinics operate smoothly day-to-day. She keeps the clinic running smoothly through detailed scheduling, clear communication, and a genuine commitment to patient care.
Outside of work, Emma loves spending time outdoors—hiking, swimming, and traveling whenever she can. She also enjoys cooking, crafting, and finding creative ways to unwind.
Wendy Thompson
Client Care Representative
Contact Information: SorensonPediatricAudiology@usu.edu | 435-797-9234
Wendy is the Client Care Representative for the Sorenson Center Pediatric Audiology and Cochlear Implant clinics. Wendy also assists with Sound Beginnings, an early education program for children with hearing loss. Wendy grew up on the Oregon Coast. Wendy and her family moved to Logan 2012. She is married and they have 1 son. Wendy enjoys spending time with her family and loves doing anything outside. She is learning to garden, has taken piano lessons and practices sign language in her spare time. Wendy enjoys reading. The best part of her day is talking to the children as they come to school. Her personal motto is to follow the golden rule, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”