About us
Dr. Amy Francis, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician, autism evaluations chicago suburbs

meet the team

Welcome! I’m Amy Francis, a board certified Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. I completed my pediatric residency and developmental pediatrics fellowship training at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital. I  then became part of the developmental pediatric team at Advocate Children’s Hospital for 8 years before starting Bright Track Kids with Candice. I have a special interest in early identification of autism in toddlers and enjoy practicing medicine in a multidisciplinary setting where providers and therapists work together as a team to optimize care and help children with special healthcare needs thrive. I am committed to teaching medical students, residents, and primary medical providers about early child development to ensure they receive an appropriate education and are well prepared to care for their patients’ unique needs. I participate in ECHO Autism as an expert panelist and provide telementoring to community practitioners, educators, and advocates. Listening is learning and learning is lifelong. I value the mentorship I have received from colleagues, parents, and most importantly my patients. I  enjoy running, hiking and exploring the outdoors with my husband, four kids and energetic Vizsla.

Candice Grudowski, Speech Language Pathologist, speech therapy in the north shore

Hi, I’m Candice Grudowski, a speech-language pathologist who graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Speech and Hearing Science and earned a Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology from Northern Illinois University. In my 10+ years of experience, I’ve provided care in a variety of settings including hospitals, homes and schools. Within those settings, I’ve spent the entirety of my career supporting neurodivergent children in multidisciplinary clinics, individual sessions and social language groups. I use my breadth of knowledge and unique perspective to increase children's abilities to communicate effectively and efficiently with those around them. I merge the art and science of the field to provide exceptional assessment and intervention for all of my clients and their families. In my free time, I’m riding bikes with my son and husband, walking (or running) my dog, reading and crafting!

I specialize in evaluation and treatment of:

  • Apraxia of speech

  • Expressive, receptive and pragmatic language associated with developmental delay, autism, ADHD and learning disabilities

  • Language delay in early childhood

I am a strong advocate of neurodiversity affirming care, inclusive medicine and universal design (the creation of inclusive and accessible environments) to support communication and learning for all individuals.

Icon indicating Candice is an ASHA certified speech language pathologist.
Icon indicating Candice is trained in gestalt language processing.

Let’s work together.

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