Communication Sciences and Disorders

Episode 1

Elizabeth Grillo, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist and professor in the CSD department at WCU, interviews Bethany Anke, M.A., CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist and Vice President and General Manager of InHealth Technologies. Bethany talks about her career path beginning as a speech-language pathologist providing voice restoration to clients with total laryngectomies to managing all business-related activities for InHealth Technologies, which develops, manufactures, and distributes Blom-Singer voice restoration and ENT products worldwide. Her career path is truly inspiring. Tune in to hear her words of wisdom!

Episode 1 Transcript

Episode 2

World Voice Day celebration! Elizabeth Grillo, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist and professor in the CSD department at WCU, interviews five graduate students who provided gender affirming voice care to transgender clients. We discuss their preparation, goals and methods that were successful, the Global Voice Prevention and Therapy Model with Estill Voice Training, and additional information that was necessary to promote a successful voice training experience for the client and clinician.

Episode 2 Transcript

Episode 3

Speech-Language Pathology Private Practice Panel Discussion. The panel discussed considerations for starting a private practice to include a business plan, advertising, insurance, billing considerations, advantages and disadvantages of private practice, work-life balance, and pursuing a clinical fellowship in a private practice. The four panelists who are all licensed and certified speech-language pathologists included. 

Melanie Abramowitz, M.S., CCC-SLP, LSLS cert. AVT, is also a certified listening and spoken  language specialist in auditory-verbal therapy. While she works with a variety of speech and  language disorders, her specialization is with individuals with hearing loss- both pediatrics and  adults. She is the founder and owner of Speech Starts HEAR in Philadelphia, PA  www.speechstartshear.com  

Mary Kate Connelly, M.S., CCC-SLP, specializes in aural (re)habilitation, articulation, receptive  and expressive language disorders/delays, and autism spectrum disorders. She is the founder  and owner of Clear Speech, Language, and Hearing in Lansdale, PA  www.clearspeechhearing.com.  

Keira M. Eyre, M.S., CCC-SLP, has extensive knowledge and continuing education in the areas of  developmental delays, language disorders, apraxia of speech, autism spectrum disorders,  articulation, phonology, oral motor dysfunction, nonverbal learning disorder, reading  comprehension, writing, and cognition. She owned and operated a successful private practice in  Northern Virginia for several years prior to opening her practice, Let’s Talk Speech and Language  Services, in West Chester, PA www.letstalklanguage.com.  

Jennifer Metaxas, M.S., CCC-SLP, has worked with a variety of populations, ages, and disorders.  She is the owner of Speech and Language for Kids in Wilmington, DE  https://www.speechlanguagekids.com/ and manages three other speech-language pathologists  who work in her practice.  

Episode 3 Transcript

Episode 4

Dr. Karen Perta, speech-language pathologist, and Dr. Adam Szymanowski, laryngologist, discuss their interesting career trajectories, laryngeal surgery, voice therapy, current and future advances in both laryngology and voice therapy, and benefits of an interprofessional team approach to patient-centered care.

Karen Perta, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, EMT, has been a medical speech-language pathologist and singing voice specialist for over 10 years. She has performed over 6,000 laryngoscopy procedures (i.e., VLS and FEES) in private practice ENT and acute care hospital settings. She presents research, lectures, and workshops on various topics related to voice disorders, voice therapy, and vocal tract physiology at the local, national, and international levels. She is a current lecturer in speech and hearing science at the Ohio State University as well as a singer and multi-instrumentalist at Howl at the Moon Columbus. In fall 2022, she will join the faculty at Ohio University.

Adam R. Szymanowski, MD, is a laryngologist and assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. He completed his undergraduate studies at UNC Chapel Hill before joining Teach for America where he worked as a middle school science teacher in Brooklyn, NY. Afterwards he completed his medical degree at Drexel University College of Medicine and an Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery residency at SUNY Buffalo. Most recently, he completed a one-year laryngeal surgery fellowship with Dr. Steven M. Zeitels at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Episode 4 Transcript

Episode 5

In Episode 5, we celebrate 100 Years (1923-2023) of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the West Chester University Speech and Hearing Clinic. Dr. Elizabeth Grillo served as the moderator of the discussion as our seven panelists honored our past and celebrated our current successes. The panelists included:

Dr. Cheryl Gunter is Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders, and Associate Dean, College of Health Sciences.  Over the course of her career, she has spent a year as a Fulbright Scholar in Malta; has been an Executive Board member for multiple state-level and national-level professional associations; has received multiple local, state, and national awards for teaching, advising, and service; is presently national president for Alpha Eta Honor Society; and has maintained a clinical practice with a focus on clinical diagnostics.  She has also pursued a variety of hobbies and has won several hundred ribbons for her candies, cookies, and crafts.

Dr. Mareile Koenig serves as Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders and as the Graduate Program Coordinator. She has been a member of our Department for 33 years, teaching courses in child language disorders. Her scholarly interests include autism and SLP-ABA collaboration. 

Dr. Jennifer Means is a Professor and Director of Clinical Services at West Chester University currently teaching courses in Speech and Voice Disorders, Clinical Methods, School Speech and Hearing Programming, and Fluency Disorders. Research interests and publications include topics in supervision, school-based service delivery, literacy, educational law, and fluency disorders. Dr. Means is the co-author of School Programs in Speech-Language Pathology; Organization and Service Delivery (6th ed), Plural Publishing. Dr. Means is also an alum of CSD@WCU earning both her BA in 1986 and her MA in 1989.

Ms. Colleen Reynolds received her MA from CSD@WCU in 1981 and has been a practicing speech-language pathologist ever since. She has worked in a variety of settings, from the NICU through geriatrics. Her favorite areas of practice are adult neurogenic speech and language disorders, dysphagia, and critical care. She currently owns a private practice which maintains contracts with several hospitals, schools, and homecare agencies. She has been an adjunct instructor at CSD@WCU since 2004.  In her spare time, she is a Reiki Master and Ghost Hunter.

Ms. Michele (Super) Quindlen earned both her BSED in 1984 and her MA in 1987 from CSD @WCU. She recently retired after a 34-year career as a speech-language pathologist. She worked in multiple settings including schools, inpatient rehabs, and private practice with a primary focus in the acute care hospital setting.

Ms. Carolyn Macrina is a speech-language pathologist currently working for Chester County Intermediate Unit in the Tredyffrin-Easttown School District. For over 30 years, she has worked with children from birth - 21 years of age and specializes in childhood apraxia of speech, augmentative and alternative communication, language disorders, and diagnostic evaluations. She graduated from CSD@WCU in 1986 with a BA and in 1992 with an MA. She also holds a special education supervisory certificate from Slippery Rock University awarded in May 2021. She has been an adjunct instructor at CSD@WCU for 14 years, teaching the undergraduate Clinical Principles course, supervising graduate therapy and diagnostic clinics, and currently as the Affiliation Coordinator placing graduate students in school and medical extern placements. She was the owner of a private practice for 13 years servicing children in Delaware and Chester counties.

Ms. Patricia Vaselli is a bilingual speech-language pathologist. She completed her bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology and audiology in Brazil. While in Brazil, she started a private clinic to providing speech therapy and audiology services to children and adults. She moved to the United States settling in Pennsylvania and earned an MA degree at CSD@WCU in 2004. Currently, she works as speech-language pathologist in schools, adjunct instructor and supervisor at CSD@WCU, and completes bilingual evaluations for several school districts in Chester County.

Episode 5 Transcript

Episode 6

This podcast features a panel of five clinically certified speech-language pathologists (SLPs), four of whom are also certified in applied behavior analysis (ABA). Following introductions of the panelists and a definition of ABA, each panelist describes what motivated her to study the science of ABA and how the assimilation of ABA-based teaching strategies into SLP service delivery has enhanced their practice. Also discussed are the steps involved in earning ABA certification and the availability of a special interest group (SIG) called SPABA (Speech Pathology-Applied Behavior Analysis) within the Association of Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). SPABA is for SLPs and ABA professionals who wish to learn from and about each other's professions.

Panelists:

Mareile Koenig, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCBA, West Chester University

Nikia Dower, M.S., CCC-SLP. BCBA, Dower and Associates, Inc.

Heather Forbes, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCBA-D, West Chester University

Joanne Gerenser, Ph.D., Eden II Programs, Staten Island, NY

Tammy Kasper, M.S., CCC-SLP, BCBA, Kasper Enterprises, LLC

Episode 6 Transcript

Episode 7

In Episode 7, we discuss pediatric feeding and swallowing. Dr. Elizabeth Grillo served as the moderator of the discussion with three panelists:

Sarah Moreau, an alumna of both the bachelor's and graduate programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) at West Chester University (WCU), is the current Clinic Director for WCU's Speech and Hearing Clinic. Sarah has dedicated her clinical work to serving families and their children who struggle with pediatric feeding disorders. She is a certificated SOS Approach to Feeding therapist. From 2016-2023, she was a Certified Lactation Counselor.

Hanna Breslin is an alumna of WCU's graduate speech-language pathology program. As a student, she completed a medical affiliation experience with The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Currently, she is completing her clinical fellowship in an elementary school in the School District of Haverford Township.

Nicole D'Aversa is a current graduate student in WCU's speech-language pathology program. In 2017, she earned her undergraduate degree in Nutritional Sciences and has spent the past eight years working in a neonatal intensive care unit, where she developed a strong interest in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders. Nicole recently completed the SOS Approach to Feeding online training and is passionate about pursuing a career as a pediatric feeding specialist.

Episode 7 Transcript