My first six months as director of MMI’s Speech-Language Pathology Department have impressed upon me how truly unique and diverse the department is.
MMI’s speech pathologists serve individuals across the lifespan with needs related to congenital and acquired conditions. We provide all services related to speech pathology (e.g., dysphagia, speech, language, cognition) and have extensive expertise in childhood apraxia of speech, augmentative and alternative communication, dysphagia and fluency within our department.
We provide services at MMI’s main building near the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Scott campus and at community affiliates, through RiteCare clinics across the state and through our relationship with Nebraska Medicine.
We have staff members who dedicate extra time to teaching graduate-level courses in speech pathology at UNO.
In addition to our extensive clinical and teaching services, we have three PhDs on faculty and are actively engaged in research endeavors focused on augmentative and alternative communication, which are funded through the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research and the American Speech Language Hearing Foundation.
I’m excited for what our department has in store in 2024, including, but not limited to, statewide training and leadership in childhood apraxia of speech, developing and hosting the 2024 National RiteCare Conference, expansion of our interdisciplinary endeavors at Nebraska Medicine (e.g., trach team, trauma rounds, medical SLP training opportunities), and growth and expansion of our AAC research program.
I am so proud to be part of this dynamic and growing department that is driven by the needs of the individuals we serve. I look forward to sharing more about the department’s achievements in the coming year.