Education:

• University of Iowa – Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Hearing Science
• University of Iowa – Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology

Licenses & Certificates:

• Licensed to practice in the state of South Carolina
• Received Certificate of Clinical Competence through American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
• Disability Studies Certificate

Work History:
While working toward my Bachelor’s degree at the University of Iowa, I worked as a respite worker for 4 years serving children and adolescents with Rett syndrome, Down syndrome, Autism, and their families. During my graduate studies, I had the privilege of working with diverse populations addressing a wide range of speech,
language, cognition, and swallowing disorders. I gained extensive practice during my internships in various settings including: pediatric outpatient clinics, public elementary schools, a cochlear implant research lab, and an inpatient neuro-rehabilitation center. During this time, I treated individuals ages from 6 months-75 years old. After receiving my Master’s degree, I moved to Myrtle Beach to complete my clinical fellowship year and pursue my career dreams. Throughout all of my experiences I have worked with patients in the following areas: receptive and expressive language, articulation, phonological processes, cognitive deficits, voice disorders, aural rehabilitation, feeding disorders, fluency, dysarthria, aphasia, apraxia, autism, dysphagia, traumatic brain injury, and AAC. I am very passionate and love dedicating my time to help individuals across the life span improve their swallowing/feeding skills and their communication abilities!

Specialized Training:
“Picky Eaters vs. Problem Feeders: The SOS Approach to Feeding”
A 4-day training conference on the SOS Approach to Feeding. This is a feeding program that is a non-invasive developmental approach to feeding. It is designed to assess and address all the factors involved in feeding difficulties. This approach allows a child to interact with food in a playful, non-stressful way. It focuses on increasing a child’s comfort level through exploring and learning about the different properties of foods, including texture, smell, taste, and consistency. The SOS approach follows a hierarchy to feeding from tolerating foods in the room, interacting with the food, smelling, touching, tasting, and eventually, eating the food.

MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) Training and Certification
A cognitive screening test designed to assist health professionals in the detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The MoCA has superior validity and has been widely adopted in clinical settings around the world. The screening tool is important for early diagnoses and treatment plans to improve brain health, cognitive deficits, and the individuals well-being.

SPEAK OUT! & LOUD Crowd Training
This was a self-study course offered through the Parkinson Voice Project. The training introduced the unique concept of speaking with intent, an evidence-based treatment method that addresses the motor speech deficits in individuals with Parkinson’s. The therapy programs help patients with Parkinson’s maintain and regain their speech, swallowing, voice, and communication skills.