By Katie Chung
Vanderbilt’s Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology (MS-SLP) program offers four specialty tracks for students to gain additional experiences in a particular SLP discipline. Blending coursework with early and intensive clinical experiences, the MS-SLP program prepares students to assess, diagnose, and treat people with communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan. While the department provides broad training that supports generalist practitioners, each specialty track has a variety of additional coursework and clinical practicum opportunities for students to gain experiences that are specific to their career goals.
“From inclusion of specialized training that allows for formal autism diagnosis and categorization, to special skills for working in a schools setting, to additional training specific to working with children with hearing loss, to enhancements related to working with an interdisciplinary team, each of our specialty tracks is tailored to enhance the skills and knowledge of future professionals that are critical for optimizing patient care,” said Dr. Todd Ricketts, professor and Vice Chair of Graduate Studies in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences. “Interested students can engage in these learning opportunities without any extra cost and without extending the duration of their program.”
Below, hear from one student in each SLP track—Autism Spectrum Disorder, Early Identification and Management of Children with Hearing Loss, School, and Medical Speech-Language Pathology.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Specialty Track – Sophie Kaiser
Before beginning the MS-SLP, “Double ‘Dore” Sophie Kaiser graduated from Vanderbilt with a bachelor’s in Cognitive Studies and Medicine, Health, and Society with minors in Special Education and Spanish. Her time at VU and her experiences mentoring adults with intellectual disabilities and job coaching neurodivergent individuals ultimately led her to the field of speech-language pathology, where she decided to pursue the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) track. Led by Jennifer H. Ask (CCC-SLP), the ASD track is funded by a U.S. Department of Education training grant that focuses on addressing the needs of infants and children with autism.
“Through my experiences, I learned about the importance of neurodiversity affirming care, and this track felt like a good opportunity to marry a lot of my different passions while pursuing my career,” Kaiser said.
Read more about Sophie’s experience with the ASD Track
Early Identification and Management of Children with Hearing Loss Specialty Track – Kaley Birchfield
After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Baylor University, Kaley Birchfield entered Vanderbilt’s M.S. Speech Languagex Pathology (SLP) Program as a part of the Hearing Loss Specialty Track. The track, led by Dr. Dana Kan, is funded by a U.S. Department of Education training grant that focuses on preparing SLP students to work with infants and children who are deaf or hard of hearing. For Birchfield, who found her undergraduate audiology class fascinating, the hearing loss track at Vanderbilt was the perfect focus for her graduate school journey.
From workshops where students practice troubleshooting hearing aids to courses specifically on teaching children with hearing loss, the curriculum covers a wide range of topics from aural rehabilitation to cochlear implants.
“The classes are taught by professors that have backgrounds as audiologists or teachers of the deaf, and learning from all of these different perspectives have been so valuable.”
Read more about Kaley’s experience with the Hearing Loss Track
School Specialty Track – Katia Jarufe
Before coming to Vanderbilt’s M.S. SLP program, Katia Jarufe received a master’s degree in Child Studies from Peabody College at Vanderbilt. There, she became interested in language development and working with
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. This newfound passion led to Jarufe’s involvement in Project AACelerating Communication Focused Interventions in Educational Settings by Speech-Language (AACCESS), a Department of Education training grant that provides a foundation for students to build additional skills for school speech-language pathology specialization while providing students a strong foundation in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
“I discovered language development, where I eventually discovered and applied to the [SLP] program,” she said. “What interested me most about the school track was working with school-aged students in different environments, and especially the focus on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices.”
Learn more about Katia and the School Specialty Track
Medical Speech-Language Pathology – Meredith Wood
Meredith Wood received her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience with a minor in speech and hearing sciences. Originally a pre-med student, her interest in the medical
field ultimately led her to the medical track at Vanderbilt’s M.S. SLP program.
The Medical Speech-Language Pathology track, led by assistant professors of hearing and speech sciences Cara Donohue, PhD, CCC-SLP and Emily Kimball, PhD, CCC-SLP, offers specialty medical SLP training to students interested in pursuing a career in settings such as acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, tertiary voice clinics, and outpatient swallowing clinics. In terms of additional classes, the medical track offers two this upcoming summer: a medical speech-language pathology seminar, as well as a pediatric feeding/swallowing course.
“Having a part of the year that is medically specific and to be able to learn from professionals in a variety of different settings—acute care, outpatient, pediatric feeding—is really special,” Wood said.
Beyond the clinical and coursework opportunities, the medical track also allows SLP students to volunteer and participate in a variety of research and clinical conferences. This includes a videostroboscopy conference hosted by the Vanderbilt Voice Center, a Medical Speech Pathology Conference, and an upcoming Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) course. Additionally, Wood is part of the Innovative Research in Aerodigestive Disorders (iRAD) Lab, led by medical track co-director Dr. Cara Donohue.
Learn more about Meredith and the Medical Speech-Language Pathology Track