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Third-year Doctor of Audiology Student Penelope Anna Melissas champions the idea that career choices are often affirmed through diversity of experience. As an undergraduate student at the University of Georgia majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders, she originally planned to be a pediatric speech-language pathologist. After taking an audiology course… Read More

by Yash Pershad (G3) This April, fourteen Vanderbilt MSTP students traveled to the 2026 ASCI/AAP/APSA Joint Meeting, representing one of our strongest showings at the annual gathering of physician-scientists from across the country. Two of the ten talks at the APSA Scientific Showcase were from Vanderbilt: Yash Pershad presented his… Read More

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 experiences mentoring adults with intellectual disabilities and job coaching neurodivergent individuals ultimately led… Read More

After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Baylor University, Kaley Birchfield entered Vanderbilt’s M.S. Speech  Language Pathology (MS-SLP) Program as a part of the Early Identification and Management of Children with Hearing Loss Specialty Track. The track, led by Assistnat Professor of Hearing and Speech… Read More

Before coming to Vanderbilt’s MS-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… Read More

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… Read More

If you ask Vanderbilt University School of Medicine students why they chose VUSM, you’ll usually hear the same answer: the people. Whether it’s the exceptional faculty, the supportive administration, or the tight-knit student cohorts, there’s something about the VUSM community that makes students feel like they belong. M4s Brian Song… Read More

By: Kyle T. Enriquez, M.Sc. (G4) Within the MSTP, thesis defense presentations are an under-explored but valuable way to gain collaborators, learn key details about potential mentors, and benefit from the specific interests of other students. While all MSTP thesis defense advertisements ask that trainees “Please make every effort to… Read More

By Ericka Randazzo (G3) Finding Joy at the Intersection of Science, Medicine, and Mentorship Dr. Fred Lamb’s path to becoming a physician–scientist was anything but linear. Rather, it was shaped less by formal pipelines and more by curiosity, serendipity, and an enduring love of discovery – qualities that continue to… Read More