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Communication Sciences and Disorders - Fall 2022 Newsletter

SLP Students Provide Outreach to the Greenville Community

The Thiel College Center for Speech-Language Services held a Community Open House on Tuesday, July 26th from 3:00-6:00pm. Student clinicians in the graduate Speech-Language Pathology program conducted free speech, language, memory, cognition, and hearing screenings. The Open House also featured free information sessions presented by the graduate student clinicians about communication disorders such as typical speech development, typical language development, maximizing AAC use at home, and age-related changes in communication and language in older adults.

And on August 26^th, Thiel College hosted the first annual Live Healthier, Stay Healthy Free Health Fair. The health fair showcased several local practitioners. The Theil College Physician Assistant students performed free blood pressure checks and glucose readings and the Speech Language Pathology students provided free hearing and cognitive screenings. A blood drive and vaccination clinic were part of this important event attended by students on campus as well as community members.

First Annual Professional Development Day

The Thiel College Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology Program held the first annual Professional Development Day on Wednesday, July 27th, 2022, in the James Pedas Communication Center from 8:00am to 4:00pm.

The event was complimentary to all Thiel College MS-SLP externship supervisors, students, alumni and faculty.

Eight students graduating from the MS-SLP program presented posters on the Critical Appraisal of Treatment Evidence across the Scope of Practice and Lifespan. The poster was the culminating project of the final capstone course in which students learned how to be critical consumers of research in order to practice at the top of the license and apply evidence to their daily practice. The students were mentored by the Program Director, Dr. Mary Beth Mason.

Additional presentations were provided by Faculty Members Dr. Jeanette Benigas, Dr. Nicole Billak, and Professor Julie Kobak. Dr. Benigas presented Spaced Retrieval for Memory Loss across the Lifespan. The presentation provided an overview of how normal memory works, what happens when memory processes are impaired, and the benefits and protocols for spaced retrieval interventions for both children and adults.

Dr. Billak presented Trauma Informed Care across the Lifespan which explored the various ways Speech-Language Pathologists can play a pivotal role in rehabilitation for people who have experienced complex traumatic events. Professor Kobak presented Supervision Basics and reviewed the expectations and requirements for students to obtain certification in the field of Speech-Language Pathology. This session incorporated a lively discussion between students and clinical educators regarding supervision best practices.

MS-SLP Class of 2022 Graduation Day

The Thiel College Graduate SLP Program graduated its second cohort of students on July 27^th, 2022. After the presentation of diplomas and the hooding ceremony, the graduates enjoyed a reception with proud family and friends. The program faculty and staff were celebrating the fact that by graduation day all eight graduates had already accepted positions and were about to begin their clinical fellowship year!

A special congratulations went to Jenae Brendle, MS, CF-SLP for being named the 2022 Dr. Sonya Wilt Outstanding SLP Graduate Student

Jenae completed her undergraduate work at Geneva College and was admitted to Thiel College as part of our Early Assurance agreement with Geneva. Jenae demonstrated both academic strength and excellent work ethic during all her clinical, academic, and service endeavors. She was consistently the top student in her all of her classes. Jenae completed Graduate Assistant assignments in an outstanding fashion with minimal guidance and supervision. She is truly an individual who goes above and beyond requirements and expectations in all that she does. She enjoys learning and helping others and has superior intellectual, independent research, pragmatic, and leadership abilities. She is motivated, dedicated, reliable, and well-liked by supervisors, peers, clients, and their families.

Janae passed her national exam and accepted a full-time position working with children with communication disorders.

Additional honors went to Emily Bryan, MS, CF-SLP who was named the 2022 Dr. Nancy Antonino Outstanding Graduate SLP Clinician.

Emily completed her undergraduate degree at Pitt and came to Thiel with excellent recommendations. Emily has a gift for clinical practice. Her Clinical Educators reported outstanding ratings in preparing for sessions, establishing rapport with her clients, data coll ection and report writing. Emily’s school-based externship supervisor referred to Emily as observant, insightful, professional, and patient, all excellent characteristics for an SLP! Her supervisor from her medical placement this summer shared that she will thrive in the SLP profession.

Emily passed her national exam and will thrive in the SLP profession in her new position at the Pittsburgh AAC Institute.

Communication Sciences Disorders Department Welcomes New Faculty

On June 30^th, the CSD department welcomed Julie Kobak, MA, CCC-SLP as the new Director of Clinical Education and Associate Professor. Professor Kobak received her B.S. and M.A. at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. She has 27 years clinical experience, practicing in a variety of clinical settings with children and adults, from critical care to home care. At the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation, she was a member of a multi-disciplinary inpatient team serving children with traumatic brain injuries, cerebral palsy, and other neurologic disorders and conditions. While there she received a Team Quality Award for the development and implementation of a multi-agency School Reentry Committee with the goal to increase the success of school reentry for children following an acute brain injury or prolonged hospitalization. Additionally, Professor Kobak has developed expertise in caring for children and adults with tracheostomies and mechanical ventilation and as the former Vice President of Clinical Education for Passy-Muir, Inc. she educated and trained other medical professionals at the national and international levels about this topic. Professor Kobak led teams of therapists and support staff for the broad dissemination of education to healthcare providers, patients, and family members. She has developed novel education products and programs including clinical newsletters, patient education materials, anatomic teaching models, therapy guides, animation videos, webinars, eLearning products, and live in-services, workshops and seminars. She has also worked as a clinical supervisor and educational supervisory liaison at Kent State University.

The department also welcomed this fall a new full-time Professor, Jeanette E. Benigas, Ph.D., CCC-SLP. Dr. Benigas is the owner of Safe Swallowing Diagnostics, a mobile FEES company serving eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Her extensive clinical experience has included work with adults in the acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, post-acute rehabilitation, long-term care, home health, and outpatient settings. Dr. Benigas's research interests include improving quality of life for people with dementia, specifically those who have difficulties eating and swallowing. Her research has incorporated the use of spaced retrieval to teach swallowing strategies so that individuals with dementia can avoid unwanted dietary modifications. She has traveled nationally to consult and speak with other professionals in the medical field who work with persons with memory loss. Dr. Benigas received a master's degree in speech-language pathology from Eastern Michigan University and a doctorate in speech and hearing science with an interdisciplinary specialization in aging from The Ohio State University. She has taught adjunct at universities in Ohio, Indiana, and New York. She is the coauthor of the book Spaced Retrieval Step by Step: An Evidence-Based Memory Intervention.