Did you come to UK knowing you wanted to pursue a career in health sciences?  

Yes; I came to UK as a sophomore to pursue a degree in communication sciences and disorders.  I was       guided to the profession by my former professor and advisor at Morehead State University, Harlan Hamm.  I learned about the profession in his communications course. He took an interest in my academic plans and encouraged me to pursue the field of speech and communication disorders.  The rest is history! 

What do you love about your job? 

Being a speech-language pathologist allows me the ability to improve the lives of others through my work.  This field has enabled me to work across the continuum with children and adults in all settings.  Now, I have the privilege of working at the American Speech-Language Hearing Association consulting with school-based speech-language pathologists who practice in the field.  

How do you stay inspired professionally? 

Connecting with speech-language pathologists  who are new to the field as well as those who are experienced keeps me motivated to grow professionally. There's always more to learn!

What do you hope now to accomplish in health care? 

I want to continue to support current and next-generation speech-language pathologists in their work toward clinical and professional excellence.

What advice do you have for students in CHS now? 

Take advantage of every opportunity and experience that is offered to you, (even if it's in an area that you don't consider a strength or of high interest). It will pay great dividends in the future!

What do you wish you would have paid more attention to as a student in regards to your work in healthcare? 

I would have focused more on the connection between course content and its clinical application, keeping the big picture in mind.