By Emily Domer
CHS Communications

The UK Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) Academic Clinic, a graduate student and licensed speech language pathologist operated facility that provides services to children with communication disorders, pivoted quickly under the direction of Clinic Director Donna Morris, MA, CCC-SLP, earlier this year to adapt their model of care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our service model had to change so quickly, and we wanted to ensure our clients would continue to receive high quality services,” said Aimee Sayre, MA, CCC-SLP, academic support services director for the clinic.

Social isolation due to COVID-19 poses specific challenges to children and adults who live with hearing loss disorders.

This article is the first in an ongoing series to highlight UK College of Health Sciences faculty efforts to combat the COVID-19 public health crisis.

Researchers were not immune to COVID-19’s impact as the virus forced labs to rethink and reinvent operations nationwide. UK College of Health Sciences (CHS) faculty pivoted quickly to sustain their current opportunities and joined with investigators around the world to provide solutions in their areas of expertise to fight the pandemic’s effects.

The UK College of Health Sciences Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) program received $3.2 million in funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to lower financial hurdles for speech-language pathology (SLP) graduate candidates who are from an educationally, economically, or environmentally disadvantaged background. 

Joseph Stemple, PhD, CCC-SLP, ASHAF-Honors, professor in the communication sciences and disorders (CSD) and rehabilitation sciences programs, is retiring in July after 15 years of service with the UK College of Health Sciences.

The COVID-19 crisis has caused the majority of health care providers to rapidly deploy telehealth initiatives to prevent disruption in care. Joneen Lowman, PhD, CCC-SLP, associate professor in communication sciences and disorders, launched the first telehealth certificate at the University of Kentucky and shares her advice on the importance of telehealth training for all medical professionals.

A degree in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) from the College of Health Sciences offers many unique and diverse opportunities for those wanting a career in the broad field of healthcare. Through our undergraduate and graduate CSD programs, you will be uniquely qualified to pursue a rewarding clinical career in speech-language pathology or audiology, as well as related careers in education, healthcare and rehabilitation. Our programs also prepare you to seek advanced degrees in fields spanning the sciences underlying speech, language, and hearing.

Emoni Dix, a sophomore pre-CSD major and student ambassador, is eager to adopt leadership roles across campus. She plans to use her time at UK College of Health Sciences to develop her professional and clinical skills and one day serve children as a speech language pathologist (SLP). 

Exponential growth in technology is forever altering the landscape of health care. Currently, 60 percent of millennials would prefer a virtual health care experience to in-person care. Lack of access to services remains a growing issue for populations in both rural and urban areas.