UMMC Speech-Language Pathology

12/17/2025

🎄From clinics to Christmas cheer ✨
The SLP team came together at the ENT departmental Christmas party to enjoy the season, good company, and a great evening together!

12/03/2025

Congratulations to Kelsey Murray, PhD, CCC-SLP on her recent article that was accepted for publication in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation! It is entitled "Reliability of Lingual Swallow Pressure Measurements in Healthy Older and Younger Adults" (link below).

Dr Murray also recently presented a poster at the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) national conference on "The Safety and Feasibility of Head Position to Promote Swallowing Adaptation and Exercise Loading."
We are so proud of her accomplishments! Way to go!

12/02/2025

🎉 Congratulations to our friend, Walt! 🎉

He has worked so hard, and it’s paid off! Way to go! We are so so proud! 🌈
💙 Amazing things ahead!

12/01/2025

Great minds think alike! 🌈
SLPs, Emma Grace and Krissy, are all smiles matching with sweet Harper! 🩷

11/27/2025

11/25/2025

👏🏻 👏🏻👏🏻
A big CONGRATULATIONS to our friend and colleague, Whitney Wallace, M.S.,CCC-SLP, on receiving the Extra Mile Award for the Department of Otolaryngology for November!

Whitney was nominated by the entire pediatric team in the Division of Speech Pathology! Specifically, the team said,
“We are so grateful to have Whitney as part of our pediatric SLP team. She is always willing to go above and beyond — whether she’s supporting our division, stepping in for a teammate, or giving her all to our patients. Whitney brings unmatched dedication, compassion, and positivity to everything she does. She consistently goes the extra mile with a kind heart and a smile that brightens everyone’s day.” 🌟

Well deserved, Whitney!

11/17/2025

We recently hosted a Lunch & Learn with our amazing graduate students who will soon be heading out into the world! 🌟

We’re so proud of each of you and it’s been such a joy to watch you grow throughout the semester. Keep shining — your UMMC SLP family is cheering you on always! 💛📚✨

11/09/2025

Congrats to our own Jenna McGee Nassar for sitting in as an invited guest on this well-known podcast and offer her expertise in the pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders space. We are so excited to tune in and learn from you!

10/22/2025

🌟 Meet Abby Ott, one of the new Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellows in the Child Health and Developmental Promotion Fellowship!

We are thrilled to welcome Abby Ott at the CAY center! Originally from Jackson and raised in Dallas, Texas, Abby brings a passion for helping children and their families through speech-language therapy. She graduated from Millsaps College with a BA in Psychology and minors in Communication Studies and Spanish. She recently earned her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from The University of Texas at Dallas.

Abby is excited to work with patients of all ages but holds a special place in her heart for the pediatric population. Beyond her clinical work, she loves discovering local coffee spots, enjoying live music, and catching the latest movies.

Join us in giving Abby a warm welcome! We can’t wait to see the impact she’ll make in our community. 💙

10/10/2025

Shout out to these amazing Audiologists that we have the privilege of working alongside! They take such great care of our patients, and we are so thankful for all that they do!

👂🌍 Happy World Audiologist Day! 🎉💙

Today we’re turning up the volume on gratitude for our amazing team of audiologists!

Thank you for your passion, expertise, and commitment to helping the world hear better. We’re so proud of everything you do! 👏🔊

10/07/2025

🗣️ October is AAC Awareness Month! 💬

Let’s shine a light on the power of communication for everyone.

What is AAC?

AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. It refers to all the ways someone can communicate besides talking. This can include:

🧠 Picture boards
📱 Speech-generating devices (SGDs)
✋ Sign language
📝 Writing or typing
😊 Facial expressions and gestures

AAC supports individuals who have difficulty with verbal speech due to conditions like autism, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, ALS, stroke, and more.

If you believe your loved one could benefit from AAC, our dedicated SLPs are here to help. We work as a team—alongside families, physicians, therapists, and care providers—to find the right communication support for every individual.

10/03/2025

👏 We are so proud of our very own SLP, Amy Walker Dixon, who recently presented at Pediatric Grand Rounds!

Her presentation, “When Feeding Becomes a Struggle: Exploring ARFID and Pediatric Feeding Disorders Together,” shed light on the complexities of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and feeding challenges in children. 💡🍽️

Thank you, Amy, for sharing your expertise and advocating for the importance of early recognition and intervention in pediatric feeding and swallowing! 💙