I'm a board-certified specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders with a passion for helping SLPs better serve their patients, helping patients advocate for their needs, and bringing evidence to all. After seeing the serious need for access to instrumental swallow imaging while working in nursing homes for 6 years, I created a mobile FEES company to bring instrumentals to patients. My experience through this inspired me to help other SLPs to do the same through The FEES Biz Blueprint and the FEES Booster. In 2017, I started the Swallow Your Pride Podcast to dive deeper into issues that speech-language pathologists face when working with patients with swallowing disorders. SYP had such an incredible response, I knew there was an even greater need than I had anticipated. I created the Medical SLP Collective to provide evidence-based resources, for SLPs by SLPs, and support to medical SLPs. I know what it feels like to be stranded on Dysphagia Island all too well. The Collective is not only a membership site, but a community of SLPs, all across the globe, who collaborate, encourage and mentor each other in an effort to improve the care patients are receiving from SLPs everywhere. In addition to the weekly resources, monthly webinars, access to mentors, and all the other perks of the MedSLP Collective, we have a MedSLP Summit bi-annually that brings 10 hours of presentations from all-star speakers in the field. The MedSLP Collective Live Event is a weekend packed with education from experts in our field, round-table discussions, inspirational talks, and the opportunity to connect with SLPs from all across the map. After seeing the desire in many SLPs to level up into leadership positions, I along with Vince Clark created the MedSLP Leadership Mini-Course to help SLPs make simple changes in their professional lives. We want to help you get that raise, start that new project, or even decide to be your own boss. When I'm not working to change the MedSLP world for the better, I'm a wife and mom to two. I have a son with special needs that I spend my life advocating for who is an inspiration to me in all ways. My experience as his mom and as an SLP has inspired me to write my book, So You're Having Trouble Swallowing: A Guide to Assessment and Treatment Options for Patients with Swallowing Difficulties, and am so proud to say that it is now a best-seller on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. My "rehab brain" never turns off. My hope is that through this book, patients will be empowered to advocate for the services and resources they deserve and SLPs will be encouraged to level up their practice to provide the highest caliber of care for their patients.
