Panel Presentation: Building a Career in MedSLP

Join us for an insightful panel presentation on navigating a career in medical speech pathology. Our expert panelists will share their diverse experiences, tips, and strategies for success in this dynamic field. Whether you're a student exploring career options or a practicing SLP looking to advance, this session will provide valuable insights into building a fulfilling and impactful career in medical speech pathology. We'll reserve time for audience Q&A - come with questions!

Panel Presenters:

Jennifer Maher, MA CCC-SLP is a seasoned Speech-Language Pathologist whose career spans over a decade within the same organization. From her beginnings as a clinical fellow, she progressed to supervising externs and mentoring clinical fellows. Eventually becoming a Regional Manager for Manhattan and Long Island, she oversaw operations and provided instrumental assessment training. Transitioning to Vice President of Operations in 2022, Jennifer now ensures the company's efficiency and fosters a supportive learning environment for SLPs. With specialized expertise in FEES and MBSS, she continues to empower colleagues through training initiatives, embodying a commitment to excellence in SLP practice.

Luis Riquelme, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S is Director, Rehabilitation & Speech-Language Pathology, Maimonides Health; Adjunct Professor, Universidad Católica del Uruguay and Adjunct Professor, Teachers College, Columbia University. His current research focuses on changes in swallow physiology in dementia and pill swallowing. Publications also include relationships between culture and dysphagia. Luis has presented locally and internationally. He serves as Vice-Chair of the IDDSI and member of ASHA’s Healthcare Economics Committee. Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Laurie J. Wennerholm, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S (PhD candidate) is a clinical specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders with 25 years devoted to medical speech pathology. Over the years, she has gained extensive experience in evaluating and treating speech-language, voice and swallowing impairments in acutely ill patients, head and neck cancer patients as well as neurologically impaired individuals. Laurie completed her Master’s Degree at St. John’s University with academic distinction. She received Specialty Certification in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders in 2006 and maintains her specialty recognition through leadership and scholarship. Laurie also serves as an adjunct professor at New York University and she teaches the Dysphagia course at this institution. She has mentored and supervised many students completing clinical internships in medical speech pathology in facilities where she has worked. Currently, she is employed at NYU Langone Health. Her focus is in evaluation and treatment of speech-voice and swallowing impairments in patients with head and neck cancers. Laurie is also responsible for program building within the department of speech-language pathology. She is highly skilled in tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis assessment, placement and troubleshooting for patients who have undergone total laryngectomy for treatment of laryngeal cancer. Laurie is enthusiastic and passionate about her work and about eventually contributing to the body of literature that exists in dysphagia in the head and neck population. She is enrolled in a PhD program where her research focus aims to improve the care pathway for patients with laryngectomy. Her goal is to continue her clinical work and eventually conduct relevant clinical research and outcomes studies. Her focus has always been the provision of evidenced-based optimal care for the patient to maximize his/her/their quality of life.

Nicole Scafura, MS, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist who specializes in pediatrics. She completed her clinical fellowship in Early Intervention. After obtaining her license, she has been working in the medical side of pediatrics including rehabilitation and acute care hospitals. Nicole works at Mount Sinai Hospital where she sees inpatient pediatrics on the oncology floor, pediatric intensive care unit and cardiac unit. Additionally, she is the sole full time speech-language pathologist who works in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to provide feeding evaluations and therapy to medically fragile infants. Outside of work, Nicole has presented at national and state conventions including ASHA and SENTAC. Lastly, she serves as a mentor for the STEP program through ASHA.