Medical SLP Concentration

Operational Definition of Medical 

• • For purposes of placement requirements for the PSU MED SLP program, we will operationally define “Medical Settings” as settings which have the following characteristics: 

  • Target adult and pediatric populations with medical diagnoses.

  • Target adult and pediatric facilities with specialized resources or tools, such as: Craniofacial assessment (video nasopharyngoscopy, nasometry, pressure air-flow testing, VFS); laryngeal endoscopy & stroboscopy; dysphagia assessment tools such as MBSS, FEES, manometry, dysphagia intervention tools (such as SEMG, strength training, IOPI, EMST); AAC; exposure to ICUs of varying types, including NICU; PICU; infant feeding;  dysphagia (pediatric burn center (Shriner’s; Randall’s).

  • Target adult and pediatric specialized medical settings such as ICUs (including NICU, PICU), inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

1. COURSES

1A. ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS (FOR ALL GRADUATE STUDENTS)

• SPHR 566 Motor Speech Disorders

• SPHR 563 Adult Language Disorders

• SPHR 555 Assessment and Treatment of Dysphagia in Adults

• SPHR 556 Assessment and Treatment of Dysphagia in Pediatrics

• SPHR 582 Voice Disorders

• SPHR 559 Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)

1B. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED ELECTIVES (FOR THE CONCENTRATION)

• SPHR 564 Medical Speech-Language Pathology I (2 credits)

• SPHR 568 Medical Speech-Language Pathology II (2 credits)

• Third approved elective related to medical speech pathology (2 credits)

*Medical Concentration students are required to take 4 electives (1 more than the general degree). Medical Concentration students graduate with 2 additional credits in comparison to the general degree students. 

2. CULMINATING EXPERIENCE OR THESIS ON AN APPROVED TOPIC RELATED TO WORK AS A MEDICAL SLP WITH CO-MENTORSHIP FROM A FACULTY MEMBER FROM THE MEDICAL SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY CONCENTRATION.*

* Note that comprehensive exam is not an option
Master's Projects List
Approval Submission Form

CLINICAL REQUIREMENTS

3. SPHR CLINICS: Three clinics approved by the Medical Concentration. Clinics will be assigned based on population of interest and may include:

• Dysphagia Clinic

• Adult Medical Clinic

• Cleft/Craniofacial Clinic

• One other medical clinic 

4. EXTERNSHIPS

• Two practicum sites in medical centers (may include hospital, outpatient clinic, skilled nursing facility)
  *If the availability of externship placements is limited in any given year, requirements for graduation from the concentration may be adjusted as determined by a joint decision between the Medical Concentration Committee and Externship Committee.

PROFESSIONAL ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY (PEA) REQUIREMENTS

5. ENRICHMENT: Each student in the Medical SLP Concentration cohort is required to engage in at least three events of approved professional enrichment activities (PEA) during their program to further their education in the area of medical speech-language pathology. You must attend at least 3 PEA events per year of your graduate program.

If you are presenting, you will be awarded one "bonus" PEA per activity. 

PEAs are not counted for activities you must complete as part of a course or assigned clinic (e.g., MBS-Imp, MOCA, Simucase). 

If you are not sure if an activity will qualify as a PEA, please contact the committee prior to completing. 

Document activities here.

Activities may include, but are not limited to:

• DIG-PO (Dysphagia Interest Group - Portland Oregon): Organized by Dr. Deanna Britton - Free

  • If you want to lead an article review, reach out to Dr. Britton

• NWCVS - Grand Rounds (currently on hold) - Free

• Passy Muir  - Free 

• ANCDS (Academy of Neurological Communication Disorders & Sciences) - Free with membership. Student membership: $60/year.

• NSSLHA - Free with membership. Student membership: $60/year (you also get a conversion discount when becoming an ASHA member)

• The Leaders Project - Free

• AAC Adult SLP Providers Meet-Up (Oregon/SW Washington) - Email Noelle Birky at AT Lab (noelle@cvision.org)

• RERC-AAC Webinars - Free

• ISAAC - AAC Webinars - Free

• USSACC - AAC Webinars - Free

• ASHA - Free

• Portland New Voice Club - Free

• PSU SPHR RESEARCH LABS - Presentations, publications, RA roles for lab projects 

• Podcasts including but not limited to ASHA Voices, ANCDS, AphasiaAccess - Free

• CBIRT - Free

• Structured clinical observations with prior approval of committee

Activities that do not meet professional enrichment requirements:

• Serving as a member of the national or PSU NSSLHA

LEADERSHIP ROLE EXAMPLES INCLUDE:

• Leading an article discussion for the DIG-PO.

• Presenting research/project work.

• Being an RA in a lab