What is your eductional background?

I graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1996 with a Master’s degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences. Throughout my undergraduate years, I participated in cheerleading for the university's football and basketball teams. Turns out, cheering for others became a huge part of me, and it's definitely influenced how I approach speech therapy today. I take great pride in motivating and supporting my patients as they work to make progress. I like to think of myself as one of their biggest cheerleaders!

What is your professional background?

I have worked in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and home-health settings. I found I was drawn towards working with the geriatric population. My grandparents needed speech therapy as they got older and I think that experience influenced me quite a bit. It definitely provided me with a more personal perspective.

What inspired you to work with patients with Parkinson’s?

That’s an easy answer….the SPEAK OUT! Program! Seeing what a difference this treatment can make for individuals who have been diagnosed with a degenerative disease is very exciting and gratifying! The research they have done and the passion and support they offer the patients and the therapists is really incredible. I learned so much while gaining my SPEAK OUT! Licensure and I just want to help spread the knowledge to all those who need it!