Salus University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) students were loud and proud presenting their capstone projects recently in the Hafter Student Community Center.
After a year of research, the SLP graduate students wrapped up their collaborative group projects with an evening presenting their hard work to Salus University faculty and staff, as well as their family and friends.
“Presenting our capstone project is exciting because we have been working on them for over a year. Our group had the opportunity to present our project at a retirement community Alzheimer’s support group earlier this semester, so now being able to share it with our cohort, professors and clinical educators is a great experience. This also means we are one step closer to graduation, and we are all looking forward to taking the next step,” said Nina Disco ‘23SLP.
SLP program director and chair, Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP, attested to the exciting nature of the capstone presentations. “The capstones are an important event for the department because it allows the students to synthesize a lot of work they have done over the course of a year,” he said. “Not only do they become a cooperative group, but they also produce really impactful projects which help the communities in which they choose to serve.”
This year's capstone projects represented a wide variety of communities including older adults, schools, parents and caregivers.
As wonderful as the presentation reception was, the festivities did not end there, as SLP students had the opportunity to present their projects at the annual Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association (PSHA) conference in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania this month. . “Presenting at PSHA is a super unique opportunity, and one that we were all very excited about,” said Alexa Pollice ‘23SLP.
As the SLP department and Salus University reflect on their student's hard work throughout their time at Salus, they are excited about their next steps, as this is only the beginning of their professional accomplishments.
Aphasia Education
Luke Damiani, Ember DeBonaventura, Taylor Foley, Madison Gates, and Kelly Senkow
Faculty Advisor: Robert W. Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP
Caregiver Support in Communicating with Individuals with Dementia
Carly Buchakjian, Paige DeBlecourt, Emma Dierkes, Antonina Disco, and Cara Figarotta
Faculty Advisor: Robert W. Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP
Communication Partner Training For School-Age Children
Veronica Baez, Bailey Cohen, Alicia Forrest, Hannah Perloff, and Lindsay Wachs
Faculty Advisor: Patricia Martin Mayro, MA, CCC-SLP
Highlighting Features of High-Tech AAC Applications: Free, Low, and High Cost Options
Jenna D’Entremont, Rhiannon Elias, Alexa Pollice, and Sophie Wollman
Faculty Advisors: Robert W. Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP
How to Support Young Readers with Language Comprehension Skills
Sara Herman, Kathryn Reichel, Reshma Reji, Helene Shapley, and Kaitlin Taylor
Faculty Advisor: Kimberly C. Edmonds, MS, CCC-SLP
Importance of Interprofessional Dysphagia Care Between Speech-Language Pathologists and Physician Assistants
Sultana Abdur-Raheem, Margaret Finn, Rachel Morris, Alyssa Peter, and Makenzie Tobin
Faculty Advisor: Kelly Salmon SLPD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLT-LANA, NDC
Transitioning to Solids - How SLP’s Can Help Navigate Sensory Food Aversions
Claudia Cranmer, Jamie Dorotov, Rachel O’Brien, Madison Pisut, and Hailey Plantarich
Faculty Advisor: Kara Maharay MS CCC-SLP, BCS-S
Vocal Health Education for Teachers
Lindsay Edling, Alex Harrer, Alexandra Johnson, Brenna Phillips, Lindsay Rock, and Carly Zeltt
Faculty Advisor: Robert W. Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP
