Speech-Language Pathology Alumna of the Year: Carleen Dumas, MS ‘18

When her husband got a call on his phone informing him about some award his wife had won, Carleen Dumas, MS ‘18, was a bit confused. Why would he get a call about an award that she won?

But a follow-up email cleared up any confusion and made it clear that Dumas had been named the Speech-Language Pathology 2023 Alumna of the Year by the Salus University Alumni Association.

“I was quite shocked, but it’s pretty awesome,” said Dumas.

She is the co-owner and director of My Child’s Therapy in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania, a pediatric outpatient facility that offers speech, occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy services for children and clients up to age 21. And, not only does she like hiring other Salus graduates for her business, but she has maintained a relationship with the SLP department and now provides externship opportunities for current Salus master’s SLP students.

“I think we have really qualified therapists from Salus, but maybe I’m biased,” said Dumas. “I am happy to participate with the school and the students. I’m happy to support them, especially since it’s sometimes hard to find placements for the students.”

In his nomination letter, Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP, chair and director of the SLP department at Salus, wrote that Dumas was “an exemplar graduate student that has gone on to open her own award-winning pediatric outpatient practice that not only supports current students through externship rotations but has hired alumni from both the SLP and OT programs.”

“Carleen has established herself as a successful clinician and business owner. Her time here and thereafter speaks to the dedication of the program to its students and thus, them in return to the mission and vision of the department,” wrote Serianni.

Dumas always knew she wanted to work directly with people and found the Salus SLP program, a new program when she initially started, was the perfect fit.

"It was hitting all the check boxes for what I thought would be a fulfilling career choice and matched my personality and interests,” she said.

Once she was in the program, she found out right away what sets the Salus SLP program apart from many of the others: students get tested and challenged right away.

“They threw us right in, which is sometimes needed. They were supporting us, but also making us independent right away,” she said. “That built confidence and skills. All the clinical SLP and the staff were always available to us. We felt that they really wanted us to succeed.”

After graduating and opening her own business, Dumas was fearful about “being alone.” But that wasn’t the case. Salus support has always been there for her.

“I thought I needed somebody to be there. But as soon as I was on my own, I learned that I was well prepared from the SLP program. I just didn’t realize it until I was the one in charge,” said Dumas.