Student & Alumni Profiles

AuD in Audiology ‘17
Staten Island, NY

M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology
Queens, New York

Tell us about your path to Hofstra University.
I already held a master’s degree in Opera Performance and was working as a performer but I also had a day-job in a hospital. I was working as a temp in a language disorder department and became fascinated. I asked to observe whenever possible- lunch hours, after shift, etc. and discovered the Communication Disorders department. I learned about a voice specialty that I thought was a perfect fit for me.  Even though I applied to many schools, Hofstra’s well-rounded program with opportunities for intensive, hands-on clinical experiences really attracted me. I liked the faculty profiles and expertise, that’s what really drew me to Hofstra.

What opportunities did you take advantage of at Hofstra?
I always asked for extra opportunities. I worked as a research assistant for Dr. Davidoff. I wrote a research paper with Dr. Bloom that was published while I was still a student.   At the Joan and Arnold Saltzman Center, the on-campus clinic, I was able to work with a large variety of populations. I worked with a men’s aphasia group that was a great experience. My internships were also varied and challenging. I really was give lots of diverse and interesting experiences.

Tell us more about your internship placements.
I worked with a singer who had a professional career. It was my first time working with a singer and put me right where I wanted to be but at the same time was intimidating. I was able to use both my speech-language pathology training and my background in voice training so he could go back on tour. That’s when I realized I could merge both disciplines to help others through their issues.

Did you find any mentors among the faculty here?
Absolutely. I consider Dr. Bloom, and Dr. Ferrand to me mentors of mine. Dr. Ferrand is a wonderful resource for me. I still stay in touch with her. Wendy Silverman was an outstanding guide for me. She gave me excellent advice and direction.

How did your experience prepare you for your job search?
I think the broad internship experiences made me a good candidate for a lot of positions. I had a strong background to draw upon so in interviews I was able to fully answer questions because of the training I had. The courses focused on theoretical underpinnings so I understood the “whys” of applications. I was also prepared with a multitude of approaches so I was able to think on my feet. I really received very grounded practical training.  It took me about two months to find employment after graduation. The first job I had was in a skilled nursing facility. I still work there, per diem. It gave me great sub-acute medical experience. I moved into my current job at Weill Cornell Medical College and it’s my dream job!

How were you able to finance your education at Hofstra? Did you receive any scholarships or assistantships?
I received some scholarships from Hofstra which were helpful. I also worked part-time in a hospital and took loans at the end. My husband supported my education and helped me get through as well.

What inspires you most about your profession?
I love being able to help someone bring back something that’s really important to them that they have lost. I am more proud of performers that can recover and get back on stage than I ever was of myself on stage. I had my own struggles and working with others helps me understand my own voice that much more.  Helping people to communicate and increase their confidence is powerful and amazing. I work in an otolaryngology department and focus mainly on voice disorders. I specialize working with performing artists with voice and swallowing disorders.

I still pursue research and have presented and facilitated workshops on voice at international conferences. I am beginning to explore teaching at the college level and have a guest lecturer several times.

What advice would you give to others considering Speech-Language-Hearing programs at Hofstra?
Be prepared to work really hard. Know how to manage your time. Be willing to try something even if you are not sure of the result. Be open to feedback and critique - it only makes you a better clinician.  For anyone looking for a program to make them a well-rounded clinician with lots of varied experience, this is a wonderful program. I loved my time in the Speech-Language-Hearing program at Hofstra.

M.A. in Speech Language Pathology ‘12
Holtsville, NY

Congratulations on being featured in the January 2014 “The ASHA Leader." Tell us about your role as a speech-language pathologist at South Shore Center for Speech, Language, and Swallowing Disorders.

Thank you! It is a true honor to be published in such a well-respected publication such as “The ASHA Leader.”

My role as a speech-language pathologist is to help my clients achieve their goals in the most individualized and memorable way possible. I feel as if it is my responsibility as a speech-language pathologist to ensure that my client is as engaged as possible, regardless of their age. Whether they are 4 years old and obsessed with the newest Disney cartoon or 84 years old and obsessed with Fox News – it is my job to add in elements from their personal interests to keep them as engrossed as possible and motivated to achieve their specific speech and/or language goals. I currently treat clients ranging from birth to geriatric, in a variety of settings. Every day is different for me and nothing is the same. Some days I start in my office seeing a variety of clients back to back, and other days I begin my day doing therapy at my two year old client’s home on their living room floor with a child who is so excited to see what’s in my giant bag of toys and tricks to use for their session. Two evenings a week I work at the United Cerebral Palsy Association mainly performing swallowing therapy with an adult population. This is one of the many amazing advantages of working in a private practice – you get to see so much. My role as a speech-language pathologist is one that is always changing depending on what my schedule is and what my clients’ goals/personal interests are. It is extremely important to not get completely lost in the goals, the data and the paperwork because it is my biggest priority as a speech-language pathologist to always remember my clients are people who have interests that should be incorporated into their therapy as best as possible.

How did your experience at Hofstra University prepare you for your job search?

My experience at Hofstra University literally set me on my path to my current job. It all started with my professors and clinical supervisors who always made sure to create strong working relationships with me. This made me realize that it was important for me to do that with my internship supervisors as well. I had three internship placements, and I am fortunate enough to remain in contact with all three supervisors. I am also fortunate enough to call one of them, Steven Asofsky, my boss. It was through my internship and keeping in contact with someone I deemed an important resource that I was able to obtain a position in a well-regarded private practice. It was during that internship that I learned how important it is to make your time count and make an impression on your supervisors while you are interning, as you never know where that relationship with each of them will take you. Prior to my job at South Shore Center for Speech, I completed my Clinical Fellowship Year at Developmental Disabilities Institute - another one of my previous internship locations. Again, this was an opportunity I was able to seize due to a strong working relationship with my supervisor. It is pretty amazing how it all works out - Hofstra gives you the opportunity to network with people in the field by giving you internships but at the end of the day, it is up to you to make the most out of those opportunities!

What led you to be interested in speech-language-hearing pathology?

In my senior year of high school, I decided to take American Sign Language as my foreign language class. I became fascinated with Deaf Culture and all there was to it. I became intrigued by the idea of people having to communicate differently than the mainstream. I wondered who helped these people learn the skills necessary to communicate more effectively if they wished to do so. It was at that moment that I began thinking about communication, and did a search on Google. The first search result that came up was an article on the American Speech Language Hearing Association website about speech-language pathologists. I began reading the article, and I was hooked. I knew this was what I had to do. It wasn’t until I was well into my undergraduate career that I realized the variety of clients a speech-language pathologist worked with. I became further interested in the field when my Grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and began to lose his ability to communication as the disease unfortunately progressed. As his battle with Parkinson’s worsened, he was often in the hospital, and I saw that he was treated as if he was incompetent because the people caring for him had difficulty understanding his speech. As a future speech-language pathologist, this was infuriating to me. This gave me the gentle push I needed to completely plunge into the field headfirst.

What attracted you to Hofstra’s speech-language-hearing pathology program?

I was honestly drawn to Hofstra’s speech program after attending a graduate open house. I had attended many open house events at surrounding colleges, but I felt that Hofstra had the most welcoming staff. At the open house event, the professor I spoke with was so interested in learning about me and what I saw in my future. It felt like a personal experience, something very few schools offer. That is something I can say from my own experience is 100% true of Hofstra’s program – it is truly a personal experience. Each professor that I encountered at Hofstra was eager to push me in the direction that I wanted to go.

Describe your experience working and studying with faculty within the department.

Truth be told, the curriculum at Hofstra University was some of the most challenging material I’ve had the opportunity to study. It took a great deal of effort and help from some of the most supportive faculty I’ve had the privilege to learn from to get through the program. It is the combination of amazing faculty and memorable experiences in the classroom and in the field that helped make me the pathologist I am today. I learned from Dr. Bloom to always take everything in stride, and not to sweat the small stuff; tomorrow’s another day. I learned from Wendy Silverman to always be proud of my ability to think outside of the box and to use every available resource, no matter how farfetched. I learned from Melissa Fitzgerald to be a well-rounded therapist who is never afraid to try something new and to always give my clients my best work. It’s these lessons, that one can only get at Hofstra University, that gave me the confidence and skill to be the best speech-language pathologist that I can be.

What advice would you give others considering the program at Hofstra?

Stay focused – keep your eyes on the prize! There are going to be times when you feel completely overwhelmed with your coursework and internships but you need to remember the reason why you got into this field. Work as hard as you can and remain dedicated. Take a moment to enjoy each opportunity given to you and try to never turn down anything. Most importantly, don’t take creating relationships with the faculty for granted. These are men and women who have numerous years of experience in the field and have been in your shoes. Don’t forget that while you are at Hofstra they may be your mentors, but once you graduate, they become some of the best colleagues you’ll ever have.

M.A. in Speech Language Pathology ‘16
Jamison, PA

What led you to be interested in Speech-Language Pathology?

I became interested in Speech-Language Pathology when my grandfather had a stroke. He needed both speech and swallowing therapy, and his speech pathologist helped him to regain most, if not all, of the function that he had lost.

What attracted you to Hofstra University’s SLP program?

I attended Hofstra as an undergrad and majored in Speech-Language Pathology from my very first day here. During my freshman year, I heard great things about the graduate program and the opportunities that were available to the students. I really loved the fact that you were given clients in the Saltzman Center from the moment you stepped into the clinic. I also liked that Treatment and Diagnostics were completed in two different semesters, because I know it would provide the greatest opportunities to learn about each individually.

Tell us about your relevant experiences outside of the classroom.

During my first semester, I worked with clients across the lifespan with a variety of different impairments. I worked with a four year old boy who had a language impairment, a nine year old girl with Autism, an Autism Social Skills Group with three different children, and an 80 year old woman who had cognitive impairments as a result of a stroke. I’ve also been a graduate clinician in the CCI Speech Friends program working with children in the Pre-K classroom as well as the Todd II classroom. I’ve completed a number of diagnostic evaluations, focusing on things ranging from articulation all the way to language and literacy.

Describe your experience working and studying with faculty in the Department Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences.

My experiences with the faculty in the Department have been amazing. They are all so intelligent and are willing to help you when you need it or don’t understand something. I think it really benefits us as students that each professor specializes in something different. It gives us an incredible amount of background information for each of the classes, and it makes it easier to learn when the professor can give you real life examples or share their experiences.

What are your long term professional goals and how will the program help you reach them?

Ultimately, my goal is to be a medical speech pathologist. Right now, I am very interested in the adult population, with a focus in traumatic brain injury, aphasia, and swallowing disorders. The program is incredible because we get such a wide variety of experience, both in the clinic and in the classroom. We’ve had two separate classes on Aphasia and Dysphagia, which has given me a very solid introduction to both of those disorders.

What advice would you give others considering this program at Hofstra?

I would tell others that this is a very hands on program. You do therapy and diagnostics from the moment you enter the clinic, which puts it above and beyond other programs in the area. If you’re interested in getting experience across the lifespan and with a variety of disorders, then this is definitely the school for you!

Au.D. in Audiology '15
Massapequa Park, NY

Tell us about your path to Hofstra University and why you decided to pursue the Audiology program.

Looking back on my college career, it’s safe to say that audiology really found me. I first began my study at Hofstra University as an undergraduate student, majoring in mathematics; I had always believed that I would pursue a career in teaching. However, after taking introductory courses within the Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences program, I found that speech-language pathology, and later audiology, was of great interest to me. I find all of the diagnostic work and technology involved very intriguing and the ability to help others to be my passion. Having formed strong relationships with the Hofstra faculty and loving my experience as a Hofstra undergraduate student, I knew I would love to remain at Hofstra as a graduate student and therefore, decided to pursue my education in audiology at the Long Island Au.D. Consortium.

Tell us about your practicum experiences.

Thus far, the Long Island Au.D. Consortium has provided me with wonderful clinical experiences. Before heading into an outside placement, I was required to spend a semester within each university clinic, where I performed diagnostic audiological testing and hearing aid fittings to both geriatric and pediatric populations. After completing my rotation at all three university clinics, I was well prepared to head into my first outside placement at Mineola ENT. At Mineola ENT I further engaged in comprehensive audiological testing and hearing aid fittings, mainly with the adult and geriatric population, but also gained experience in vestibular testing. My next placement was at the Hearing and Speech Center at North Shore Long Island Jewish Medical Center, in which I further expanded my knowledge observing cochlear implant cases and engaging in auditory brainstem testing in addition to performing comprehensive hearing evaluations and hearing aid fittings on many pediatric patients. For the upcoming Spring 2014 semester, I will conduct my practicum at Lexington School for the Deaf, which will allow me to gain experience working with not only hearing impaired students, but also with students and families who use sign language to communicate. Looking back on all I have learned throughout my practicum experiences, I am thankful for having received excellent well-rounded training in numerous settings and working with all populations, which has left me confident and well prepared to enter into my fourth year as an Au.D. student.

Describe the benefits of studying at the consortium made up of Hofstra, Adelphi, and St. John’s.

Being in a graduate program consisting of three universities has proven to be extremely beneficial to my learning experience. Having the opportunity to work with and study under faculty from three universities and rotating between three university clinics has exposed me to an array of testing strategies, techniques, and knowledge. Being a student at each university gives you access to the facilities on each campus and the opportunity to meet and network with many other students and faculty members who specialize in different areas of the profession. Overall, being a part of such a large educational community provides for an exciting experience filled with many opportunities to create a rich educational experience.

What inspires you most about the profession?

What inspires me most about the profession of Audiology is the difference that we can make in people’s lives as audiologists. Allowing those with hearing loss to remain socially active by providing them with the necessary hearing devices and providing children with the best opportunity to develop normal speech and language through early identification and intervention of hearing loss is a truly rewarding experience. Also, as an audiologist, one is able to work in numerous settings, specialize in specific areas of the profession, and work with all populations; the flexibility of the profession I know will allow me to create an exciting career ahead, and I look forward to seeing where the field of Audiology takes me.

What are your goals for the future and how will the program help you reach them?

My immediate goal for the future is to be able to work at a facility that will allow me to work with all populations and practice an array of audiological services. By doing so, I hope to be able to find which area of the profession I am most interested in and which population I enjoy working with the most. The program has helped me work toward this goal by providing me with a well-rounded clinical experience and will continue to help me reach this goal as I carry out my fourth year practicing at the Hearing and Speech Center at North Shore Long Island Jewish Medical Center. In the end, I hope to discover a way to help the most people possible while working in an environment that is exciting and allows me to continue to broaden my knowledge about the field of Audiology.

What advice would you give others considering this program at Hofstra?

The Long Island Au.D. Consortium is a great place to prepare for your journey into the field of Audiology. I would encourage students to become as active as possible and take advantage of all the opportunities given to you. Through the program, I was able to attend workshops in Colorado and Las Vegas, sponsored by Oticon and Starkey hearing aid companies. Both experiences were truly rewarding and allowed me to network with other students and professionals in the field. Also, the Long Island Consortium chapter of the Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) is a great way to get to know your peers, meet new people, build up your resume with volunteer work, and help raise money for charitable causes. I have had the privilege to serve as the president of the SAA, and I can tell you first-hand that being a member is a great experience and I encourage all students to join. Get to know your peers, your professors, and don’t be afraid to ask questions! All the professors are there to help you in any way that they can, so don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Overall, the program has a lot to offer between its faculty and facilities, and I encourage everyone to take advantage of the great educational experience that the consortium can provide. Good luck to all incoming students and have fun!

Au.D. in Audiology
Yonkers, NY

Tell us about your path to Hofstra University and why you decided to pursue the Audiology program.

I began my undergraduate education at Hofstra University with a goal to obtain my bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology. As an undergraduate, I took classes in both speech and audiology, and found both professions to be interesting and rewarding in their own ways. It was not until my senior year, particularly at the last minute when contemplating graduate school, that I decided audiology was the right choice for me. I was fortunate enough in my undergraduate program to have the opportunity to observe both speech-language pathologists and audiologists in a clinical setting, and I felt a closer connection with the field of audiology. Many people believe audiology simply involves “pushing a button when you hear a beep,” but in reality, there is so much more to the field that many people are unaware of, including hearing aids, electrophysiologic testing, cochlear implants, and balance testing, to name a few things, which really helped me to connect to the field and make my decision. As I am nearing the end of my graduate program, I can say with full confidence that I made the right choice for myself!

Tell us about your practicum experiences.

Since our program is set up as a consortium, I had the benefit to rotate between the in-house clinics of Hofstra, Adelphi, and St. John’s Universities prior to outside experiences. The in-house clinical rotations, as a first-year student with limited clinical experience, made me feel comfortable and allowed me to build my clinical skills with help from faculty clinicians who were knowledgeable in regards not only to the field, but also to allowing students to grow independently as future clinicians. Each school’s clinic had a little something different to offer in terms of audiologic services, such as central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) testing and aural rehabilitation sessions offered at St. John’s, which exposed me to different settings and various areas of the field, which I appreciated. The transition from in-house to external clinical settings was smooth and allowed my fellow classmates and me to continue to build our clinical skills in settings such as private practices, hospitals, ENT offices, and schools. Overall, the program did a nice job of allowing me to have a well-rounded clinical experience in various settings with various patient populations.

Describe the benefits of studying at the consortium made up of Hofstra, Adelphi, and St. John’s.

As mentioned earlier, the opportunity to rotate between the schools’ in-house clinics prior to external clinical rotations is certainly beneficial.  In regards to classes, the consortium allows students to learn from professors who specialize in certain areas of audiology, such as vestibular testing and rehabilitation, which helps us to have an in-depth understanding of these topics.

What inspires you most about the profession?

To quote Helen Keller, "blindness separates us from things, but deafness separates us from people."Through the field of audiology, I can see the negative impact any hearing loss can have on an individual on many different levels. Hearing loss can cause isolation, depression, anxiety, among many other negative feelings, and not only does it affect the individual, but it can also affect those around them. Having the ability to positively change the quality of someone’s life through helping them hear better and once again feel connected to their world is invaluable. Building a relationship with your patients and providing them with counseling and solutions to better hearing is truly a rewarding experience, and makes this profession one that I am truly grateful to be a part of.

What are your goals for the future and how will the program help you reach them?

Through my external clinical rotations, I have had the opportunity to work with a wide variation of patient populations varying in age and abilities. I have experienced various work environments, including schools, ENT practices, and private practices, which have allowed me to formulate a general idea of where I would like to one day practice. It is hard for me to say at this point in time exactly what I would like for myself for the future, but I have really been enjoying my experience at my fourth year placement working with the middle-aged to geriatric population at a private practice, and would love to continue working in this setting in the future.

What advice would you give others considering this program at Hofstra?

For anyone considering this program at Hofstra, I would recommend reaching out to current students to obtain a greater understanding of what the program is truly able to accomplish through a student’s perspective. I know for me, who was torn between speech pathology and audiology until the very last minute, it was important to really understand what this career entails, and speaking to students and faculty members, in addition to observing working SLPs and audiologists, really guided me to make the right choice for myself!

Au.D. in Audiology

Tell us about your path to Hofstra University and why you decided to pursue the Audiology program.
When I was in elementary school, my brother played in a high school lacrosse playoff match at the James M. Shuart stadium. I remember daydreaming about one day attending Hofstra University. Fast forward to June of 2006: my high school graduation. That September, I stepped foot onto the campus and thus began my transformational journey. Starting out in the school of business, I switched paths and finished with a degree in speech language and hearing sciences. This led me to the Long Island Consortium of Audiology; a doctoral program of audiology which I will be graduating from in May 2014. I pursued Audiology because I realized in college how I was captivated by individuals who empower others to take charge of their own health. As an amateur musician who has a slight reduction in hearing, I too can now empower others with the knowledge about the damaging effects of noise. In addition, I can help others affected by reduced hearing by changing their quality of life through improved listening.

Tell us about your practicum experiences.
Throughout my graduate career, I have had seven practicum experiences. The first three were within the university clinics. These locations provided a safe environment to learn, where I cultivated some of my earliest clinical expertise. I then moved on to a private practice, Mineola ENT, where I learned how to balance different skills and improve my time management. After that, I worked at the St. Albans VA hospital where I had the privilege to administer complete hearing healthcare to men and women who served our country. Then, I worked at a private practice based out of a hospital in downtown Brooklyn, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, where I am also completing my final fourth year practicum. This last practicum has pushed me to grow and has greatly increased my confidence to empower others to take charge of their hearing.

Describe the benefits of studying at the consortium made up of Hofstra, Adelphi, and St. John’s.
Obtaining a doctoral degree in audiology through the Long Island Au.D. Consortium has been a unique experience. I have enjoyed the different teaching perspectives as well as the level of maturity and experience I have gained through juggling three very different academic environments.

What inspires you most about the profession?
I celebrate the fact that I am part of an increasing group of professionals who are passionate about their careers. I have met many people who are excited about what we do and look forward to improving quality of life for as many people as possible. In addition, I enjoy the challenge that comes with a profession that is constantly changing.

What are your goals for the future and how will the program help you reach them?
My goal for the future is to open my own practice. The program has helped me work toward that goal through a strong network of professionals who have been very supportive. I am most interested in working with adults who need hearing rehabilitation as well as educating as many people as possible about the importance of hearing and how it can be conserved.

What advice would you give others considering this program at Hofstra?
Formulate your own opinion and take everyone else’s with a grain of salt. Keep an open mind, and learn as much as you possibly can. Finally, never listen to someone who says “no” to your dreams.

I would also like to thank the entire faculty, as well as fellow students, who have helped cultivate my career. You all have been wonderful. I would like to especially mention to the following individuals whom I am especially grateful for crossing paths with: Dr. Jason Davidow, Dr. Doron Milstein, Dr. Levi Reiter, Dr. Rose N. Valvezan, and Dr. John Weigand.

Au.D. in Audiology '07
Centereach, NY

How did you decide to major in Audiology?
Personal experiences brought me to the study of audiology. My husband is hearing impaired and my youngest daughter was born deaf. Our experiences inspired me to help others in similar situations. As a parent, I wanted to be able to reach out to other parents and be able to offer them support and counsel as they navigated the system.  I also wanted to reach others in the community to advocate for the hearing impaired.  

What opportunities did you take advantage of at Hofstra?
I was placed in several internships in a variety of settings that gave me broad based experience. Also, the on campus Joan and Arnold Saltzman Center clinical director, at the time, was a great mentor for me. Being able to have a rich experience right on campus was wonderful. I felt very prepared going into the workforce because of the strong internships I participated in.

Did you encounter any inspiring faculty at Hofstra?
I immediately felt welcomed, like part of something bigger. The professors were knowledgeable and helpful. I felt like this was where I was meant to be.  All the program faculty were supportive and gave me opportunities to speak about my daughter and her experiences wearing hearing aids for three years and later receiving bilateral cochlear implants.  My interactions at Hofstra both while in graduate school and as an invited guest lecturer later on, have helped me advance my career. After receiving my master’s degree at Hofstra, I went on to pursue my doctorate in Audiology. Currently, I have a private practice and teach aural rehabilitation at the undergraduate level.

What advice would you give to others considering the Speech-Language-Hearing Programs at Hofstra?
As a student returning to college after being out of school for several years, I felt comfortable entering into the program and was respected among my peers and professors. I never felt out of place. I had three young children at the time and received a lot of support from my family as well. I feel we achieved this goal together.

I would encourage anyone to follow their dreams and never set limits on their own potential.