Volume Forty Nine, Number Three, May 2023
2022-23 Executive Board and Advisory Assembly
MSHA Executive Board:
President: Rosalyn Davis, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
President-Elect: Heather Ferguson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Past President: D'Jaris Coles-White, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Secretary: Lisa Register, M.A., CCC-SLP
Treasurer: Tammy Shilling, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
VP for Advocacy: Kelli Pierce, M.A., CCC-SLP
VP for Membership: Ashley Gutowski, M.A., CCC-SLP
VP for Diversity & Inclusion: Derek Daniels, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
VP for Professional Dev & Education: Justine Walker, M.S., CCC-SLP
VP Elect for Prof Dev & Education: Leslie DeNardis M.A., CCC-SLP
VP for Public Relations: Sarah Killinger, M.A., CCC-SLP/BCBA
VP for SLP/Healthcare: Ana Claudia Harten, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
VP for SLP/Public Schools: Olivia Sowa-Kucharski, M.A., CCC-SLP
MSHA Advisory Assembly:
Communications and Networking: Marissa Swanson, M.A., CCC-SLP/BCaBA
Continuing Education: Lauren Evans, M.S., CCC-SLP
Ethics & Standards: Heather Balog, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Private Practice: Courtney Joesel, M.A., CCC-SLP
SLP Healthcare: Ramya Konnai, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
SLP Public School: Olivia Sowa-Kucharski, M.A., CCC-SLP
Student Affairs: OPEN
MSHA Members-at-Large
S.E. Michigan: Courtney Halbower, M.A., CCC-SLP
S.W. Michigan: Allison Mezo, M.A., CCC-SLP
N.E. Michigan: Beth La Framboise, M.A., CCC-SLP
N.W. Michigan: Jessica Higgins, M.A., CCC-SLP
Upper Peninsula: Wanda Kiiskila, M.A., CCC-SLP
Member-at-Large Representing Students: Mariko Ito, B.A.
ASHA Committee of Ambassadors: Ramya Konnai, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
ASHA StAMP Representative: Rosalyn Davis,, M.S., CCC-SLP
ASHA STAR Representative: Julie Pratt, M.S., CCC-SLP
ASHA SEAL Representative: Courtney Halbower, M.A., CCC-SLP
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Bylaws Change
The MSHA Executive Board has voted to make changes to the Association's Bylaws and Code of Ethics to reflect clarification regarding nondiscrimination language. Therefore, consistent with the current Bylaws of the Association, we're required to provide each member with the proposed changes 30 days before the vote. You may visit the MSHA website to view the full Bylaws. The proposed revisions are in red below.
Article II Purposes, Section 2
Changes are in red:
“The Association shall not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression/gender identity, national origin, disability, ethnicity, or veteran status. All programs and activities of the Association shall be conducted in furtherance of this policy.”
Code of Ethics, Section C, Other Responsibilities, Line #5
Changes are in red:
“Individuals must not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender expression/gender identity, culture, language, dialect, or socioeconomic status in their professional relationships with colleagues, assistants, students, support personnel, and members of other professions and disciplines.”
Additional nondiscrimination language to be added to Code of Ethics Section C, Other Responsibilities below:
Individuals shall not discriminate in the delivery of professional services or in the conduct of research and scholarly activities on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, disability, culture, language, or dialect.
MSHA Member Updates
Congratulations to Aaron Hardy-Smith, M.A., CCC-SLP, who was selected to be a part of the ASHA Leadership Development Program 2023 cohort.
Congratulations to Gregory J. Spray, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, who received a Fulbright Specialist Award to teach medical Speech-Language Pathology in Bulgaria. The Fulbright Specialist Program, funded by the U.S. Department of State, will send Assistant Professor of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences to Bulgaria this May to teach medical students how to evaluate and treat motor speech disorders.
2023 Conference Poster Session Award
Navigating a Changing Landscape: Perpectives of Gender Diverse Individuals on the Importance of the SLP's Behavior When Providing Gender Affirming Services; Chloe Ilacqua, B.S. and Katie Strong, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Central Michigan University.
Well-being of People with a Total Laryngectomy; Hadley Wallace, B.A. and Madelin Leppek, Michigan State University
2024 Call for Nomination to Outstanding Clinician Award
Ana Claudia Harten, Ph.D., CCC-SLP We would like to recognize our Michigan colleagues working in health care and motivate others to provide excellent clinical service. Consider nominating your colleague or someone you know working in health care who demonstrates exemplary professionalism with their clients with communication disorders. The deadline for nominations is August 20, 2023 and submissions can be made by using the the Outstanding Clinical Award Nomination Form found here. For more information see Outstanding Clinician Guidelines.
Thanks 2023 Conference Exhibitors
CMU Summer Specialty Clinics (SSC)
Detroit Institute for Children
Discovery Toys
Hart Medical Equipment and RM Speech
Hillsdale County Intermediate School District
MetroEHS Pediatric Therapy
Ovation Rehabilitation Services
Paper Pie Learning (Usborne Books)
Pentax Medical
Smartbox Assistive Technology
Special Education Mediation Services
Talk to Me Technologies
The Stepping Stones Group
Tobii Dynavox
West Shore ENT and Allergy
Save the Dates: Upcoming MSHA Conferences
MSHA Conference 2024:
Aprl 18-20, 2024
Vandyk Mortgage Convention, Muskegon
MSHA Conference 2025:
March 13-15, 2025
Radisson Plaza Hotel, Kalamazoo
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From the President
Rosalyn Davis, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Greetings MSHA Members,
Happy Better Speech and Hearing Month! I hope you have plans to celebrate our profession at your facilities. I welcome you to share those celebrations on our MSHA social media platforms and your social media platforms so that we can share in your celebrations and educate the public on our role in assessing and managing communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan.
Thank you to all our MSHA Annual Conference attendees for your participation at our annual conference is very much appreciated. A special thank you to Justine Walker, Leslie DeNardis, Kim Wesoloski, Javiera Castillo, Executive Board members, Advisory Assembly members, our conference volunteers, vendors, and speakers for making this year’s conference successful.
I want to acknowledge the hard work of Dr. D’Jarius Coles-White for her year of leadership as the MSHA President. Under her leadership, several initiatives were established to continue to support the growth of our association and supporting our members. While these initiatives have not been completed, I will begin my year as President, working to disseminate these initiatives.
I want to formally introduce myself to those I have not had the pleasure to meet yet. I am a native Michigander who moved to Illinois briefly before returning home. My husband and I have two incredible daughters. I received my Bachelor’s in Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology from Andrews University. I then received my Master’s degree in Communicative Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a second Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Governors State University in Illinois. This past February, I defended my doctoral dissertation and received a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Translational Health Science from The George Washington University. I have been an SLP for 19 years. I currently work at The Children’s Hospital of Michigan in the acute care and inpatient rehab units. I am also an adjunct professor at Eastern Michigan University.
I have been an active member of MSHA since 2011 and have served on the Advisory Assembly as the CE Administrator from 2011-2017, Executive Board as the VP for SLP Healthcare from 2017-2022, and President-Elect from 2022-2023. Additionally, I am the ASHA StAMP representative for the state of Michigan. Each of these experiences has given me insight into the organizational contexts of MSHA and ASHA and our membership’s needs. These experiences have been instrumental in my development as a speech-language pathologist and transition into leadership roles.
I am excited and honored to serve as your President for 2023-2024. MSHA is here to support you in professional growth and advocacy efforts in your facilities. I encourage you to continue supporting our organization and invite colleagues to join MSHA and one of our committees to help advocate for our profession and the clients we serve.
I look forward to seeing you at our next conference on April 18-20, 2024, at the VanDyk Mortgage Convention Center. Our Annual conference is a great way to network with members of our profession, gain new knowledge, and obtain updates on how MSHA works to meet the needs of our membership.
Rosalyn Davis, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
President, Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2023 Conference Wrap-Up
Leslie DeNardis, M.A., CCC-SLP
It is with immense pleasure and gratitude that I extend my warmest appreciation to you on behalf of myself, the esteemed MSHA Program Committee and Executive Board. Your presence at this year's annual conference has made it a resounding success, and we are truly grateful for your participation.
We are thrilled that so many of you took the time to complete evaluations and offer valuable feedback. Your opinions are of utmost importance to us, and we have taken note of every single one of them. Your suggestions for future speakers have been passed on to both the Healthcare and Public School committees, and we eagerly await the opportunity to implement them in the coming years.
It has been an honor to serve you, and we are committed to continuously improving your experience at our conferences. Your engagement with MSHA is a vital part of our organization, and we hope that you will continue to stay connected and participate in our future events.
As we look to the future, we are delighted to announce that the next MSHA conference is scheduled to take place on April 18-20, 2024 at the VanDyk Convention Center, in Muskegon, MI. We cannot wait to welcome you back and provide you with an even more exceptional experience.
Once again, thank you for your participation, feedback, and unwavering support. We are truly grateful for each and every one of you.
Better Hearing and Speech Month
May is Better Hearing and Speech Month, a time to raise awareness about communication disorders and the importance of early detection and treatment. As speech therapists, you are trained to diagnose and treat communication disorders, and this month presents an opportunity to educate your community about these issues and the resources available for those who may be affected.
This year's theme is "Building Connections," highlighting the essential role that communication plays in connecting us with others. As speech therapists, you understand the importance of effective communication for social, emotional, and academic success.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reports that 1 in 12 children under the age of 18 has a speech or language disorder, and approximately 37.5 million American adults have some degree of hearing loss. These numbers underscore the need for increased awareness and access to resources for those who may be affected by communication disorders.
As members of the Michigan Speech Language and Hearing Association, you have the expertise to help those in your community who may be experiencing difficulty with communication. By sharing your knowledge and resources during this Better Hearing and Speech Month, you can help build connections and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to communicate effectively.
Dr. Michael Rolnick Obituary
Carolyn Doty, MA CCC SLP, Beaumont-Royal Oak Corewell Obituary- Michael I. Rolnick, Ph.D. CCC-SLP
(1942-2023)
Dr. Michael Rolnick died unexpectedly on April 17th 2023, he was eighty years old. He is survived by his wife Janice, son Jayson, daughter Jessica, and grand-daughters Joey and Kacey Rankin of Bloomfield Hills, Mi.
We owe so much to Dr. Rolnick’s professional leadership and innovation over his long career. Michael attended the University of Michigan and Wayne State University where he earned his Ph.D. He was the Director of the Speech-Language Pathology Department for fifty years.
He founded the Beaumont SLP Department in 1968 and grew the program into one of the largest hospital-based programs in the United States. He supported MSHA throughout his career and received MSHA Honors of the Association in 1992, which is the highest honor the association can bestow upon a member. He was instrumental in helping Michigan obtain SLP licensure. Michael was appointed a Trustee at the Beaumont Foundation where he developed and directed millions of dollars in donations to the Adult and Pediatric Programs. He had a number or research publications/presentations and developed the Beaumont Outcome Software System to collect clinical outcomes. Michael loved his diagnostic and treatment work in Aphasia, Laryngectomee and general Voice Pathology. He was a regular contributor to local news outlets on disorders of communications. He treated many Detroit area VIP’s and was honored by the hospital for his long and distinguished 50-year career.
Michael loved the outdoors and was an accomplished sailor, freshwater fisherman and an avid reader of American history and politics.
Beaumont planted a beautiful Japanese flowering tree in the courtyard adjacent to his office honoring his 40th year at the Hospital. He had the personal/professional joy to watch it bloom each spring in his honor. He will be sorely missed by many friends, family, professionals, physicians and patients.
If you would like to make a donation in Dr. Rolnick’s memory you can contribute to the Speech-Language Pathology Department at Beaumont/Corewell Health, Royal Oak.
Speech and Language Pathology-766604
c/o Corewell Health Foundation-Southeast Michigan
26901 Beaumont Blvd, Floor 5D
Southfield, MI 48033
Checks can be made to Beaumont Health Foundation
Please keep his family and friends in your prayers.
FISH-ON ! ( Yom HaZikaron - Day of Remembrance)
Prepared by:
Carolyn Doty, MA CCC SLP, Beaumont-Royal Oak Corewell
Richard Merson, Ph.D. (SLP ret.)
Licensure Updates
The Bureau of Professional Licensing (BPL) within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) would like to inform you that the new revised Michigan Public Health Code General Rules rules were effective as of March 22, 2023. Please see a list of the notable changes is below:
- Renewal date for licenses: 2 years for SLPs from the issue date. Previously, LARA used a date of September 30; however, they have changed this to the date your license was issued. It is recommended that you log into MiPLUS to verify the expiration date on your license to ensure you renew at the appropriate time.
- Implicit Bias training requirements were updated to allow for "asynchronous teleconference or webinar" as an acceptable modality for the training. Asynchronous communications include live streams and broadcasts that are delivered in a one-to-many setting. Some examples of asynchronous are on-demand videos, pre-recorded video lessons and training videos, recorded meeting or one-to-many live streaming.
This is not intended to provide a comprehensive listing of all changes or current requirements. Licensees should review the rules and statute for a complete understanding of all applicable requirements. Please click HERE to view the revised Michigan Public Health Code General Rules.
An updated frequently asked questions (FAQ) document regarding Implicit Bias training can be found HERE.
For more information, please visit our website at www.michigan.gov/bpl or send questions about the revised rules to BPLHELP@michigan.gov.
Parkinson Voice Project Awards a Grant to Andrews University School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Heather L. Ferguson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP The School of Communication Sciences and Disorders was recently awarded a grant valued at $280,000 from Parkinson Voice Project to become one of sixteen SPEAK OUT! Therapy and Research Centers across the United States. We are honored and excited to be able to work together with Parkinson Voice Project and our Michigan Parkinson’s community to increase awareness and access to free telehealth services throughout the state. Even more rewarding is that, as a teaching institution, we can equip graduate-level students with these invaluable skills to treat and provide service to Parkinson’s Patients. This is also important to our Parkinson’s communities with the upcoming changes to Speech-Language Pathologist telehealth services, which may impact access to therapy for patients in remote areas.
Andrews University Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic has worked alongside PVP for many years. However, since 2020, the clinic has provided free online teletherapy to the Michigan Parkinson’s community through a partnership with the Michigan Parkinson Foundation. "Our partnership with Andrews University for SPEAK OUT! training has been described by some of our clients as life-changing," says Kristin Rossi, CEO of the Michigan Parkinson Foundation. "During the pandemic, when so many people were isolated and quite literally losing their voices, the team at Andrews answered our call and worked tirelessly to offer programming virtually and have sustained this pivotal partnership for three years. Congratulations to the whole Andrews team on receiving the very well-deserved grant from the Parkinson's Voice Project; we are honored to work with you for the betterment of the Parkinson's community."
The grant will enable faculty and graduate students to conduct research and further collaborate with local and statewide Parkinson’s groups and programs. “The AU SCSD faculty are thrilled about receiving this grant. It will allow us to continue to provide state-of-the-art service to our community. The possibilities are endless. Students and potential students are excited about the opportunity to conduct research while providing such an invaluable service.” stated Dr. Heather Ferguson, chair of the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders and Graduate Program Director. “Our clients are so excited to have the opportunity to participate further in research. It [the grant] is inspiring graduate and undergraduate students to participate in research.” stated Marileda Tomé, research faculty for the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders.” If you would like to learn more about the program, please get in touch with Jenica Joseph, assistant professor and clinical lead for the Andrews University SPEAK OUT! program. Email: parkinsons@andrews.edu Phone: 269-471-3603
Written by: Heather Ferguson, PhD., CCC-SLP, and Jenica Joseph, MS., CCC-SLP
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