Q: Tell us a little about how you came to the decision to start the Aphasia Center?

"The Aphasia Center of California began with several experiences melding together. The first was a visit I made to the Aphasia Centre program in Toronto, Canada in 1989. It was there that I saw first hand the potential benefits for those affected by aphasia.

The efficacy of group treatment had not yet been demonstrated by good clinical research, so before starting a similar program, I wanted to investigate group treatment within a research protocol. I received funding for such an investigation in 1994 and results from our research showed significant benefit to stroke survivors with aphasia--even those who had experienced their stroke years before. During this same period, insurance coverage for speech-language treatment was being radically cut back so it was a good time to start developing a novel approach to meeting the communication needs of people with aphasia.

When our research funding ended in 1996, we did not want to see the program end, so I quit my job and volunteered my time along with my two speech-language pathology colleagues, Ellen Bernstein-Ellis and Sue Ewing. Thus, the Aphasia Center of California was born!"

Q: What led you to pursue a career in speech and language pathology and aphasia in particular?

"I discovered the field of speech-language pathology while I was an undergraduate student at the University of California, Santa Barbara…twenty-five years ago! I had always been fascinated by how the brain worked, loved languages and had an interest in psychology. So when I found that speech-language pathology combined these interests into a single field I was convinced that I had found the right career. After finishing my Master's degree at the University of Minnesota, I worked for several years as a clinical speech-language pathologist in Eugene, Oregon and then San Diego. I found that I still had questions about the treatment I was doing and wanted to delve deeper into what was known about the brain. I returned to UC Santa Barbara in the Speech & Hearing Sciences doctoral program in 1984 and concentrated on learning more about neurologic communication disorders. My dissertation focused on the assessment and treatment of aphasia and I have worked with those affected by aphasia ever since. "

Q: Why is the ACC a unique place to work?

The ACC is unique because we are creating a community where people affected by aphasia can reach their own potential for living the rest of their lives. Because we are working outside of the traditional healthcare system, we have the capability to meet people's needs in a more holistic way--without worrying about the correct billing code or whether an insurance company administrator is going to authorize or deny a claim. One of the biggest differences at the Aphasia Center is that we ask participants what their own goals are rather than "prescribing" a standard program or type of treatment.

Q: How has working as the Center's President/CEO affected you personally over the years?

"I continue to learn that life is full of unknowns. None of the participants at the ACC had planned their stroke. Many of the ACC participants are only in their 40s and 50s with no known risk factors for stroke in their medical history. They were living their lives, and then in one moment, much like a lightning strike, everything changed. Their stories have taught me that we must all prioritize our lives so that we are doing the things that we most want to do…and not to put off the most important things until retirement or some time in the future. "

 

Q: Tell us a little about yourself, both personally and professionally.

"I think that many of my professional colleagues feel that I am wasting my Ph.D. by not teaching in an academic setting, but the rewards I receive at the ACC are the best of all worlds. I am able to continue the clinical work that I have always enjoyed and can serve as a mentor for future clinicians by supervising interns. I also present information about the ACC's research and philosophy at many professional meetings. After these presentations, I often receive notes or e-mails that others have been inspired to start aphasia programs in their own communities--something that really pleases me because it means that the ACC is helping people affected by aphasia in many places. Because I am often extremely busy during the week, I make an attempt to have at least one day each weekend to unwind. Having grown up in Southern California, I love the ocean and enjoy taking walks on the beach. Other favorite activities include traveling, reading, eating good food, photography, and spending time enjoying nature. "