What do you do?

Currently I have a variety of projects and teams I have the privilege of being part of. I am one of the teaching faculty for the LSVT LOUD Training and Certification course and webinars. I lead teleLOUD for LIFE courses, register courses and submit reports to ASHA for their Continuing Education Registry, maintain our IRB relationships, analyze research data (currently I am working on swallowing analysis), and I am one of the faculty for our relationship with Google’s Project Euphonia where I get to mentor research participants as they provide data to improve automatic speech recognition systems comprehension of disordered voices and speech.

How long have you been with LSVT Global?

I have been lucky enough to be part of the LSVT Global team since 2003, when I was a graduate student research assistant working at the Denver NCVS lab.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I must start by saying I have cherished being able to take evidenced based practice in the research I have played a (small) role in and seeing it in action as a clinician administering LSVT LOUD treatment and maintenance groups! It’s an extraordinary position to be executing clinical research while immediately applying those findings in a clinical setting. I count myself quite fortunate to be a member of the visionary and ever-advancing nature of this team.

To chose my favorite part of my job, I have to say it is equal parts leading the LOUD for LIFE groups (the attendees are so inspiring with their hard work, sense of community, and encouragement of one another) and teaching the LSVT LOUD Training and Certification course. Teaching the certification course is so invigorating! At the end of the two-days I am moved by all the learning that occurs during the course, the empowerment I observe in the attendees’ faces and in their words of feedback, and the patient experience leaves everyone with the warm fuzzies. It’s just priceless and I ride that high for days after a course.

Tell us a little about yourself:

I live in Denver, CO and love exploring the Mile High City and surrounding mountains with my family. My husband and I have two very active boys who keep us busy and keep us laughing! I love to jog around the parks and neighborhoods of Denver as my meditation and “me” time. It refuels me!

Favorite quote, food, or pastime:

“Be not merely good, but good for something”. This was a phrase imparted to me by an LSVT LOUD client I treated years ago. It really stuck with me and was said at the exact right time in my life that I needed to hear it. I put it up on a Post-It in my office and it stayed there as a daily reminder that being a good person is important, but doing good for someone or the world at large is where true meaning is found.