Introducing the
MedSLP Ed Certification Program
The Next Cohort Begins August 2023
Are you looking for intensive full-day courses dedicated to medical SLP topics
(we’re talking 8-14 hour courses with case studies)?
How do you feel about weekly support calls with a small group of med SLPs and mentors with a wide range of experience and 1:1 access to a mentor?
What if you could increase your knowledge, confidence, and visibility as a medical SLP in 8-12 months?
Oof…this gives me goosebumps just thinking about it!
And now, we no longer have to just think about it.
We can make it happen.
With a team of experienced clinicians, educators, researchers, and mentors, we are beyond excited to open applications for the next cohort of the MedSLP Ed Certification program!
is preparing to run the next round of its interactive eight-month certification program that provides you with:
A minimum of 16 required intensive on-demand medical SLP courses (8+hours each) from researchers and clinicians across multiple areas of medical speech-language pathology.
Direct 1:1 mentorship with an experienced clinician via Zoom and Telegram.
56+ hours live interactive Q&As and case study calls with mentors that will be recorded.
A certification to indicate completion of this program with a passing score on the comprehensive exam.
New letters after your name upon earning the certification: MSLP-C (e.g. Jane Doe, M.S. CCC-SLP, MSLP-C)*
Price: $8,000
(Payment plans and financing available; keep reading to see what this gets you)
“I’ve been practicing for nearly 20 years, and so much has evolved in our scope of practice. I enrolled in the MedSLP Ed Certification Program because I really wanted to get up-to-speed on the evidence-based practice. The courses and the amount of support I’ve received throughout this program have exceeded my expectations! I have told so many people how wonderful this experience has been and would 100% recommend it.”
-Maureen, participant of the MedSLP Ed Certification Program
Medical speech-language pathology is undeniably rewarding.
It’s also a career path that changes rapidly with new research, evolving scope of practice, and a vast repertoire of medical knowledge that isn’t always possible to learn in college.
This is partially why certification programs exist for things like swallowing and swallowing disorders, brain injury, dementia, and other specialized areas.
All of those programs are valuable.
And we want to contribute to the support and growth of medical SLPs in a unique way.
With the exception of a few universities that offer a medical track during their 2-3 year graduate program, no medically intensive 8-12 month cohort-model program exists to provide a solid framework for medical SLPs… (particularly for practicing clinicians)…
Until now.
What can a MedSLP Ed Certification get me?
Eight months of direct mentorship with an experienced SLP in our field
Lifetime support from medical SLPs across the nation with a wide breadth of experience
128+ hours of In-depth education across critical components of medical speech-language pathology
A certification to indicate completion of this program with a passing score on the comprehensive exam.
MSLP-C added to your credentials to showcase your MedSLP Ed Certification
Recognition as a MedSLP Ed certified clinician on our national database
Assistance with climbing the clinical ladder if your employer requires a certification as part of their process
Bonus: Enough ASHA CEUs to meet your current certification maintenance hour requirements (and an ASHA ACE award if you’re into those!)
“I wanted to switch to the medical part of this profession, but I didn’t have the tools to do that. I didn’t know where to start…When I saw a post about the MedSLP Ed Certification, I thought, Okay, this is my chance to make a change. This is my chance to be well-prepared with evidence-based information. I don’t regret a single second of my decision to get this certification!
The courses, mentorship, and follow-up with my cohort went above and beyond anything I could have expected. Because of this program, I was able to get a consistent job shadowing opportunity in a hospital that’s difficult to get in and was given a full-time job opportunity at my university.”
-Edna, participant of the MedSLP Ed Certification Program
Who is the Accrediting Body?
MedSLP Ed is pursuing accreditation with the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). This accrediting body credentials many other medical certifications and maintains exceptionally high standards.
If you'd like to read more about the NCCA and MedSLP Ed's accreditation process, check out our MedSLP Ed Certification FAQ page.
About the Curriculum:
Sample of Curriculum and Presenters are Below:
(and YES you can take them ALL if you’re an overachiever! Or just that dang excited about our field)
Diagnostics
Stop the PO Trial Madness: Evidence-based Clinical Swallow Evaluations – Required
The VFSS: Foundations, Clinical Concepts, and Case Studies
Laryngeal Exam/Stroboscopy Interpretation
Foundational A&P
Medical SLP Roles: From Diagnostic Characteristics to Treatment Approaches - Required
Body Systems for the SLP – Required
Exercise Physiology for the SLP – Required
Dysphagia managemenT
Show Me the Numbers: Using Clinical Data to Quantify Swallowing
Assessment/Management Dysphagia Risk Factors (Available Oct 1, 2022)
Shining a Light on Dysphagia Management: Exercise, Sensors, and Adherence
Neuroanatomy
Neurology for the SLP: From Tracts to Treatment
Cranial Nerves for SLP
Neuroplasticity for the SLP
Aerodigestive
Trach, Vent, & Respiratory Compromise for the SLP
The Airway: The View from the SLP Perspective
Esophageal Dysphagia
Neuro Therapy
Conversation based treatment for Aphasia
Acquired Brain Injury
Motor Speech Disorders for the Medical SLP
Special Considerations
Speech Language Pathology in the Intensive Care Unit
Cardiac Conditions
Head and Neck Cancer
Burn
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Dementia
Pediatrics
Prenatal Development
Pediatric Systemic Development
Normal Bottle Feeding Physiology
…And Many More to Come!
Have you already purchased a course (or several) from the MedSLP Ed library?
No worries! What you've already paid will be deducted from the price of this certification program.
BONUS FOR THIS NEXT COHORT:
As a founding member of Med SLP Education, you are able to take any NEW course added to the library – even after the completion of your program! (For up to 5 years)
“These courses are high quality, specialized, and delivered in a way that’s easily understood by clinicians. And if you don’t understand, you have people ready to help guide you through.
The connection with SLPs all over the country, being able to talk through patient cases, hospital issues, healthcare issues…being able to talk through ALL of these things that affect us as healthcare professionals has been probably my favorite thing about this program. It’s a very supportive – I have to emphasize very supportive and collaborative relationship between the participants in the program and the mentors.”
-Heather, participant of the MedSLP Ed Certification Program
Grow your foundational and advanced med SLP knowledge
Access support from mentors and a cohort
Complete full-day intensive courses dedicated to med SLP settings and the patient populations you serve
Meet Our Mentors:
Jessica Gregor
MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S
Over the past decade, Jessica has worked in a variety of medical settings (trauma, intensive care, acute care, acute rehab, long-term care, outpatient) at both VA and private sector health systems. She holds her Board Certification in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (BCS-S) through the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (ABSSD) since 2016 and served on the ABSSD Mentorship Committee from 2018-2020. She loves investigating all things dysphagia, especially in the fluoroscopy suite! Her strong passion for the field of swallowing diagnostics and intervention has made some waves in multidisciplinary collaboration as well as patient care wherever she has worked, and she’s excited to share that with MedSLP Ed mentees!
What’s Jessica’s mentorship style?
“As we know, communication is a two-way street. First, it’s important to establish rapport from the get-go so that the mentee feels comfortable opening up about their needs. Second, active listening is essential from my end so that I can ask the right questions to seek additional information. And third, rendering advice in a manner that reflects more than one perspective given my personal experience in the field working in various settings and with numerous patient populations. It’s exciting to tackle issues that pertain to both patient care and the work environment/culture.
JESSICA'S EXPERIENCE AS A MENTOR FOR THE MEDSLP ED CERTIFICATION PROGRAM:
“My overall experience as a mentor for this program can be described as fantastically fun and satisfying! I witnessed a tremendous number of wins/growth moments in my cohort. One went from SLP employee to rehab director then regionally promoted and participating in national meetings! One led her fellow SLP colleagues in transforming their acute care skills and standardizing documentation! One learned how to navigate work politics and use better communication skills to get her management to move her from just outpatient dysphagia treatment into getting proper training for dysphagia diagnostics! One is now on track to become board certified in swallowing and swallowing disorders and is working on non-work related advocacy at the national level! The list goes on and on!”
George Barnes
MS, CCC-SLP
George is a critical care specialist with a concentration on patients with tracheostomies, mechanical ventilation, aspiration pneumonia management, and clinical decision making with high-risk cases. He’s also extremely passionate about mentoring other medical SLPs on his own time and is eager to work with MedSLP Ed! Articles he has published include Tracheostomy and Mechanical Ventilation Management for the SLP; Improving Communication with the IDT, and Aspiration Pneumonia Management.
What’s George's mentorship style?
“I choose to ask questions and seek information before I blindly provide advice. I think it's important to understand the full picture and help mentees think through problems before jumping to conclusions. Further, I tend to see problems from multiple angles which I credit to my variety of experiences in multiple medical settings. This allows me to provide several considerations for one particular problem and ultimately help the mentee obtain a comprehensive view of the problem before moving forward with a solution.”
GEORGE'S EXPERIENCE AS A MENTOR FOR THE MEDSLP ED CERTIFICATION PROGRAM:
“This has been an incredible experience – I would say maybe one of the best experiences of my career. It has been really special in that we get a tremendous amount of time with one another. I don’t know if this type of opportunity exists anywhere else. The way the program is run really facilitates that connection and it helps both the mentors and mentees grow together. [I’ve seen members of my cohort] earn new jobs, start initiatives and programs, and share a lot of really great wins.”
Isabel Lawton
MS, CCC-SLP
Isabel has been a medical SLP since 2013 with experience across the lifespan. She has work experience in inpatient rehab, skilled nursing, home health, mobile therapy, acute care, NICU, and in the schools! Throughout her extensive practice, she’s found particular passion in brain injury, trauma, medical pediatrics, dysphagia, trach/vent, AAC, professional issues, and yes…mentorship!
What’s Isabel's mentorship style?
“My mentorship style is mentee driven. By implementing adult learning principles, emotional intelligence, and active listening, I strive to ascertain what the needs of the mentee are and from there work towards solutions. Early on, I ensure mentees feel comfortable and safe communicating their needs to me. Together we will examine the topics/needs of the mentee and identify the best solutions possible. Open communication and mutual respect are key to successful mentorship relationships. My mentees often teach me as much as I teach them. “
ISABEL'S EXPERIENCE AS A MENTOR FOR THE MEDSLP ED CERTIFICATION PROGRAM:
Being a mentor for the MedSLPEd certification program was more fulfilling than I expected…Early on, I shared with my cohort that I was there for them for anything they needed. We used the telegram app to post questions about patient scenarios and communicated often that way. We were able to foster a culture of collaboration that allowed them to speak up without fear of being ‘wrong.’ Lastly, I often had one-on-one calls with them for highly specific or time-sensitive situations.
[There were] so many wins with this cohort! One of my cohort members presented at ASHA. Another one was able to successfully recruit specialty providers for pro-bono care for some of her medically complex caseload. I may be biased, but I feel that everyone in the cohort developed stronger self-advocacy skills in their respective facilities….We also had another cohort member successfully negotiate a salary increase upon completion of this program due to the scarcity of MedSLPs available in their community.“
Lori Burkhead Morgan
Ph.D. CCC-SLP
Lori has extensive clinical experience with ICU, acute care, inpatient/outpatient rehab, head and neck cancer, and trach/vent. She has published articles and presented on exercise science, dysphagia, and speaking valves.
What’s Lori's mentorship style?
“I like to be encouraging and create a relationship in which people feel comfortable asking any question without feeling judged for not knowing something. I think that this type of platform allows for the most growth in that those asking by encouraging others to be inquisitive in all areas where they seek more knowledge. I also like to help others develop independent problem-solving by asking questions of them and then helping “coach” them to reasonable solutions (there is frequently more than one solution). I do not think that ‘spoon feeding’ is effective mentorship. I like to see my role as a mentor as a support or a touchstone and to point someone toward seeking the answers with guidance rather than just stating, ‘here’s the answer, here’s what you should do.’ There are times for that, but more often, I like to help foster problem-solving rather than just handing out cook-book advice.”
LORI'S EXPERIENCE AS A MENTOR FOR THE MEDSLP ED CERTIFICATION PROGRAM:
“This has been a great experience. It is one in which I feel I was able to learn and grow as well as those I mentor. For me, this came from inquisitive interactions and real discussions rather than me simply “lecturing.” Participants also asked questions that caused me to stretch and dig deeper to help them answer questions regarding patient care and/or make sense of the published research.
…Although my role was to be the “expert,” I encouraged all the participants to engage and offer thoughts/advice as they are all intelligent, experienced professionals. This really grew and provided for a more rich interaction and experience, in my opinion.”
About the mentorship
You asked for 1:1 direct mentorship and we listened!
Our mentors were hand selected due to their positive past experiences of mentoring both in their workplace and via distance learning.
You will be assigned to a group of 10 participants with 1 mentor to assist the group based on your (desired) clinical setting.
You get access to your mentor and group through a texting app.
You get two 1:1 phone calls with your mentor.
Each group will meet with their mentor twice per month to answer questions or break down case studies. (these calls WILL be recorded!)
Each mentor will do a live (and recorded) Q&A for the entire group of 50 students each month.
Theresa Richard will host an additional support call each month to discuss any aspects of the program or career growth.
IN TOTAL…
You will have 6 group mentor calls and 1 program support call each month, texting access to your mentor and group, plus two 1:1 calls with your mentor.
Create Your Own Course Structure
Many professionals already feel overworked exhausted and can't possibly imagine adding more “school” to their workload.
That’s why we’ve created an eight-month structure while granting participants an entire year to complete all requirements.
A minimum of sixteen courses is the requirement for you to achieve the certification, but you are able to take as many courses in the MedSLP Ed library as you would like and have five years to access them all!
We built the required curriculum in a way that allows participants to create their own structure…
Block 1 day/week to spend 5-6 hours on coursework…
or block 2 hours off 3x/week…
or get up an hour earlier every day…
or spend 1 hour in the evening after the kids go to bed and before you do…
Why is there an application?
There is an application because we want to make sure that this program is actually the right fit for you based on your goals and needs! This isn’t an exclusive program for SLPs with the highest GPAs or standardized test scores- it’s genuinely for those who are seeking what we’re offering.
Why MedSLP Ed?
You'll get 1:1 mentorship from an accomplished clinician in our field.
Each course is a minimum of eight hours.
You can complete these courses on your own schedule.
You can choose courses most relevant to you (or most interesting to you).
Real case studies will be discussed- including your own!
Access cohort support with a group of SLPs who work (or want to work) in the same clinical setting as you.
AND you’ll earn the letters MSLP after your name after passing the comprehensive exam to showcase your completion of this intensive 8-month medical SLP program.
Want to learn more about the MSLP designation? Click here to read our MedSLP Ed Certification FAQ page!
We have dedicated over two years to…
Establish course topics
Create the curriculum
Contract with the right presenters (based on med SLP feedback)
Connect with the right mentors who are practicing clinicians
Find the researchers
Collaborate with experienced clinicians
All while sticking to our rigorous standards.
We ensure that every course is in-depth, goes far beyond the textbook rhetoric, and includes case-based learning.
While you can find excellent 1-2 hour webinars across the internet, the MedSLP Ed certification program is made up of full-day intensive courses that blend together the research, real case studies, patient perspectives, and interprofessional considerations.
We don’t stop at research, and clinical experience isn’t our only focus.
Our full-day courses require the perfect marriage of both.
What the MedSLP Ed Certification is NOT:
Just one course.
Just a way to earn ASHA CEUs.
A replacement of a graduate program.
A requirement to become a medical SLP.
A designation that will devalue your clinical certification or your degree.
We wanted to offer more than a
handful of courses over a handful of days.
Instead, we want to provide a space for clinicians to dive deeper into medically intensive SLP courses, ask questions, learn from case studies, access mentors, and build connections with a cohort of other med SLPs across the nation.
Who this is for:
Med SLPs who are just getting started
Veteran Med SLPs who have been practicing for years (and decades)
SLPs transitioning from non-medical to medical
Who this is not for:
Non-SLPs
Undergrad and grad students
SLPs who do not (and don’t plan to) work in a medical setting or with medical diagnoses.
The MedSLP Ed Certification program does not replace a graduate program. It builds upon the foundational knowledge grad school provides.
This is an in-depth training and mentorship program that allows you to gain specialized knowledge and support across the scope of medical speech-language pathology.
Imagine spending about 6 hours per week for the next 8 months to advance your clinical knowledge.
This is meant to be taken on and manageable routine each week YOUR time…
If you want to binge-watch two courses in a row, you can!
If you want to binge-watch all of the past month’s group Q&A at once, you can!
Or if you want to take it in a systematic and manageable curriculum routine each week, you can do that too!
MedSLP Ed is dedicated to supporting the ongoing growth of your medically-based clinical skills.
Our program is led by mentors who:
Are also directly working with patients
Keep up with the research and apply it to their practice
Have earned the respect of other medical professionals
Lead from behind
Because it fosters growth far beyond the literature.
Because it’s based on real experience and researched methods.
Because it goes beyond the SLP-only bubble and incorporates patient and inter-professional considerations (like what to do when a patient chooses not to follow your recommendations, or how to collaborate with respiratory therapists)
Your assigned 1:1 mentor is there to support your education, help you apply the education to clinical practice, and offer guidance for your toughest cases.
And above all, there is no sense of hierarchy, no shame in questions, and zero tolerance for discrimination of any form.
What Med SLPs who have attended
prior MedSLP Ed courses are saying:
“The presenter was AMAZING, engaging, and encouraging of ideas and participation. I loved all the case study examples and the way she challenged us to look at VFSS.”
“This was one of the most USEFUL courses I have ever taken and I have been practicing for TWENTY years. Thank you and well done!”
“This course contained everything I wish we were taught in grad school. I am amazed by how little I knew about swallowing before this course, but also inspired to continue progressing my knowledge base on this complex task. Thank you immensely for such an interesting, engaging, and important course!”
“I loved Jessica's presentation style and how knowledgeable she was with the content. She seemed genuinely interested in the information she was sharing which always helps generate interest in the attendees!”
“Well organized, informative, VERY thorough, addressed almost everything you could run into regarding VFSS. Excellent use of references/evidence. The speaker was well-informed…I can't imagine how much work this was for her to put together.”
“I am a practicing acute care SLP, primarily working in ICUs. MedSLPED has been a fantastic resource for my practice! I *thought* I knew neuroanatomy, but Anna Swindle’s “Neurology for the Speech-Language Pathologist: From Tracts to Treatment” course gave me a deep and true understanding of how to contextualize that information into my clinical practice. It really took me from “I think I know that. I could recall it if questioned,” to “Oh my gosh, I can actually understand it, manipulate it, identify it, and problem solve now.” Anatomy/physiology questions that had bothered me for years suddenly clicked into place.”
A recap of what the
MedSLP Education certification will give you:
128+ hours of foundational and advanced medical SLP courses and LIVE Q&As with practicing clinicians
1:1 mentorship with an experienced practicing clinician in our field
A spot on our national database of Med SLP Ed Certified SLPs
New letters after your name as a certified MedSLP Ed SLP
Have questions?
Check out our frequently asked questions page for detailed answers to the most commonly asked questions about the MedSLP Ed Certification. If you have additional questions, you can also email us at [email protected] for answers!