Doctoral Student
What year did you start the program? 2023
What are your prior degrees and with what institutions?
BS, Communication Disorders, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
MS, Speech-Language Pathology, MGH Institute of Health Professions
What is your current research setting?
Mentor: Joanna A. Christodoulou, EdD
Lab: The Brain, Education, & Mind (BEAM) Lab
What is your current research focused on?
The research conducted at the BEAM Lab aims to identify factors contributing to reading challenges and effective literacy intervention that enhance student outcomes in literacy achievement. The focus of my research will be investigating the interrelationship of orthography, phonology, morphology, and etymology and developing innovative multicomponent instructional methods for teaching reading, spelling, and vocabulary to bolster the development of foundational language and literacy skills and reading outcomes for all learners.
What do you think is special about the PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences program here at the MGH Institute?
After completing my master’s degree at the IHP, I knew I would receive the highest caliber education and preparation for a career in research at the Institute. I was also thrilled about the opportunity to work with Dr. Joanna Christodoulou and her team at the BEAM Lab, who are doing incredible work in helping the field of literacy better understand factors that contribute to reading challenges and what educators and advocates can do to improve learning outcomes for students.
Why did you choose to come to this program rather than a doctoral research program in your specific profession?
The faculty and affiliates of the MGH IHP are experts and thought leaders in their respective fields and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with many of them. What else stood out to me was the fact that the PhD program is interdisciplinary, including clinicians from different medical disciplines. The interdisciplinary nature of the program affords us the opportunity to gain additional experience working collaboratively with other professionals to learn from each other and problem-solve together. This team approach to health care is critical for improving patient outcomes.
What are your goals for the future after you graduate?
After graduation, I hope to research effective and equitable literacy instruction approaches within community and school settings and to assist educators with implementing more effective literacy practices in the classroom.