As a part of the Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) “Thrive” initiative, first-year speech language pathology students had the opportunity on Wednesday afternoon to hear from two MGH Institute alumni about clinical placements and how to navigate the process. 

Thrive events aim to help students access resources, support, and professional development, among other things. 

Jillian Davis, MS-SLP’ 19, and Snow Song, MS-SLP ’24 joined Assistant Professor Sofia Vallila Rohter via Zoom to help take the guessing out of the placement process and provide their perspectives.Davis shared her experience in adult rehab and long-term care, emphasizing the importance of setting expectations with mentors and being honest about one's knowledge. Song highlighted the value of early intervention skills in adult settings. Both stressed the importance of proactive learning, maintaining personal notes, and developing organizational skills. 

First-year MS-SLP student, Jasmine Liu, was one of a few students who eagerly engaged in the opportunity to ask the alumni questions. 

"Events with alumni are incredibly impactful because they offer fresh perspectives and real-world insight that can help us feel more confident and secure in our own journeys," said Liu.

The two alums discussed the significance of soft skills, such as communication and professionalism, when building effective relationships with supervisors and ensuring positive feedback and recommendations. 

"My biggest takeaway from the event was the importance of being confident in not knowing," explains Liu. "As students, it can be more productive to communicate openly with our supervisors about knowledge gaps and be proactive about learning, rather than pretending we know. That mindset not only fosters growth but also builds trust and collaboration."