First- and second-year students in the Communications Sciences and Disorders (CSD) Master’s Program learned about the clinical fellowship experience of four MGH Institute alumni during a recent event to support their professional development and understanding of the Speech-Language Pathology field. 

The students gathered in Shouse 315 while panelists Ellen Barber MS-SLP’ 22, Rinki Varindani Desai SLPD ’25, Deirdre McGrath MS-SLP ’22 and Zach Smith MS- SLP’ 15 joined on Zoom. The panelists shared how they secured their clinical fellowships, their professional development in their positions, and the role of networking gave the students insights into the clinical fellowship search process and enabled them to reflect on which potential career paths they may want to choose. 

“It was interesting to hear from alumni about negotiating contracts, figuring out how to look for clinicla fellowships, and jobs after clinical fellowships,” said Haylie Santos, a second-year MS-SLP student. “It is also really eye-opening and exciting to know that we have those connections thanks to the IHP.” 

The event was one of the structured activities that is part of the revamped advising approach in the CSD program, Navigate, Connect, Thrive, which is organized by Associate Professor Sofia Vallila Rohter. It followed a luncheon in February that focused on connection. 

“This was our first Thrive event, which was dedicated to really helping students discover their passions, understand the field, and reach their full potential, whatever that looks like,” explained Vallila Rohter. “Hearing from alumni who went through the same thing, being able to ask questions, getting some professional development support and networking, is hopefully going to give them insights into what the job search will look like.”