PhD '21 Alumni

What year did you start the program? 2016

What are your prior degrees and with which institutions?
BA, Speech and Language Sciences & Child and Youth Studies, Brock University, Ontario, Canada
MA, Communicative Disorders and Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY

What is your current research setting(s), mentor’s name and name of lab?
Mentor: 
Jordan Green, PhD, CCC-SLP, Director
Lab: Speech and Feeding Disorders Lab, MGH Institute of Health Professions

What is your current research focused on?
My research interests are in motor control of speech and swallowing in adults with neurologic diseases. My doctoral work to date has examined the measurement of intelligibility deficits in persons with ALS and factors contributing to reduced speech intelligibility in this population. My upcoming work will focus neuroplastic changes in sensorimotor cortex as a result of oromotor functions.

What publications or external presentations have you produced that are based on the research you have done while in the program?

Green JR, Connaghan K, Yunusova Y, Stipancic K, Gutz S '20 & Berry J: "Vocal Changes Across Disease Progression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)." Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.

Rong P, Stipancic K & Green JR: "Predicting Disease-Related Changes in Jaw Contribution to Tongue Movement in ALS Based on a Diadochokinetic Task." 2018 Motor Speech Conference, Savanah, GA.

Stipancic K, Yunusova Y & Green JR: "Minimally Detectable Change and Minimal Clinically Important Difference of Speech Intelligibility and Speaking Rate for Individuals With ALS." 2018 Motor Speech Conference, Savanah, GA.

Pattee GL, Plowman EK, Brooks BR, Berry JD, Atassi N, Chapin JL, Garand K, Yunusova Y, Mcilduff CE, Young E, Costello JM, Macklin EA, Locatelli ER, Silani V, Heitzman D, Wymer J, Goutman SA, Gelinas DF, Smith R, Perry B, Nalipinski P, Stipancic K, O'Brien M, Sullivan SL & Green JR: "Best Practices Protocol for the Evaluation of Bulbar Dysfunction: Summary Recommendations from the Neals Bulbar Subcommittee Symposium." Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration.

What do you think is special about the PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences program here at the MGH Institute?
The clinical focus is a unique aspect of the doctoral program in Rehabilitation Sciences here at IHP. It is such an advantage that all the students have clinical backgrounds and can bring the experiences and challenges from our clinical training/work to our classes and research. I think our work as clinicians has brought all of us to a greater awareness of the need for passionate researchers in our respective fields.

Why did you choose to come to this program rather than a doctoral research program in your specific profession?
I choose to come to this program rather than a doctoral research program in my specific profession, first, to work with my mentor Dr. Green. Additionally, I found the interdisciplinary aspect of the program to be unique and extremely valuable. The affiliations that the institute and its faculty have to other facilities and professionals are impressive and were certainly a draw to move to the Boston area.

What are your goals for the future after you graduate?
After I graduate, I hope to find a faculty position at a university. I look forward to beginning a research career and training future SLPs and researchers, just like so many amazing mentors who have been, and continue to be, invested in training me. I would love to maintain some level of connection to the clinical world as well and therefore, securing a position at an institution with an academically affiliated hospital would be ideal.