Undergraduate degree:

Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration, Grand Canyon University
Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Arizona State University

Hometown:

Peoria, AZ

What inspired you to pursue a healthcare career?

My mother, who is a nurse, inspired me to pursue a healthcare career. I wanted a job where I could go to work every day and make a difference in the lives of others.

How did your background and history factor into your career choice?

Growing up I knew I always wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. I quickly learned in my undergraduate studies that nursing was not for me. What drove me to the field of speech-language pathology was seeing a close family friend recover from a traumatic brain injury. I remember visiting him throughout his journey and seeing the amazing progress he made after sustaining serious injuries to his brain. His rehabilitation team – which included doctors, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists – helped him relearn to walk, talk, and eat. He made wonderful progress, and seeing that progress inspired me to pursue a field in speech-language pathology. Since then, I haven't looked back and I'm loving every minute of my journey.

Why did you decide to attend Midwestern University?

I decided to attend Midwestern because it is an amazing healthcare learning institution, and it has many well-established connections with medical facilities in the Valley such as The Mayo Clinic. My dream is to become a speech-language pathologist in the inpatient rehabilitation setting, and I knew Midwestern and the College of Health Sciences would provide me with the experience required to excel in that field.

I also really enjoyed the idea of having an on-campus clinic where I can gain experience and the mentoring to help me grow as a clinician with skilled and helpful clinical faculty before heading out to advanced placements in the community.

What about a Midwestern University education do you want to carry forward in your career?

Midwestern’s Speech-Language Pathology Program faculty have done a phenomenal job of preparing us to be successful clinicians. I feel confident in my abilities to go out into the field and begin my career as a new clinician. The University’s faculty are up to date in current research and intervention methods and pride themselves on staying in the know. I intend to surround myself with clinicians and other professionals who know more than I do so I can continue to grow as a clinician. The learning is not over once I cross that stage in June 2023. Midwestern encourages us to be lifelong learners to help us become strong, successful, and caring clinicians.