2024 Speech-Language Pathology Practice Issues Forum Diversity and Inclusion: Cultivating Awareness and Sensitivities in Clinical Practice

Tuesday, May 21, 2024, 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM PST, Cedars-Sinai Advanced Health Science Pavilion-PEC 6&7, Los Angeles, CA

Description: This educational activity emphasized current trends, professional practice and clinical issues in the field of Speech-Language pathology. Speakers discussed important concepts in the practice of medical Speech-Language pathology within the context of diversity and inclusion, as well as applicability of these principles within a variety of settings. Participants gained insight into the importance of culturally responsive care, and recognized biases and barriers that may impact client outcomes. Participants were encouraged to share approaches and information relating to identified cases.

Program Format and Speakers: Lectures and discussion

Educational Objectives

• Demonstrate awareness, understanding, and actionable strategies among speech therapists to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within their practice.
• Discuss cultural influences on diet and eating patterns and how to provide culturally sensitive recommendations for managing swallowing difficulties in diverse populations.
• Describe gender affirming practices in speech-language pathology to singing pedagogy in order to alter the gender percept of an individual's singing voice.
• Improve awareness of cultural differences in approaching patients with cognitive difficulties.

 

Statement of Need: This educational program will update the community of Speech-Language pathologists on various factors to consider in professional and clinical practice. Greater knowledge and understanding these issues will enhance the participant’s ability to provide culturally responsive care and optimize case management decisions.

Policy on Disclosure: In accordance with the policy of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, faculty is asked to disclose any affiliation of financial interest that may affect the content of their presentation. Disclosures are listed in the course materials so participants in the activity may formulate their own judgments regarding the presentations. There are no relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose for these faculty.

Fee: $30.00.

There are currently no available discounts for this activity. This fee includes boxed meals.

To register: https://cedars.cloud-cme.com/CSSLP

Registration and fees must be received by May 17th to be eligible for a refund. Please use Cloud CME link to register. Registration will close May 20th.

Partial credit will not be offered. Requirements for credit include full attendance at the workshop, completion of evaluations and participation in discussion. For questions regarding credit, special needs and accommodations, and other requests, please contact: [email protected] or call (310)423-5243.

For information on grievances related to this workshop, please include the name and date of this workshop and submit the complaint to the contact provided above.

 

Agenda:
4:30-5:00 Registration/Networking

5:00-5:05 Opening Remarks and Introduction

5:05-5:40 Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Speech Therapy Practice
Denise Gallagher Manager of Diversity and Inclusion Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing Team, Cedars Sinai

5:40-6:25 Cultural Diversity and Swallowing Difficulties
Erika Der Sarkissian, MS, RD, CNSC Madison Stern, RD Clinical Dietitians, Patient and Family Support Program, Cedars Sinai

6:25-7:05 Flexible Fach: Applying Gender Affirming Voice and Communication Therapy to the Singing Voice
Stevie J. Hirner California State University, Long Beach Long Beach Youth Chorus

7:05-7:15 CSHA Updates
Dana Kimbar, District Representative

7:15-7:45 Navigating Cognitive Care Delivery: Pitfalls and Insights
Sarah Kremen, MD

7:55-8:00 Q&A Discussion/Course Evaluation and Wrap-up

1. Discuss current COVID-19 epidemiologic trends, therapeutic options, COVID vaccine considerations, and risk factors for COVID-19 transmission among healthcare workers.
2. Discuss current trends relevant to the practice of occupational therapy.
3. Understand how the Person, Environment, Occupation, and Performance theoretical model is applicable for use by OT practitioners needs and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. Provide examples of best practice to meet to meet the needs of the COVID recovered population

This course is being evaluated for up to .30 ASHA CEUs (Introductory Level, Area: Professional; Subject Code: 7010-Service Delivery associated with Speech/Language/Swallowing/Hearing) and Continuing Professional Development credit for Speech-Language Pathologists as required by the California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board (PDP Provider Number 363)   

Partial credit will not be offered. Requirements for credit include full attendance at the workshop, completion of evaluations and participation in discussion. For questions regarding credit, special needs and accommodations, and other requests, please contact: [email protected] or call (310)423-5243. For information on grievances related to this workshop, please include the name and date of this workshop and submit the complaint to the contact provided above.

We encourage participation by all individuals. If you have a disability, advance notification of any special needs will help us better serve you.

ASHA (0.30 hours)

Speaker Bios

 

Denise Gallagher earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN, and went on to pursue her law degree at Whittier College in Orange County, CA.  After practicing in employment law she transitioned to a role in managing faculty appointments and promotions for the Humanities Division at UCLA. In 2011 she came to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to manage the implementation of the professorial structure.  And in 2013 she began managing the Office of Faculty Development and Diversity.  This role was instrumental in beginning important work on diversity and inclusion for Cedars-Sinai faculty.  In 2019 she was promoted to Program Manager within the newly created Office of Diversity and Inclusion for the Cedars-Sinai Health System.  And in 2023 she took on the role of Manger of Diversity and Inclusion on the Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing team.  Her current role involves managing D&I work across the organization.

 

She is the proud mom to Catherine (11) and Brian (6), and one fur baby, Bridget a very precocious Corgi.

 

Erika Der Sarkissian is a registered dietitian and certified nutrition support clinician with six years of clinical experience. She received her Bachelor’s from UCLA and her Master’s in Nutritional Science from Cal State LA. She now works as an outpatient oncology dietitian at Cedars Sinai and is based at Huntington Hospital. Her passions include spending time outdoors (hiking or camping), mindfulness meditation, and cooking and exploring new recipes.

 

Madison Stern is a seasoned clinical dietitian with 7 years of experience in the field of clinical nutrition. Originally from the East Coast, she completed her training at Drexel University in Philadelphia and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Jersey. In 2022, she made the move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in outpatient oncology at Cedars Sinai. In her free time, Madison enjoys staying active, cooking, and exploring the diverse landscapes of Southern California.

 

Stevie J. Hirner (DMA, she/her) is a choral conductor, composer, singer, and educator who specializes in cultivating transgender and gender expansive inclusivity in singing through empathetic practices and science-informed vocal pedagogy. As a transgender musician and one of the leading researchers in her field, Hirner is a sought-after lecturer and clinician. Her recent credits include a featured article on “Line Recombination” in the November/December 2022 issue of the Choral Journal and lectures on the topic at the ACDA National Conference and the World Symposium on Choral Music in 2023. In several conferences in 2024, she has presented her gender-affirming singing protocol, “Flexible Fach,” which is built upon the foundational principles of gender-affirming voice and communication therapy practiced by speech-language pathologists. During Hirner's doctoral studies at the University of Southern California, her areas of specialty included choral music, vocology, gender and sexuality studies, and music theory and analysis; and she holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Auburn University (2012) and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Missouri (2014).

 

Sarah Kremen, MD, is a Board Certified Neuologist with subspecialty training in Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry. She is an physician in the Jona Goldrich Center for Alzheimer's and Memory Disorders, seeing patients with memory concerns, and diagnoses that vary from typical Alzheimer’s disease to early onset Alzheimer’s Disease, primary progressive aphasia, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, and other conditions. Other activities include resident and fellow education, leading clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease (as a site PI), collaborating with other clinician researchers, and community outreach. She is Associate Professor of Neurology and Director of the Neurobehavior Program at Cedars Sinai.

 

Robert Dowhy, MS, CCC-SLP is speech-language pathologist at the Cedars Sinai Outpatient Voice Clinic specializing in the treatment of voice disorders. His experience includes treating professional voice users such as teachers, actors, and singers. He received his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and is on the board of the Southern California chapter of the Voice Foundation and routinely mentors’ colleagues and students.

 

Heather Thompson, MS, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist at Cedars-Sinai. She specializes in evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with head and neck cancer and those undergoing lung transplant. She was the former clinical lead for the department of speech-language pathology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.  

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships