Meeting a National Need: How SEU Is Preparing the Next Generation of SLP Leaders

In a powerful demonstration of community-centered learning, Saint Elizabeth University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) graduate program recently brought together its incoming cohort of students and the very clients and families they will soon serve. The meeting highlighted the profound personal and systemic impact of a rapidly expanding program that stands at the forefront of neurological rehabilitation and communicative advocacy.

Bridging the Gap: Speech-Language Pathology Students Meet the People They Help

The meeting served as an introduction to the profound human element behind the clinical data. For the incoming graduate students, the gathering offered a firsthand look at the life-altering outcomes of their chosen profession. For the clients, it was an opportunity to welcome the next generation of clinicians into a clinic they consider a second home.

Among the community members present was a regular client who shared his journey of navigating a sudden neurological disruption after a stroke eight years ago:

"Before this stroke, I was confident. I was out there, taking no prisoners. To have speech taken away from you at 59 years old was mind-boggling. But this has to all be brought out into society so we can deal with it, and help others to heal. We don't need to feel bad; it's just too important. Society needs to hear what we have to say. I just don't know where I would be without these people."

The families in attendance emphasized that the clinic provides a unique space where verbal diversity is normalized. Parents of non-verbal or neurodivergent communicators shared how deeply they rely on the clinical milestones achieved at SEU, particularly through upcoming initiatives like Camp Connections — a summer program pairing speech and psychology students with young campers — and Speak Now Camp for Children Who Stutter, a specialized summer experience offered free of charge thanks to donor support. The program's growing reach also includes year-round clinical partnerships and a bilingual Spanish-English program in the Dominican Republic.

Unwavering Standards and Clinical Excellence

For the new students, the meeting also underscored the deep sense of purpose, dedication, and community support required to succeed in the profession. Dr. Kim Sabourin, SLPD, CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF, Founding Program Director and Assistant Professor at SEU, spoke passionately about the incredible dedication demonstrated by graduate students as they dive fully into their clinical training.

“In that second year, you are completely immersing yourself in this clinical work," Dr. Sabourin explained to the incoming cohort. "It takes a beautiful investment of your time, but you are fortunate to have families and an entire village supporting you through it. It’s not just about going to class — it's about the hands-on clinical work that changes lives. We are so proud to be here doing this together."

"What has always impressed us is how closely the faculty are involved in every session," said one parent. "The students are leading the therapy, but you always know there is an experienced clinician observing, mentoring, and supporting both the student and the client when needed."

This intentional supervision model ensures that graduate students develop into highly skilled, compassionate clinicians while clients continue to receive exceptional care.

Dr. Sabourin highlighted how the program is rising to meet the critical demand for specialized higher education training:

“There is an incredible demand for speech pathologists, and while training elite students requires adhering to precise, rigorous clinical guidelines, we are focused on expanding our capacity," Dr. Sabourin noted. "Right now, we are graduating cohesive cohorts of 14 to 18 specialists a year. Every single one of these graduates represents a major step forward in meeting the immense demand out there, and we are working hard to grow that impact."

While data shows an active national demand for 38,000 SLP specialists, higher education bottlenecks limit the number of graduates entering the profession each year. SEU is actively working to help close that gap by expanding access and driving meaningful community impact.

High-Profile Advocacy: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s Personal Mission

A definitive highlight of the gathering was the deep involvement of former NBA star and national champion Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Known across the sports world as an elite collegiate player who went on to become the number two overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Kidd-Gilchrist's second career is defined by a fierce, personal commitment to speech advocacy.

Reflecting on his time in the high-stakes professional basketball "bubble" during the pandemic, he opened up to the room about his own experiences navigating life as a person who stutters and the importance of perseverance, support systems, and access to speech services.

“I kind of base my success on my family, my friends, and my faith," Kidd-Gilchrist shared with the room. "For me, I have always been in that space, just traveling to meet [speech pathologists] and just being as honest as possible."

As a person who stutters, he described constantly pushing himself to learn, asking questions "over and over and over again" to better understand the therapeutic landscape. Through his advocacy work, Kidd-Gilchrist has become increasingly aware of a critical systemic challenge: many individuals who rely on speech services during childhood face significant barriers to accessing care as adults.

This reality has fueled Kidd-Gilchrist's mission to bridge healthcare and legislation. He recently brought his advocacy directly to state lawmakers, championing expanded insurance coverage and adult Medicaid access for speech therapy services.

He urged them to recognize the immense value of their future profession, emphasizing that their work goes far beyond traditional clinical care. Speech-language pathologists help remove barriers, create opportunities, and foster a society where verbal diversity is understood and embraced.

No Longer the Best-Kept Secret

Dr. Sabourin emphasized that the university is proudly stepping forward to amplify the clinic's success.

"We used to be called sort of this 'best-kept secret' thing. We don't want that," Dr. Sabourin concluded. "Yes, we're humble; we will always be humble. But we should not be the best-kept secret. We shouldn't be a secret at all. Thanks to some of the amazing people here, this is a story that is so incredibly important to tell, because sharing these triumphs is exactly how we inspire others."

As the incoming students concluded their meeting and joined the community for a collaborative lunch on the lawn, the takeaway was clear: at Saint Elizabeth University, speech-language pathology is far more than an academic pursuit, it is a mission to ensure no one has to find their voice alone.

Families interested in learning more about Speak Now Camp for Children Who Stutter or registering for an upcoming session can visit the program webpage at https://www.steu.edu/academics/aas/speech-language-pathology/slp-summer-camps.html.