Learning Doesn't Stop After Graduation: Alums Reflect on Lessons from their CFY and Externs
by: Lacey Halley
From Memphis to the Field: Alumni Reflect on Careers, Mentorship, and Lessons from the Clinical Fellowship
University of Memphis Communication Sciences and Disorders alumni are making an impact in hospitals, clinics, private practices, and universities throughout the country. From voice therapy and acute care to pediatric speech-language pathology and audiology, graduates continue to apply the skills and mentorship they gained during their time at Memphis. Many alumni say the transition from graduate school to professional practice begins with an important realization: learning does not stop after graduation.
Susan Jenkins, CCC-SLP, who works with veterans at the Memphis VA Medical Center in both acute care and outpatient settings, remembers how quickly she recognized that the first year in the profession brings new challenges. “My advice would be to be kind to yourself,” Jenkins said. “My first nine months out of school, I realized how much I still had to learn.”
That sense of ongoing growth is something many Memphis graduates emphasize. Amy Nabors, CCC-SLP, who specializes in voice therapy at the Memphis Speech & Hearing Center and Methodist Medical Group, says every patient encounter brings new opportunities to learn. “With each new patient we meet and serve comes an opportunity to learn and grow some more,” Nabors said. “We can’t possibly know it all. The discoveries are endless.”
The Value of Mentorship and Collaboration
For many alumni, mentorship and collaboration play a critical role in shaping their early careers.
Shelby Adams, CCC-SLP, who works with pediatric clients at Germantown Speech Language & Learning Clinic, encourages new clinicians to stay connected with the resources and people who helped them through graduate school. “My advice would be to save every presentation and handout your supervisors and professors give you,” Adams shared. “Those resources were essential in the early months out of school and they still help years later.” She also stresses the importance of working alongside other professionals. “Remember you are treating an entire person. Other professionals have incredible insight beyond our scope.”
Alenna Fletcher, currently completing her Clinical Fellowship at the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf, says strong mentorship has made her transition into clinical practice far less intimidating. “It’s not as scary as you think it is, especially if you have a good relationship with your supervisor,” Fletcher said. “Everyone is there to cheer you on and help you along the way.” Similarly, Justine Springs, CCC-SLP at the Memphis Speech & Hearing Center—where she works with both adults with aphasia and pediatric clients and helps support the University of Memphis Aphasia Boot Camp, recommends carefully choosing mentors when selecting a Clinical Fellowship placement. “I chose someone who had already supervised CFs before,” Springs said. “I knew she understood the type of support I was going to need.”
Diverse Career Paths Across the Mid-South and Beyond
Memphis alumni have pursued careers in a wide variety of settings.
Megan Parsons, CCC-SLP, works within the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare system specializing in upper airway disorders, including dysphagia in both acute care and outpatient care. She encourages new clinicians to focus on building strong fundamentals during their Clinical Fellowship Year. “Our field is incredibly large, and it can feel overwhelming to think you need to learn everything immediately,” Parsons said. “Your CFY is a building year where you focus on the basics and become a solid clinician.”
Robin Van Nortwick, CCC-SLP, who practices at Methodist Hospital in Olive Branch, says her hospital role has exposed her to aspects of patient care she did not expect when entering the field. “I didn’t expect to be involved in end-of-life conversations,” Van Nortwick explained. “But helping patients and families understand those changes has become a meaningful part of my work.”
Others have taken entrepreneurial or academic paths. Emily Krech, CCC-SLP, is a co-founder of Rehab at Your Place, a Memphis-based private practice that provides therapy services in community settings. “My advice for starting your CF is to give yourself grace and allow yourself to ask questions,” Krech said. “The connections I made in grad school led me to where I am today.”
The Memphis Difference
Across specialties and career paths, alumni consistently credit the University of Memphis for providing diverse clinical training and meaningful professional connections. Mackenzie Bryan, AuD, now working at Memphis Audiology, says the range of clinical placements helped prepare her for real-world practice. “The wide array of clinical rotations, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, the Memphis VA, and private practice clinics, was an added bonus,” Bryan said.
Those experiences also helped students discover interests they may not have initially considered. Dr. Caitlin Price, AuD, PhD, now an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, says her clinical interests evolved over time. “I originally thought I only wanted to work with pediatrics,” Price said. “But now I primarily work with older adults, and I’ve really grown to love that population.”
Staying Connected to the Memphis Community
Many alumni say the relationships formed during graduate school continue to shape their careers years later. Dr. Kelsey Money, AuD, now practicing at Northwest Florida Ear, Nose & Throat, says the sense of community at Memphis was just as important as the clinical training. “What makes Memphis special is the people,” she said. “The community truly makes the experience worth it.”
