What does it look like to bring value as a speech-language pathologist when productivity demands are real and time is limited?

In this episode, I talk with Jaimie Anderson, SLP and clinical researcher at one of the nation’s first multidisciplinary swallowing centers. We get into what this looks like in practice. Not in ideal settings, but in the day-to-day. Hallway conversations. Documentation that answers questions before they’re asked. Building relationships with the right people over time.

A big part of this conversation is the tension most clinicians feel. You know multidisciplinary care matters, but you don’t always have the structure or support to do it the way you’d like. Jaimie walks through how she has approached this, starting small and building from there rather than waiting for the system to change.

We also spend time on diagnostic reasoning, especially how to handle uncertainty without stepping outside your role.

Advocacy comes up throughout the conversation as well. Not just identifying problems, but bringing a direction with them. Over time, that tends to land differently.

Personal Contact information:

• E-mail: anderson84@usf.edu
• Social Media: jaimieandersonslp
• LinkedIn Jaimie Anderson

Swallowing Symposium:

• https://health.usf.edu/medicine/internalmedicine/swallowing/annualswallowingsymposium-new/overview
• Social Media: usfswallowingsymposium

Neurological Disorders and the Speech-Language Pathologist​ Webinar:

• https://www.swallowthegap.com/neuroslp26

Gap Education:
https://swallowthegap.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/swallowpatho

Why do so many clinicians feel underprepared when they first begin treating dysphagia?

In a discussion that applies to SLPs in various settings, Dr. Jordan Hazelwood and I dive into challenges students face when transitioning from theory to clinical decision making, the importance of mentorship and critical thinking, and how simulation and structured training may help bridge the education-to-practice gap.

Gap Education:
https://swallowthegap.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/swallowpatho

This discussion explores what cognitive communication therapy can look like when it moves beyond worksheets and test scores. Guest Lauren Schwabish, an SLP with more than two decades of experience, explains how shifting into community-based practice allowed her to engage patients in more meaningful, real-life problem solving. She describes using self-anchored rating scales, functional observation, and collaborative strategies rather than relying solely on impairment-based models. The episode also touches on managing cognitive fatigue, reframing therapy goals, and addressing persistent myths about neuroplasticity. Listeners will hear practical examples of how SLPs can adapt interventions to match the demands of everyday life. Lauren’s enthusiasm for her work is matched by a thoughtful examination of how clinicians can avoid burnout and rediscover purpose.

Find Lauren at neurospeechservices.com or Instagram @neurospeechservices

https://brainfatigue.se/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MFS-English.pdf

Gap Education:
https://swallowthegap.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/swallowpatho