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What's New (Updated May 07, 2008)

Thank you for checking in with us to learn about the latest news in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology at UALR/UAMS!

• On May 14th the Department will host its annual Graduation Reception for our M.S. students and their families.  This ceremony will be held at the Bailey Center on the UALR campus from 5:00-7:00PM.
• On May 9th the Department will host its first annual White Coat Ceremony for those Au.D. students who are entering their fourth and final year of doctoral study. This ceremony will be held at the Bailey Center on the UALR campus from 3:30-5:00PM.
• The Department hosted its annual Thesis Forum on Friday, May 2nd. This forum gives those students who elect to do a thesis an opportunity to present their research to faculty, fellow graduate students and family. This year's presenters were Chris Lyle and Kimberly Thomas.
• Diana Odom and Leslie Miles, second-year M.S. students, participated on April 25th in the Graduate Student Research Forum sponsored by UALR.  Diana and Leslie were awarded first and second prize, respectively, in the category of Education.  Diana's project compared the text messaging styles of adolescents in the U.S. and the U.K. and was guided by Betholyn Gentry. Leslie's project resulted in the creation of clinical teaching videos featuring simulated patients portraying unilateral left neglect, and was guided by Richard Zraick.
• Samuel Atcherson was interviewed by The Examiner in an article titled, “Deaf TU student hopes to help hearing impaired”. Link at: http://www.examiner.com/a-1189612~Deaf_TU_student_hopes_to_help_hearing_impaired.html
• On April 19, 2008, UAMS/UALR’s local National Association of Future Doctors of Audiology (NAFDA) chapter completed its first outreach service project at the Fox Ridge Assisted Living facility in Bryant, AR. AuD students Stephanie Godelfer, Rachel McGehee, and Amber Nettles along with clinical supervisors Samuel Atcherson and Gail Weddington provided hearing screenings, hearing aid checkups, and counseling to the residents. National NAFDA website at: http://www.nafda.org/
• Samuel Atcherson was an honorarium panel moderator at the 2008 Post-Secondary Education Network (PEPNet) conference from April 15-18, 2008 in Columbus, OH for service providers who work with deaf and hard of hearing students with hearing loss. PEPNet website at: http://www.pepnet.org/
• Samuel Atcherson was a sponsored speaker at the joint conference of the Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Losses (AMPHL) and the Utah Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (UTRID) on April 12, 2008 at the University of Utah Medical Campus in Salt Lake City, UT. AMPHL website: http://www.amphl.org/
• Megan Anders, a first-year Au.D. student, has been accepted as a Summer Research Trainee at the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR) located at the Portland Oregon Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC). She will complete a 10 to 12-week research traineeship investigating hearing aid outcomes under the supervision of Gabrielle Saunders, Ph.D., Principal Investigator and Deputy Director for Education, Outreach, & Dissemination. Click here to read more about this.
• On Saturday, February 16^th, 2008 the Department hosted a half-day professional education workshop featuring Dr. Kathryn Bayles. Dr. Bayles is an ASHA Honoree and an internationally recognized expert in the assessment and treatment of cognitive-communication disorders secondary to dementia.
• Meghan Powell and Elizabeth Raines, Au.D. students, recently accompanied Nannette Nicholson, Patti Martin, Jan Stroud, and Alan Vanbiervliet to the National Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Conference in New Orleans. The three collaborative presentations included Auditory Neuropathy/Dys-synchrony on February 25th (J. Stroud, P. Martin, N. Nicholson, E. Raines); and Touch Choices: Parental Perspectives on Decision Making (N. Nicholson, A. Vanbiervliet, M. Powell, J. Stroud) and The Infant Hearing Guide: A Tool for Early Interventionists on February 26th (P. Martin, N. Nicholson, A. Vanbiervliet.
• Patti Martin, Nannette Nicholson, Donna Smiley, Elizabeth Raines, and Meghan Powell will be attending the 2008 Newborn Hearing Screening: Infant and Childhood Hearing Loss in Clinic and in Practice Conference in Cernobbio, Italy to present "Building Local EHDI Capacity Through Collaborative Partnerships" on June 20th. Alan Vanbiervliet, Patti Martin, and Nannette Nicholson will present "The Infant Hearing Guide: A Tool for Exploring Information" on June 21st.
• Congratulations to Nannette Nicholson for being recognized with a Faculty Excellence in Research Award by the UALR College of Professional Studies. Nan will be honored at a University-wide reception on Friday, May 09th.  Click here to learn more about Nan's selection.
• Congratulations to Terri Hutton for being recognized with a Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award by the UAMS Graduate School. Click here and then here to learn more.
• Gail Weddington is featured in a news story about hearing loss and portable audio/video devices.  Click here to read this interesting story.
• Frecedes Letcher, one of our second year AuD students, has been selected as a participant in the ASHA Minority Student Leadership Program.  Frecedes attended the ASHA Convention in Boston, MA in mid-November as part of that program. Click here to read more about ASHA's Minority Student Leadership Program.
• Greg Robinson was featured on KATV Channel 7 on their 10:00PM news broadcast on July 9th.  He spoke about baby signing.  Click here to see the broadcast of this story (look for link to Latest Videos in side panel on right of page).
• Richard Zraick has been invited to co-author the next edition of the leading textbook on voice disorders. Click here to read more about this story.
• Recent audiology graduate Chris Harvey was interviewed by a metro Dallas magazine about hearing health.  Click here to read the story.
• Congratulations to Terri Hutton, who has been elected a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.  Election to Fellowship in ASHA is one of the highest
  honors the professional organization can bestow. To be elected a Fellow, the nominee must have made outstanding contributions to the discipline of communication sciences and disorders.
• Congratulations to Laura Smith-Olinde, who has been granted tenure and promoted to the rank of Associate Professor (effective July 1, 2007).
• Faculty Excellence!  Congratulations to Laura Smith-Olinde for being recognized with a Faculty Excellence in Service Award and to Cliff Franklin for being recognized with a Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award by the UALR College of Professional Studies. Both were honored at a university-wide reception on May 4, 2007.
• On April 30, 2007, Patty Martin, Director of Audiology and Speech Pathology at AR Children’s Hospital, and adjunct faculty member, was honored as Alumna of the Year by the UALR College of Professional Studies.
• On April 30, 2007, Ronald H. Winters, Dean of the College of Health Related Professions at UAMS, was honored as Professional of the Year by the UALR College of Professional Studies.  Click here to read more about this honor.
• On April 27, 2007 we held our second annual Thesis Forum.  Three graduate students (Portia Brown Carr, Brooke Wilkerson, and Hylan Pickett) shared the results of their graduate research with administrators, faculty, staff and fellow students.  Click here to learn more about their research projects.

• On February 27, 2007 our NSSLHA chapter co-sponsored a meeting of the Arkansas Chapter of the National Stuttering Association.  The event was held at our new department and clinic facilities at University Plaza (Suite 600).  Graduate student Chris Lyle is the Chapter Leader and Brent Gregg is Chapter Advisor

• On February 12, 2007, Richard Zraick gave a 60-minute Grand Rounds presentation on "Neurogenic Speech Disorders" to faculty and students in the UAMS Dept. of Neurosurgery.

• Students returned to classes for the Spring semester on January 16, 2007. Click here for the current Spring schedule of classes.

• On December 9th, 2006 a holiday dinner for faculty and staff was held at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Guyette.

• On December 05, 2006 World Middleweight boxing champion and AR resident Jermain Taylor visited with children treated in our AR Center for Stuttering Research and Treatment.  "The Champ" spoke openly about his own battle with stuttering and provided encouragement and a positive message to the children and their families.  His visit received wide local media coverage as part of "Fight Week" 2006.  On Saturday, December 09th, Jermain defends his boxing title at Alltel Arena here in Little Rock. Click here and also here for more details about Jermain's visit.

• On December 2nd, 2006 a holiday party for students, faculty and staff was held at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Zraick.

• On November 16-17, 2006 many of our faculty participated actively in the annual American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention in Miami Beach, FL. Click here to view the 2006 Convention Program.

• On October 26-27, 2006 many of our faculty participated actively in the annual Arkansas Speech and Hearing Association Annual Convention in Hot Springs, AR. Click here to view the 2006 Convention Program.

• On October 07, 2006, Richard Zraick was one of three featured speakers in a workshop on "Management of Functional Voice Problems."  This workshop was held in Tempe, AZ at Dr. Zraick's alma mater, AZ State University.  All proceeds from the workshop go to a scholarship in memory of James Case, Dr. Zraick's recently departed doctoral mentor.

• On September 27, 2006 our NSSLHA chapter again co-sponsored a meeting of the Arkansas Chapter of the National Stuttering Association.  This event was held at the our new department and clinic facilities at University Plaza (Suite 600) at 6:00PM.  Graduate student Chris Lyle is the Chapter Leader and Brent Gregg is Chapter Advisor.

• On September 18, 2006, Richard Zraick gave a 90-minute Grand Rounds presentation on "Classic Aphasia Syndromes" to faculty and students in the UAMS Dept. of Neurosurgery.

• On September 06, 2006, Richard Zraick gave a one-hour Grand Rounds presentation on "Classic Aphasia Syndromes" to faculty and students in the UAMS Dept. of Geriatrics.

• Classes began on Monday, August 28th in our new facilities at Univ. Plaza (corner of Asher and University Avenues; Suite 600).

• On September 21, 2006 the Department hosted an 'Open House' to welcome students, alumni, clients, and friends of the Department to our new facilities.  This event takes place from 4:00-6:00PM in our new facilities at Univ. Plaza (corner of Asher and University Avenues; Suite 600).

• On August 24, 2006 our NSSLHA chapter co-sponsored a meeting of the Arkansas Chapter of the National Stuttering Association.  This event was held at the Terry Library Branch on Napa Valley at 6:00PM.  Graduate student Chris Lyle is the Chapter Leader and Brent Gregg is Chapter Advisor.

• On July 18, 2006 Brent Gregg was interviewed by local NBC news affiliate KARK, Channel 4, for a feature on the AR Center for Stuttering Research and Treatment (ACSRT).

• On July 18, 2006, Greg Robinson and Terry Richard (Department of Sociology) conducted a 4 ½ hour workshop on “Hearing Loss and Culture Competence Training in the Hispanic Population” in Texarkana, AR through the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services, Infant Hearing Program.

• On June 29, 2006 our NSSLHA chapter co-sponsored the inaugural meeting of the Arkansas Chapter of the National Stuttering Association.  This event was held at the Terry Library Branch on Napa Valley.  Chris Lyle is the Chapter Leader and Brent Gregg is Chapter Advisor.

• On May 31, 2006 the conference room in our new facility was named in honor of our former department chair, Dr. J. Hope Keiser, professor emeritus.  A reception was held at 5:00PM, attended by faculty, staff and alumni, as well as many of Hope's friends and family.

• The Department has moved out of the Speech Building at UALR and into our brand new facilities just around the corner (literally) at University Plaza. Our phone numbers, fax number and mail slot number are unchanged. 

• On May 15, 2006 the Department hosted a Graduation Reception for our graduate students from 5-7PM in the Bailey Center at UALR.

• On May 12, 2006 Greg Robinson gave a presentation at the Welcome the Children Celebrating Cultural Harmony Conference in North Little Rock, sponsored by Partners for Inclusive Communities. The presentation was titled, “Non-mainstream Dialects in the Classroom – Effective Strategies to Improve Academic Performance without Devaluing Home Dialects”.

• On May 05th, 2006 the Department hosted its annual Thesis Forum at 12:00PM in the Speech Building, Room 102.

• Greg Robinson recently successfully defended his doctoral dissertation and was awarded his doctorate on May 05th, 2006. Congratulations Dr. Robinson!

• Betholyn Gentry was inducted as a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society on April 22, 2006.

• On April 3-4, 2006 Tom Guyette presented a paper entitled "Considerations in Early Speech Management" at the international meeting "Speech, Growth, Occlusion and Appearance: Setting Priorities in Early Cleft Care". He also was the moderator for the panel "The implications of Early Intervention for Speech Development" at that same conference.

• Congratulations to Donna Kelly, who has been awarded tenure.

• Congratulations to Terri Hutton, who has been promoted to the rank of Assistant Professor.

• Richard Zraick, Terri Hutton, Betholyn Gentry and Laura Smith-Olinde participated in the UALR College of Professional Studies Research Symposium on March 22, 2006.

• Terri Hutton has been awarded the Faculty Excellence in Service award from the College of Professional Studies at UALR.  She was honored at a ceremony and dinner on April 28, 2006.  Click here to learn more about this award.

• On February 27th and 28th, 2006 Richard Zraick and Betholyn Gentry attended the 36th Annual Mid-South Conference on Communication Disorders.  Dr. Zraick gave an invited presentation on "Speech and Voice Changes in Geriatric Speakers" and Dr. Gentry was honored with the Distinguished Alumna Award from the Univ. of Memphis.

• On February 21st, 2006 Richard Zraick was recognized with a Chancellor's Excellence in Teaching Award at a ceremony held at UAMS.  Dr. Zraick was one of twelve recipients, and represented the College of Health Related Professions.  To read more, click here.

• On February 17th, 2006 Greg Robinson conducted a half-day workshop at UAMS titled, "Phonological Analysis of African American English: Hands-On Instruction in Time-Saving, Computer-Based Methods for More Accurate Assessments."

• On January 27, 2006 the Department hosted an Open House for prospective graduate students.

• On October 20-21, 2005 many of our faculty participated actively in the annual Arkansas Speech and Hearing Association Annual Convention in Hot Springs, AR. Click here to view the 2005 Convention Program.

• On September 23, 2005 Betholyn Gentry and Felicia Darden conducted a half-day workshop at UAMS on Autism and Spectrum Disorders.  This workshop was attended by nearly 90 professionals. Click here and here to see photos of Dr. Gentry and Ms. Darden at the workshop.

• We are pleased to welcome two new faculty members in Speech-Language Pathology:   Greg Robinson and Stacey Mahurin. Visit our Faculty webpage to learn more about their teaching, research and clinical interests and expertise.

• On July 8, 2005 Richard Zraick and Brent Gregg were awarded a research grant from the UAMS Memory Research Center.  Drs. Zraick and Gregg will be examining the speech and voice of persons with Alzheimer's disease.

• June 29 to July 2, 2005 Brent Gregg served as a delegate to the Seventh Oxford Dysfluency Conference, which took place at St. Catherine's College, Oxford University, England. For many years this has been the only international conference on dysfluency. The conference was sponsored by the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children.

•  On June 29, 2005 Cliff Franklin (along with Laura Smith-Olinde, Nannette Nicholson, and Catherine Cole) was awarded a research grant from the Tailored Biobehavioral Intervention Research Center in the College of Nursing. The study, using geriatric listeners with hearing loss, is designed to improve perception of specific consonant sounds.

• On June 10, 2005 Richard Zraick participated in UAMS' ENT Resident Research Day.  A project Dr. Zraick contributed to, directed by our adjunct faculty member, Dr. Felicia Johnson, was honored by faculty judges and physician peers for its excellence.

• On June 03, 2005 recent graduate Courtney Dobbs was commissioned into the US Air Force.  Click here  and here to see photos of Ms. Dobbs and Cliff Franklin at the ceremony.

• On May 31, 2005 Cliff Franklin and Nannette Nicholson participated in a professional session on interviewing at the American Academy of Audiology meeting.  Click here to see a photo of Drs. Franklin and Nicholson at the meeting.

• On May 19, 2005 we held our annual Graduation Reception for our Master's degree candidates.  The reception was held this year at the home of Laura Smith-Olinde and her husband, Frank. 

• On March 11, 2005, Richard Zraick was honored with the inaugural Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award in the College of Health Related Professions at UAMS.

• On February 05, 2005, Richard Zraick and Brent Gregg conducted a split day workshop on "Treatment of Voice and Fluency Disorders" at the UAMS Reynolds Center on Aging. Close to 100 speech-language pathologists and students attended.

• On January 21st, 2005, a poster submitted by Richard Zraick and Terri Hutton for the UAMS Teaching Scholars Educational Research Exhibition was judged a co-winner for the grand prize in their category.  The poster described their work using simulated patients with Alzheimer's disease to teach and test clinical skills of speech-language pathology graduate clinicians.  Click here for a handout summarizing their study.

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