President’s message

 I am humbled by your vote of confidence, and am honored to serve.  First of all, let us review the purpose of our association, as stated in Article II of the Hawaii Speech-Language-Hearing Association (HSHA) bylaws:

The Association shall be a nonprofit corporation, formed for the purpose of:

(1) encouraging basic scientific study of and education concerning the processes of individual human communication with special reference to speech, hearing, and language;

(2)  promoting investigation and prevention of disorder of human communication and fostering improvement of clinical procedures with such disorders;

(3) promoting appropriate academic and clinical preparation;

(4) promoting active pursuit of current knowledge and skills;

(5) stimulating exchange of information among persons and organizations thus engaged and disseminating such information;

(6) advocating the rights of persons with communication disorders; and

(7) promoting the individual and collective professional interests of the members of the Association.

Since many of our active members have deep roots with the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (either as students, graduates, faculty, or volunteers) of the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM), John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), I would also like to take this opportunity to summarize JABSOM’s commitments and missions:

 “JABSOM, as part of the fabric of Hawaii, is a diverse learning community committed to excellence and leadership in:

(1) Educating current and future healthcare professionals and leaders

(2) Delivering high-quality healthcare

(3) Conducting research and translating discoveries into practice

(4) Establishing community partnerships and fostering multidisciplinary collaboration

(5) Pursuing alliances unique to Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific region

(6)Acting with forethought regarding right relationships, respect, and moral action”.

As we peruse HSHA’s statement of purpose, along with UHM-JABSOM’s missions and commitments, it is apparent that both organizations share a common philosophy, especially toward education and service.   Education, in the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), includes both academic teaching (in the classrooms) and clinical teaching (at the bedside or chair-side).  JABSOM and HSHA are both very invested in promoting academic and clinical preparation for speech and hearing professionals, with the goal of delivering high-quality healthcare to our community.  In order to be successful in translating academic endeavors into clinical practice through evidence-based research, there is a definite need to establish community partnerships, and foster inter-agency collaborations.  All things considered, I believe a collaborative partnership between HSHA and JABSOM will be mutually rewarding.

With the support from JABSOM leadership (especially Dean Hedges, Vice Dean Izutsu, Associate Dean Magnusson, and CFO Ms. Foster), the CSD department has evolved to meet the current needs of our stakeholders.  One of the many projects that have recently come to fruition is the “Aloha Professorship Program”, which arranges for nationally and internationally renowned professors to visit JABSOM in the summer, for a series of lectures to our CSD students, and to provide mentorship to our junior faculty.  In addition to promoting educational and research opportunities for students and faculty, each visiting professor is also invited to provide a continuing education course (typically on a Saturday morning or afternoon) for HSHA. The registration fee is waived for HSHA members and CSD externship supervisors.  Continuing educational courses such as these, along with the annual HSHA conference we will be hosting in the spring, are meant to enhance and maintain the knowledge and skills of our members, in addition to securing a forum for networking and collaborations.

Service, by definition, includes clinical service delivery, and more importantly, volunteer service to the community.  Many members at the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) have expressed concerns about the increasing number of current members who have a new sense of entitlement, i.e., always asking for more, but unwilling to give back.  While we cannot ignore this trend, it would be unproductive to respond with negativity.  A sage person once said, “The ability to serve is an honor, and a privilege”.  With that in mind, let us lead by example.  Let us encourage our fellow members (as well as CSD faculty and students) to be involved in volunteer services that promote education and collaboration.  The reward is not immediate, but it will show in the long run.  In the meantime, let us continue to serve.

Aloha HSHA Members!

Please join us for a World Voice Day Event on April 16, 2013 at the University of Hawaii. ASHA CEUs are being offered for the keynote address by Dr. Verdolini Abbott at 8:00 pm.

Gregory L. Lof, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Fellow, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Gregory L. Lof, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a Professor and the Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the MGH Institute of Health Professions, a graduate school founded by the Massachusetts GeneralHospital in Boston. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1994 and his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Minnesota State University-Moorhead.

His research, teaching and clinical interests primarily are with children who have speech sound disorders.  Dr. Lof was the 2004 and 2009 topic coordinator for speech sound disorders for the ASHA conventions and has served on the 1995, 1998, 2002, 2007 and 2008 ASHA Convention Program Committees. He is or has been an editorial consultant for the journals Journal of Speech, Language, Hearing Research, American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, Contemporary Issues in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools.  He was a member on ASHA’s Center for Evidence-Based Practice in Communication Disorders that conducted evidence-based systematic reviews of oral motor exercises.  He is also on the communications committee of the Council on Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders.  Dr. Lof is serving a three year term as the Massachusetts representative on the ASHA Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Board.

Dr. Lof has published numerous articles, primarily on childhood speech sound disorders. He has presented over 50 peer-reviewed and 65 invited presentations/workshops at ASHA conventions, universities, school districts, and state and international association conventions.  He was recently the keynote speaker at the annual convention of the Speech Pathology Australia (2010) and the Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome international conference (2011).  He became a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 2012.

Ann W. Kummer, PhD, CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow

Ann W. Kummer, PhD, CCC-SLP is Senior Director of the Division of Speech Pathology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Under her direction, the speech pathology program at Cincinnati Children’s has become the largest pediatric program in the nation and one of the most respected.

Dr. Kummer does lectures and seminars on a national and international level in the areas of cleft palate and craniofacial anomalies, resonance disorders, velopharyngeal dysfunction, and business practices in speech-language pathology. She has written numerous professional articles and 16 book chapters in speech pathology and medical texts. She is the author of the book entitled Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies: The Effects on Speech and Resonance, 3rd Edition (Delmar Cengage Learning, 2013) and one of the authors of the text entitled Business Practices: A Guide for Speech-Language Pathologists (ASHA, 2004).

Dr. Kummer has received Honors of the Southwestern Ohio Speech-Language and Hearing Association (1995); Honors of the Ohio Speech-Language and Hearing Association (OSLHA) (1997); the Elwood Chaney Outstanding Clinician Award from OSHLA (2012); distinguished alumnus award from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders of the University of Cincinnati (1999); and elected Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) (2002). She was named one of the top 25 most influential therapists in the United States by Therapy Times (2006); and named one of the 10 Most Inspiring Women in Cincinnati (2007).

“A captivating speaker, Dr. Kummer provides many practical techniques for the assessment and treatment of clients with hyponasality or hypernasality. She educates the audience in differentiating conditions that can be treated with speech therapy versus ones that need to be referred to the cranio-facial team. “

Submitted by Wendy Saka

“Dr. Kummer’s ability to replicate various resonance disorders allows for the audience to learn and immediately apply practical techniques that can be utilized in assessment and treatment.”

Submitted by Erin Firmin

“Ann Kummer was highly skilled in her ability to imitate clearly what we as clinician’s should be hearing when working with our clients.  Her use of video recordings of real clients effectively tied in information from her lecture with hands on application.  Her low and no-tech approach gave me many practical assessment and intervention techniques to use in a school based setting.   I feel her short course increased my foundational skills in understanding normal vs. abnormal velopharyngeal function and  knowing when and how to assess and treat.”

Submitted by Tami Yamamura

“Dr. Kummer is an excellent speaker and a superb clinician’s clinician. She presents ideas of low-tech and hi-tech strategies for assessing speech resonance using things as simple as straws. Her video presentations mostly working with school-aged patients included the cleft population as well as children with tell-tale signs of tonsil-adenoid problems, mixtures of phonological as well as resonance problems, those with veloocardiofacial syndrome, hypotonia and congenital abnormalities of the palate other than the cleft condition. She combined information of palatal and pharyngeal problems with swallowing disorder. All of the nasopharyngoscopy presented was clearly presented with excellent review of anatomy and cranial nerve function. She presents as a most warm person with wide experience, supervising a clinic treating all speech-language and swallowing disorders.”

Submitted by Susan Grau Tripler Hospital

IT’S ALL A BUZZ!!!

“The 2013 HSHA Convention is featuring AWESOME speakers”

Ann W Kummer, Ph.d., CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow

&

Gregory L.Lof, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Don’t miss out!

                                       April 18 & 19, 2013

                                          At the Ko’olau Ballrooms

                                       Kaneohe, HI