The at the University of South 皇家华人 received three awards for accomplishments during the 2024鈥�2025 year at the Parkinson Voice Project (PVP) Symposium, held June 25鈥�26 in Richardson, Texas.
The awards recognized the center鈥檚 high volume of new client services, a presentation given at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association convention, and outstanding marketing and community outreach efforts.
Kelli Gorajec, MA, CCC-SLP, and Kathryn Hunnings, MA, CCC-SLP, both assistant instructors in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) and certified SPEAK OUT! providers, attended the symposium.
In addition, Maddie McDonald, a speech-language pathology student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, earned first prize for her research poster. McDonald鈥檚 project, "The Impact of Diagnosis Duration on Vocal Intensity in SPEAK OUT! With or Without EMST," explored how disease duration in individuals with Parkinson鈥檚 disease impacts outcomes in vocal intensity using SPEAK OUT! therapy, with and without expiratory muscle strength training (EMST). Her findings highlighted the potential benefits of early intervention and tailored therapy approaches based on disease progression.
The Parkinson Voice Project is a nonprofit organization committed to improving speech and communication in individuals with Parkinson鈥檚 disease. The purpose of the PVP symposium is to offer continuing education and updates on best practices in treating speech disorders associated with Parkinson鈥檚 disease.