During our last program, we provided services during a walk-in clinic for children and adults experiencing communication difficulties, in an open air room at a local hotel. The community coordinator had sent messages throughout the local villages that we'd be available to provide speech and hearing screenings. When the day ended, we had assessed over 30 people. Many of the clients were children and we were able to provide parent training for home programs.
Staff Spotlight: Bob Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP
Title:
SLP SupervisorPhotos
Bob is the Chair/Program Director and Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Salus University. In addition to his administrative duties, Bob teaches several classes and supervises students in the program on-campus clinic, the Speech-Language Institute.
What is your favorite travel memory?
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
I feel like I've grown in my understanding in how culture impacts education and health care. Applying cultural humility to mentoring graduate students has deeply impacted my perspective in addressing client care here in the United States. By giving students an opportunity to think creatively and quickly to address a variety of communication disorders, I have had to become a better teacher.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
There are so many - I ask students to be open and take chances during their experience, setting goals to do something outside their personal box! During our wrap-up meeting, I love to hear how they feel like they've grown. I always get one or two students who says that their friends, family and professors would not believe they did this or that - I see that as a student who has taken full advantage of the travel experience!
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
There are so many great opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students studying communication sciences and disorders (and other health science professions) that allow them to deeply experience a culture different from their own! I have enjoying several trips to Belize that allow monolingual students and clinicians the opportunity to work in a culture that both reflects common and differing values. It never fails to re-energize me!
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
I love the transformation that students go through, in such a short time frame. Therapy Abroad's mix of cultural immersion activities and clinical experiences allows even the most novice students an opportunity to learn about themselves as they study their profession. I try to take a picture of the students during their first activity and then again during their last day, so we can document the transformation from shy and nervous travelers to confident student clinicians, collaborating with the supervisors and impacting the communities Therapy Abroad serves.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
I think it is a mix of fun and work. Students get pre-service information that prepares them for travel, activities to orient them to the culture before they start their experiences, and a variety of settings and populations which gives them a broad overview of service provision in-country. Therapy Abroad picks excellent clinical supervisors and community collaborators to facilitate the events. Couple that with exciting cultural activities and delicious meals of local cuisine affords students a well-rounded adventure.