UTHSC Audiology and Speech Pathology

ASP recently headed to Ijams Nature Center
to perform hearing and speech-language screenings. Ijams, a 318-acre green space and education center just minutes from the Conference Center, continues to be a generous community partner, as this is where Tricia Hedinger and MS-SLP students conduct therapy at ASP’s weekly outdoor clinic. Thank you, Ijams!
Ijams Nature Center, Knoxville, TN
UTHSC College of Health Professions

It was a pleasure to host the University of Tennessee Alumni Association (UTAA) Board of Governors for a tour of our program. Board members gained insights into the many facets of our program and interacted with faculty and students. At one point in the tour, they witnessed the sophistication of an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device which, when activated through eye gaze technology, said, “Everyone has a voice. Go Vols!” We appreciated the opportunity to spend time with this enthusiastic group!
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
UTHSC College of Health Professions

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Steven Doettl, clinical professor in audiology, who was honored with a Distinguished Service Professorship at this year’s UT Alumni Association (UTAA) Awards Dinner.

A four-time alumnus of the university, Dr. Doettl joined the department in 2010 and immediately became the driving force behind the development of our program’s dizziness specialty clinic. “Dr. Doettl’s versatility in teaching has been critically beneficial to the AuD and PhD in Speech and Hearing Science programs. He is an outstanding educator,” says Dr. Ashley Harkrider, dean of UTHSC College of Health Professions. She goes on to add, “One reason audiology clinics across the country recruit our students upon graduation is because of the advanced vestibular experience they gain in our program.” Dr. Doettl has mentored award-winning, student-led research and advanced his reputation as a clinical vestibular scientist with 16 peer reviewed publications and 8 book chapters. In a recent interview, Dr. Doettl commented on the rewards of teaching in our program. “I feel really proud about the amount of students who have learned here under our guidance and are out there practicing across the country. To me that’s the biggest part of it. I love doing research, I love seeing patients, but I came to this job because I wanted to help educate students…and hopefully make a good mark along the way.”

Dr. Doettl (center) is shown here at the awards dinner with Stephanie Simpson, President of UTAA Board of Governors, and Mike McCay, Vice President and Strategic Initiatives & Executive Director of UT Foundation, who presented this well- deserved honor.
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
UTHSC College of Health Professions

Today, a team of College of Health Professions clinical faculty combined efforts to host a pediatric feeding workshop for parents of children under one year of age. Briana Klar and Maggie Wheeler (SLPs) joined Rachael Roper (OT) to share valuable information about introducing solid food and transitioning from breast/bottle feeding to solids and cup drinking. It was a meaningful time to share, address parents’ concerns, and demonstrate tips and tools to support feeding development.



University of Tennessee Health Science Center
UTHSC College of Health Professions

Dr. Brittany Grayless’ desire to foster hope in those with tinnitus took her academic journey to new heights.

‘You Are Never Done Learning,’ Two-Time UT Health Sciences Doctoral Grad Says - UTHSC News Brittany Grayless holds not one but two doctorates from the University of Tennessee Health Sciences. Already a Doctor of Audiology (AuD), she graduated in May with a PhD in Speech and Hearing Science from the university.

In May, UTHSC and UTK students from audiology, speech pathology, and kinesiology packed their bags and joined ASP clinical faculty Tricia Hedinger and Teresa Vaughn for an 10-day trip to Europe and North Africa. Some highlights of their study abroad experience included:

PORTUGAL: After sightseeing in Lisboa, the group toured Alcoitão School of Health Sciences for speech, occupational, and physical therapies. Then, they visited SpeechCare, a multidisciplinary clinic to see firsthand how SLPs, OTs, psychologists, psychiatrists, and developmental pediatricians team up to deliver coordinated care. As you can see, they left a bit of orange behind!

MOROCCO: After touring one of the largest mosques in the world, they visited IHEPS Casablanca - Ecole de Kinésithérapie, Orthophonie et Nutrition-Diététique, a private school for training SLPs , PTs, and dietitians.

SPAIN: At the Instituto Superior de Estudios Psicológicos, the group learned how their multidisciplinary team collaborates to provide coordinated care for individuals with communication needs.

Notice the commonality in all the programs our students visited. Each one emphasized inter-professional service provision, a cornerstone of best practice healthcare - the exact same model our students hear about in the classroom and see carried out in their clinical experiences while at UT!

ASP would like to extend a note of gratitude to Katie Kirkland and Therapy Abroad for making this trip possible. Our faculty and students were deeply impacted by the experiences.

University of Tennessee Health Science Center
UTHSC College of Health Professions
UTK College of Education, Health & Human Sciences
Therapy Abroad

Congratulations to Dr. Brittany Grayless, clinical associate professor, on the successful defense of her PhD dissertation, “Personality-informed Communication Style and Psychological Outcomes Following Diagnostic Counseling for Tinnitus.” Dr. Grayless’ faculty mentor was Dr. Mark Hedrick, and her dissertation committee also included Drs. Steven Doettl, Ann Perreau, James Lewis, and Patrick Plyler. Dr. Perreau visited from Augustana College in Illinois, and Dr. Lewis joined virtually from Viterbo University in Wisconsin. This is an impressive accomplishment, Dr. Grayless!
University of Tennessee Health Science Center

We are making a big switch to a digital newsletter, so we need emails - and lots of them! Please do not assume we have your personal email. We need input from new and seasoned alumni, parents of students, community partners, friends of the department, donors, as well as former faculty and staff. Please help us stay connected with you!

Call 865-974-1592, or email [email protected], or scan the QR code shown here. Thank you!

ASP recently participated in the BeaumontKnoxWell Health and Community Fair at Beaumont Magnet Academy, an event sponsored by UT Medical and United Way of Greater Knoxville as part of their Community Schools Initiative. Allison Wegman and a group of MS-SLP students performed hearing screenings with individuals of all ages, often with the assistance of interpreters who were available that day. A special thanks to Liliana Burbano, Community Health Director at UT Medical, for coordinating our involvement. For anyone who is interested, the next event will be September 12 at Whittle Springs Elementary School. Call 865-305-5589 for more information.
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
UTHSC College of Health Professions