Speech-language pathology is one of the fastest-growing healthcare professions in the country, with 15% projected job growth over the next decade and a median salary of more than $95,000 per year.
But for many students, it isn't the statistics that draw them to Communication Sciences and Disorders—it's the science and working with people to improve thier lives.
In this video, two of our PhD students share what inspired them to pursue Communications Sciences and Disorders and what made them fall in love with the field.
From helping children find their voices to supporting adults recovering communication and swallowing abilities after illness or injury, speech-language pathologists make a meaningful difference every day.
With opportunities in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private practice, and beyond, CSD offers a career that combines science, healthcare, education, and human connection.
University of Utah College of Health
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The University of Utah’s College of Health is leading the transformation in health care from primarily caring for the sick to empowering people to be healthy, active, and resilient through proactive, preventive, and rehabilitative care.
In a strong partnership between the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering and the College of Health, a new approach is showing promise for restoring mobility after stroke.
Although walking appears simple, it depends on complex neuromuscular coordination. After a stroke, when weakness affects one side of the body, the other side works harder to compensate, dramatically increasing the physical effect required for even basic movement. This can cause hemiparesis, air condition marked by impaired motor control, muscle, weakness, and spasticity on one side of the body. It affects roughly 80% a stroke, survivors and reduces mobility decreases independence and significantly impedes quality of life. The collaborative team demonstrated that a portable, lightweight hip exoskeleton can reduce the energy required to walk by nearly 20% in individuals with hemiparesis.
06/10/2026
Department of Occupational and Recreational Therapy faculty Jamie WriBren was recently quizzed (and did awesome) by an instagramer who asks 5 questions of faculty or students in their field of study. Watch here: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DYpgZ_2BGqr/
06/04/2026
A lesser known health degree- recreation therapy- is helping burn victims heal. Proud of our alumni and masters student Eric Bonin who leads the climbing class.
05/29/2026
Parks Recreation and Tourism (PRT) is a lesser well known degree but can lead to some fun careers! Our alumni work for Snowbird, Alta, the Montage in Park City, the Indianapolis 500 and more doing management, community event planning, marketing, conservation, program management and more.
Alex Aguirre, featured in these photos, turned his passion for sports into a career through PRT. Hands-on classes and real-world internships helped prepare him for a competitive internship with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway — an opportunity that ultimately led to a full-time role in sports marketing with them.
05/27/2026
Congratulations to Beth Cardell, PhD, lecturer, researcher, clinician, and program director with the University of Utah Department of Occupational & Recreational Therapies, on receiving the 2026 UOTA Eunice Chen Mentorship Award!
Cardell was recognized for her exceptional mentorship, staff education, and leadership in occupational therapy. Over her 30+ year career, she has helped shape hundreds of OT practitioners through client-centered, evidence-based mentorship and education.
Her work focuses on adult rehabilitation, functional cognition, interprofessional education, and student success, while her clinical practice has centered on supporting adults with neurological injuries and acquired brain injuries. She currently treats clients with high-functioning cognitive deficits at the Life Skills Clinic.
She is widely recognized as a phenomenal teacher, mentor, and leader whose impact continues to strengthen occupational therapy across Utah.
05/20/2026
Learning something new can feel exhausting—but there’s good news. Sleep doesn’t just help your body recover, it helps your brain keep practicing.
Genevieve Albouy, PhD, an associate professor in the Department of Health & Kinesiology, is studying how sleep strengthens learning. Her research shows that while you sleep, your brain replays what you learned during the day, helping improve memory and performance.
Even more interesting, certain cues like sounds linked to learning can trigger this replay process. In one study, participants who heard a specific sound while learning—and again during sleep—were able to complete movement sequences more quickly after waking. After a full night’s sleep, their performance improved even further.
This process, called targeted memory reactivation, highlights how powerful sleep is for learning and long-term memory. It may even lead to new ways to support learning as we age or recover from neurological conditions.
Next time learning feels overwhelming, remember: sleep is part of the process.
https://utah-health.shorthandstories.com/ptf-cells-and-circuits/
05/15/2026
We would like to extend a warm welcome to Lisa Mische Lawson, PhD, CTRS, who has been named chair of the Department of Occupational and Recreational Therapies, effective Aug. 17.
Mische Lawson joins us from the University of Kansas Medical Center and brings nearly two decades of experience in therapeutic and recreational sciences, inclusive research, and graduate education. Her work focuses on adaptive recreation, disability inclusion, and water safety for autistic children.
She succeeds longtime chair Lorie Richards, whose leadership helped grow the department’s programs, research, and national visibility for more than a decade. Richards is returning to a faculty role.
Welcome to Utah, Dr. Mische Lawson—we’re excited to see what’s ahead!
05/09/2026
One of our occupational therapy patients, Teddy, was featured on KSL last week! And one of our rockstar OT professionals, Aubri Evans, was also part of the story sharing how OT looks like play but works on a number of skills for kids with autism.
If you're a parent wanting to explore OT for your child at the Life Skills Clinic, call (801) 585-6837.
How occupational therapy helps children with autism build everyday skills through play - KSLTV.com Occupational therapy can help kids with autism build everyday skills through structured play. From stacking objects to navigating emotions, every activity is designed with a purpose.
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