CAS CONNECT 2018

“As a graduate student in Communication Sciences and Disorders in the late ’90s, I attended the Cimarron Conference, which was a fixture for our department and an opportunity to learn more about the field than I could in my coursework,” said Leslie Baldwin, now the conference’s coordinator. “Fast forward 20-some years and I continue to see value in it and so does a community of speech- language pathologists, audiologists, psychologists, special educators, physical therapists, occupational therapists, child-development specialists and families from around the area. Many professionals can count on quality speakers to enhance their practice. Students can supplement their education and network with others in their field of study. My favorite part of the CCCD is reconnecting with individuals or alumni that have not been on campus in several years. They are a part of OSU again for one day, but what they learn will impact them for much longer.” In addition, the Guthrie Scottish Rite Masons are funding an extra clinician at the Oklahoma State University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic inMurray Hall, bringing more diagnostic and therapeutic services to the Stillwater community and beyond. Joe R. Manning Jr., Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Orient of Oklahoma, said, “As Scottish Rite Masons, we have an obligation to make the world a better place. For more than 40 years, we have been committed to helping children improve their opportunities for a better life by providing diagnostic and therapeutic language services. We are extremely pleased to continue this commitment by partnering with the Oklahoma State University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic. “This partnership enables the Guthrie Scottish Rite Masons to continue its philanthropic support of children with language disorders by providing funding to train more graduate students and serve more clients.” What is the greatest draw for Communication Sciences and Disorders? Kaipa said it is all about the rewarding experience that a student experiences every day. “This is a very satisfying and rewarding career,” he said. “The students are endowed with a unique opportunity to improve the quality of life of a patient with a communication disorder, by helping him or her speak, hear or even eat better. I want them to be adept at assessing and treating communication disorders, but also I want all of my students to realize the impact that they will have on these patients for the rest of their lives.” FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT CDIS.OKSTATE.EDU “We have expanded our faculty, the student enrollment numbers are only increasing, our outreach programs have expanded exponentially and will continue to do so as we work toward becoming one of the premier speech and language pathology programs in the country.” — RAMESH KAIPA 16 CONNECT 201 8