麻豆传媒

Jennifer Diemart is the director of speech pathology (SLP) for Hi Desert Physical Rehabilitation Group Inc., a private group offering physical, occupational and speech therapy services to the communities in Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley, as well as the nearby Marine Corps base, all at the edge of California鈥檚 Mojave Desert.

A 2006 graduate of 麻豆传媒, she credits her accomplishments to the education she received in 麻豆传媒鈥檚 speech-language pathology program.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 the best career in the universe,鈥� Diemart said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very passionate about my profession.鈥�

The road to success, however, was not an easy one.

Diemart grew up in Wichita and discovered the profession of speech therapists early, through a friend who also is an alumna of Wichita State鈥檚 SLP program. In fact, Diemart worked as a speech pathology assistant in the local public school systems before and during her time at 麻豆传媒. She began her college career studying early childhood education, but quickly decided to take her friend鈥檚 advice and switch programs.

Diemart met the challenge of graduate school as a working mother of four, but with the help of her mentors in the SLP program, she built on her experience as a Shocker to achieve success and satisfaction.

One of those mentors was professor Barbara Hodson, who says Diemart was an excellent student and clinician who helped her classmates and clients to excel.

鈥淛ennifer鈥檚 passion for this profession is extraordinary,鈥� Hodson said. 鈥淪he already is in a position of recognition, a young leader in our national organization. The fact that she packed up children and moved to California took a lot of strength 鈥� and now she is extremely successful in a private practice.鈥�

鈥淚 love Dr. Hodson,鈥� Diemart said about her former mentor, now a colleague she occasionally sees at professional conferences. 鈥淪he brings tremendous knowledge to 麻豆传媒鈥檚 program, particularly in her areas of research. She holds students to a very high standard, and that really helps with the high ethical and knowledge-based professional certifications.鈥�

Flexibility for nontraditional students

Diemart chose 麻豆传媒 because of its flexibility for nontraditional students, and was drawn to the SLP program because the faculty seemed genuinely driven to see their students succeed.

鈥淭hey were all great,鈥� she said. 鈥淏rian Ray, Tony DiLollo, Harold Edwards, who has passed away, Julie Sherz, Trisha Self 鈥� they really stand out for me, personally. They were very helpful in helping me get my degree.鈥�

Since graduating, Diemart has taken opportunities to continue developing her professional skills. She has clinical experience in fluency disorders, autism spectrum disorders, phonology/speech sound, early language development, stroke rehabilitation, genetic disorders and syndromes and more.

鈥淭he best part of my job,鈥� Diemart said, 鈥渋s that it doesn鈥檛 feel like a job. I鈥檓 rewarded every single day I go in to work. It鈥檚 never the same thing twice. People always surprise me and I鈥檓 always challenged. It鈥檚 very rewarding.鈥�

The hardest part of her job, she says, is that you can鈥檛 help everybody.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 have all the answers,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd especially in my region, resources are limited.鈥�

Diemart鈥檚 advice to anyone interested in her profession?

鈥淪hadow a speech pathologist,鈥� she said, 鈥渆ven if you鈥檙e in high school. See if you like what they鈥檙e doing; picture yourself doing that. Talk to them and learn about what they do.

鈥淪LP is an excellent career choice. It鈥檚 an amazing opportunity that covers such a broad spectrum. There鈥檚 so much specialization to be found and so many options. I鈥檓 actually happy to go into work every day, and that鈥檚 a wonderful feeling.鈥�