SLP Summer Clinic Boosts Future Professionals, Community
By Marilyn Huerta
For Cal State San Marcos alumni like Nicole Belanger, this summer marked an ideal time to give back.
Belanger is a 2020 master’s graduate of CSUSM’s speech-language pathology (SLP) program, and she recently returned to campus as part of the university’s SLP summer clinic. A regional implementation lead for the state-funded Open Access project, she made a significant impact by mentoring students and introducing pediatric clients to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices.
“CSUSM’s SLP program provided me with a solid foundation for a successful career,” Belanger said. “Returning to supervise this summer was my chance to give back to a program that helped shape me as a clinician. I was thrilled to enrich my supervisees’ experience and inspire their passion for the field.”
At the summer clinic, which operated for four hours each weekday morning through Aug. 9, Belanger and other supervisors helped 120 pediatric clients and 24 adults receive vital speech and language services at no cost. The program not only provided crucial support to the community, but it also served as a hands-on training opportunity for graduate students in the SLP program.
Adrienne Shah, a lecturer and supervisor at the clinic, highlighted the dual benefits of the program.
“Our students provided over 3,000 hours of free speech therapy this summer,” Shah said. “It was an incredible opportunity for them to build clinical skills while serving our community.”
Shah, who had a positive experience as a CSUSM student, was driven by a desire to support current students.
“I wanted them to recognize the value of their hard work and the difference they were making in people’s lives,” she said.
Sarah Alapizco, another clinical supervisor, emphasized the importance of building confidence among students.
“I aimed to build their confidence and show them that they had the skill set to implement successful therapy,” she said. “The summer clinic also fostered collaboration, helping students support each other and enhance their learning experience.”
The clinic’s impact extended beyond the academic and professional spheres. A mother of a young adult client shared her appreciation for the services.
“I was so happy that we found this clinic,” she said. “We had never been a part of a program like this, and my son had needed these services for a very long time. This was a special place, and I was excited to continue coming.”
Karen Delfau, visiting from France, brought her 10-year-old daughter, Augustine, to the clinic.
“I sought a range of speech and communication resources unavailable in my region,” Delfau said. “While visiting family this summer, I was pleased that Augustine could benefit from the program, and I hope to return next year.”
For more information about career opportunities in speech-language pathology or to learn about clinic services, visit CSUSM’s SLP department website.
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