A Full-Circle Journey
How Inclusion and Mentorship Shaped the Path of Elena Mugno, SLP Class of 2026
“I always knew I wanted to work in a person-to-person field,” says Elena Mugno, SLP Class of 2026. Her interest in speech-language pathology (SLP) grew from childhood experience, inspired by the speech-language pathologist who worked with her sister at home. Mugno recalls how welcoming and inclusive the speech-language pathologist was, making her entire family feel included. Once she began her classes in SLP as an undergraduate student at Loyola University Maryland, she knew she had found the right fit. The flexibility of the field, the wide range of ages served, and the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives solidified her decision.
When it came time to choose a graduate school, New York Medical College stood out to Mugno for its medically oriented program. “I’ve always been interested in the medical side of speech, and I loved how speech students get to have a semester of gross anatomy lab. It was such a great learning opportunity,” she states.
One of her most memorable experiences occurred during her summer externship at Mount Sinai Hospital, a highly competitive placement she earned as a first-year graduate student. During the experience, she conducted a modified barium swallow study independently in the radiology room for the first time, a moment that affirmed her growth and confidence. The externship, along with strong encouragement from her supervisor, solidified her career goals and passion for hospital-based care. With the support of NYMC faculty, Mugno was able to balance her fall externship opportunity while coaching the swim team at Bronxville High School, a long-standing passion that grew from her four years as an undergraduate swimmer.
As graduation approaches, Mugno feels well-equipped to enter the field, and is grateful for the faculty and staff for all their support who helped her get there. “The faculty are so caring, and everything they do is fine-tuned to our interests,” she says. “They truly consider each students’ needs and create an environment that works for everyone.”
Looking ahead, she is excited to complete her final semester of classes, applying for clinical fellowships, and watching her classmates take their next steps. She describes her cohort as exceptionally close-knit, supportive, and collaborative, noting that in-person learning and shared coursework helped foster strong friendships. In five years, she hopes to be thriving as a hospital-based speech-language pathologist treating adults and giving back as a supervisor to graduate students. Mentorship has played a powerful role in her own journey, and she looks forward to one day guiding future clinicians with the same care and encouragement she received.
