The Path to Connection
Through her Private Practice and Teaching, Jessica Baliski, M.S. ’09, CCC-SLP, is Dedicated to Helping Transform Lives
Jessica Baliski, M.S. ’09, CCC-SLP, has always been driven by an interest in understanding how the mind works — a curiosity that naturally led her to a career in speech-language pathology. After graduating from New York Medical College (NYMC) in 2009, she began working across a variety of clinical settings, including schools, hospitals, and home care, treating patients across the lifespan — from infants to adults. In addition to her clinical work, Baliski has enjoyed sharing her knowledge as an adjunct professor at Stockton University in Pomona, New Jersey, for the past 12 years. Her course, “Language Disorders Across the Life Span,” bridges new research and practice, preparing students to understand diagnosis and intervention from early childhood to adulthood.
At the heart of Jessica’s work is her private practice. In 2019, she founded Onward and Upward Speech-Language Pathology, a telehealth-based service centered around compassion, accessibility, and trust. She takes pride in being able to offer clients a convenient and confidential way to access therapy from home, while maintaining the same level of personalized, high-quality care.
Her commitment to the field earned her the Best of Washington Township 2024 Award for Speech-Language Pathology. “It came as a surprise to me,” she said, “but it felt nice to be acknowledged for my dedication to this field.” Baliski was recognized this past January at the ceremony alongside 150 honorees, including 27 from the medical field.
Baliski’s advice to anyone beginning their path in speech-language pathology is simple: be kind to yourself and take things one day at a time. She emphasizes the importance of prioritizing mental health and finding personal outlets to stay grounded — something she has found through rock climbing and yoga. Looking back, she says she’s grateful for her time at NYMC, where the multifaceted clinical exposure and medical-based training — especially the anatomy and neuroscience classes — gave her the foundation to navigate both the challenges and rewarding moments of her career.
One of those moments came while working with a patient recovering from chemo-radiation, helping them to learn how to swallow and enjoy food again. “Eating with your family is one of the most meaningful bonding experiences people can have together,” she shares. “It’s incredibly fulfilling to not only help regain their ability to eat, but to reclaim that experience for them.”
