SLP Student Selected for ASHA Student Leadership Program

Chosen through a competitive application process, Rodriguez will participate in a week-long leadership training program, where she will have the opportunity to network with other students and professionals while expanding her knowledge about speech and hearing sciences. As vice president of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) chapter at New York Medical College (NYMC), she looks forward to the experience and is excited to connect with students from other universities across the nation.

For Rodriguez, participating in programs that promote representation in the field is particularly meaningful.

“As a first-generation Mexican-American, it’s important to have that representation in the field,” she said. Rodriguez has seen firsthand the difference it can make when she is able to communicate with patients and their families in their native language and connect with them on a personal level. “Being a part of these programs and knowing how to navigate those kinds of situations has always been very important throughout my higher education”.

Rodriguez’s interest in research began as an undergraduate student at City University of New York (CUNY) College of Staten Island. She focused on motor development in infants in relation to sleep and had the opportunity to present her work at the International Conference of Infancy Studies in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2024. Moving forward, she hopes to continue conducting research and expand her knowledge of evidence-based practices. She recognizes the importance of ongoing research and its impact on shaping best clinical practices, something she is particularly looking forward to at the conference.

Rodriguez was drawn to NYMC because of the faculty and their commitment to supporting students holistically. “They take the time to make sure we’re understanding the concepts explained in class and connecting them to our clinical work. It’s a very personalized experience, and that’s only going to make us better clinicians at the end of the day.” Rodriguez also hopes to give back to future generations of speech-language pathology students through mentorship. Having benefited from opportunities and guidance throughout her own educational journey, she hopes to provide similar support to incoming students as they begin building their own paths in the profession.

Looking ahead, Rodriguez is preparing for her externship at Mount Sinai, in an outpatient rehabilitation clinic. She looks forward to working with adult patients in areas including cognition, voice, and dysphagia, all areas of interest to her. While she currently sees herself pursuing a career working with adults in rehabilitation, Rodriguez is keeping an open mind as she continues through her clinical rotations and explores the many opportunities within the field of speech-language pathology.