Lynne MacFadyen Aspires to Help Others Find Their Voice
SHSP Class of 2025 Student Commencement Speaker Will Represent Her Peers with a Message of Resilience, Growth, and Inspiration
Representing the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Class of 2025, Lynne MacFadyen will take the stage at the 166th Commencement Ceremony on May 28 to share an inspiring message with her peers from the School of Health Sciences and Practice. Her own challenges with communication as a teenager sparked a passion for speech-language pathology and a commitment to helping others. Her time at New York Medical College (NYMC) has offered meaningful opportunities for both academic development and personal growth.
What inspired you to pursue your degree?
When I was a teenager, I had some medical complications, which left me with some difficulty communicating. This experience opened my eyes to the gravity of communication, how it functions in our everyday world, and the importance of being able to communicate. I wanted to go back to school and help others follow the same journey as I did.
What type of research have you been involved in during your time at NYMC?
In my time at NYMC, I collaborated with my clinical educator at Westchester Medical Center to research the effects and treatments of degenerative idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis on swallowing.
What has helped motivate you along your educational journey? Have you encountered any challenges along the way?
The people at NYMC have helped me in my academic journey. Our faculty is amazing and supportive, and they've been there every step of the way. My friends and everyone in my cohort came together, and that sense of connection and motivation truly helped me succeed in the program.
After you graduate, what is your dream career?
I’m not sure what my dream career would be, but I do like medically complex pediatrics as well as adult acute care.
What made you choose NYMC?
NYMC stood out to me because of their modular rotations, which are medical experiences in the field over the semester. Students go to multiple different locations and experience a lot of different populations. Also, the pediatric dysphagia and early intervention specialization track really drew me in because I knew from the start that I was interested in medically complex pediatrics.
What has been your favorite aspect of being an NYMC student?
One thing I really like about being an NYMC student is the sense of community. Everyone is so supportive and motivational. They really want the best for you, whether that's faculty or your class or anyone else that you run into on campus.
What advice would you give applicants or incoming students?
The advice I would give to applicants or incoming students is to never give up on yourself and try to keep a work-life balance. Know that once you start grad school, it’s easy to get caught up in wanting to do well and let everything else fall to the side, but just keeping that interaction with people and also focusing on your studies is a great idea from the start.
Outside of your studies, what are your hobbies or interests?
I'm a very outdoorsy person. In the winter, I enjoy snowmobiling and snowboarding, while in the summer, I spend time boating, hiking, and doing just about anything that gets me outside and active.
What is a fun fact about you?
I’ve never broken a bone.
