Faculty/Staff/PhD

Clinical Faculty

Kelli Gorajec

Gorajec, Kelli, M.A., CCC-SLP

Assistant Instructor

Phone: 813.974.6586
Office: PCD 3002

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Kelli Gorajec, MA, CCC-SLP joined the USF Communication Sciences and Disorders department as an assistant instructor in the Fall of 2019.  She obtained a Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Central Michigan University in May of 2011.  She has vast experience in evidenced-based practice evaluating and treating a variety of medical diagnoses in acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient therapy settings.  Her areas of clinical specialty include adult neurogenic communication disorders with a primary interest in aphasia, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s Disease and ALS.  She is a licensed SPEAK OUT!® Therapy Program provider, maintains certification in the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment – LOUD, and McNeal Dysphagia Therapy programs.  She is an ASHA S.T.E.P. mentor and a recent graduate of the ASHA Leadership Development Program (LDP).  She is also the primary clinical SLP for the USF SPEAK OUT!® Therapy & Research Center.  She enjoys sharing a passion for the field of Speech-Language Pathology with her students, engaging them in clinical research, and prioritizes a life participation approach to intervention for all clinical populations!

Education
Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology Central Michigan University 2011
Bachelor of Applied Arts in Communication Disorders Central Michigan University 2008

Teaching

  • SPA6505 | Advanced Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology (voice, fluency & Neurogenics)
  • SPA6505 | Practicum: Clinic III SLP (Voice, Fluency & Neurogenics)
  • SPA6505 | Practicum: Clinic II SLP (Voice, Fluency & Neurogenics)
  • SPA6505: Practicum Prep: Clinic I SLP (Voice, Fluency & Neurogenics)

Recent Scholarly Activity 

  • ASHA Proposal Submitted 4/2024: Presenting Author (Purcell, C., Gorajec, K.) Impact of the SPEAK OUT!® Therapy Program with and without EMST in Parkinson’s disease.

  • Presenting Author (Gorajec, K., & Purcell, C). SPEAK OUT! Therapy Implementation and Best Practices. Presented at the USF Dept. of Communication Sciences and Disorders CEU Conference, Tampa, FL, Friday, December 8th, 2023 (1:00pm – 2:00pm; one-hour in person seminar).

  • Principal Investigator, “Impact of SPEAK OUT! with and without EMST for the improvement of motor speech function in Parkinson’s disease: A comparative analysis”. Principal Investigators: Kelli Gorajec, MA, CCC-SLP, Alexandra E. Brandimore, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Study Coordinator: Charlotte Purcell, SLPD, CCC-SLP, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, Spring 2023 – Present.

  • Awarded the SPEAK OUT! Therapy and Research Center grant for the state of Florida from the Parkinson’s Voice Project in Spring 2023.

  • Presenting Author (Ahmed, M., Crain, C., Glass, E., Gorajec, K. Gutierrez, E., Mikkelson, N., Mock, S.) (2022, July). Living your Legacy: Embracing Student Diversity through Clinical Education. Presented at the Annual Convention of the Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, St. Petersburg, FL., Friday, July 15, 2022 (9:00am – 10:00am; one-hour in person seminar).

  • Presenting Author (Anthony, T., Gorajec, K., Mikkelson, N.) (2021, November). Session 1533: From point A to Gen Z: Uniting Perspectives and Discovering Solutions for Effective Clinical Instruction. Presented at the Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, Washington D.C., Saturday, November 20, 2021 (8:00am – 9:00am; one-hour in person seminar).