The Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders (CSD) hosted the USF CSD Interdisciplinary Winter Conference on Dec. 5, offering a full day of interdisciplinary presentations focused on communication sciences and related disciplines.
Held on the USF Tampa campus, the conference welcomed attendees from the university and across the broader community. The event featured sessions approved for American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) continuing education units (CEUs), with participants able to earn up to 0.65 CEUs by attending the full program.
The day began with a journal club session, “Building Trust in the Classroom: A Conceptual Model,” led by Caitlin Street Al-Mutawa, MS, CCC-SLP. Morning programming continued with “Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Concussion Management: Advancing Collaborative Clinical Practice,” presented by Jon Douglas, AuD, CH-TM, CCC-A; Emily Glass, MA, CCC-SLP, and Kelly L. Allegro, PT, DPT, NCS.
Afternoon breakout sessions showcased a wide range of clinical and research topics. Presentations included “Updates in the Management of Head & Neck Cancer” by Erin Guidera, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S; “Complexity Theory: Application to Language Disorder Across the Lifespan” by Jane Smart, PhD, CCC-SLP; Al-Mutawa and Charlotte King, SLPD, CCC-SLP; and “Advances in Noise Management: Bridging Hearing Aid Technology and Clinical Practice” by Varsha Rallapalli, PhD, AuD, CCC-A, and Erol J. Ozmeral, PhD.
Additional sessions included "When to Ethically Advocate vs When Not to Advocate," presented by Jennifer Francisco; “Using Cross-Linguistic and Language-Specific Information in the Intervention of Bilingual Preschool Children,” presented by M. Adelaida Restrepo, PhD, CCC-SLP, department chair; and “Artificial Intelligence Applications in Voice, Swallowing, and Airway Disease: Clinical Innovations and Research Updates,” led by USF Health colleagues Stephanie Watts, PhD, CCC-SLP, and Yael Bensoussan, MD.
Restrepo expressed gratitude to the many people who contributed to the success of the conference, including the CSD CEU team: Alexandra E. Brandimore, PhD, CCC-SLP; Felicia Pastore, MS, CCC-SLP; Calli Fodor, AuD, CCC-A; Kathryn, Johnson MS, CCC-SLP; Glass; Samantha Thomas, MA, NIC; and Al-Mutawa. A special thank-you was also extended to Jena Rossman, academic program specialist, for managing room assignments, posting directional signage, and ensuring that each space was prepared to welcome attendees throughout the day.