the host of the speech uncensored podcast
Leigh Ann has been living that SLP life since graduating with her master’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2013 from the University of Central Florida in Orlando.
Prior to that, Leigh Ann graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor’s of Arts in International Studies from the University of West Florida in Pensacola. As part of the Honors College, Leigh Ann took class trips to Mexico and Cuba. During undergrad, she spent a semester in Japan at Kansai Gaidai University eating all the things, seeing all the things, and experiencing all the things.
After graduation, she served as an AmeriCorps service member from 2005-2006 and completed projects in Washington DC, Louisiana, Virginia, and Maryland in partnership with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Boys and Girls Club, Valley Forge National Historic Park, the American Red Cross and others.
In 2007, Leigh Ann was awarded a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship to study Public Health in New Zealand. While we’re sharing interesting stories, Leigh Ann amused Helen Clark, the Prime Minister of NZ with her American accent at a reception. Before departing the southern hemisphere, she earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health from the University of Otago (Wellington Medical campus).
“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”
While at UCF pursing her masters in Communication Disorders, Leigh Ann was part of a grant to prepare SLPs to work with English Language Learners, earning a graduate certificate of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).
Throughout Leigh Ann’s clinical career, she worked across outpatient, acute, and inpatient rehab settings. She has presented for ASHA CEUs on aphasia, dysphagia, mindfulness, long-COVID cognition deficits, person-centered evaluation/treatment, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).
Leigh Ann’s favorite thing about being an SLP is that there is always something new to learn. As an outpatient SLP, she has developed resources for patients and caregivers in topics such as attention strategies, memory strategies, energy management, and more.
Outside of work, Leigh Ann loves spending time outdoors with her husband, Chase. You might find them on the pickleball court, roller skating, paddling on a lake, or hiking. They enjoy solving puzzles, community service, thrifting, and traveling. Leigh Ann enjoys indulging in a cozy blanket, a cup of aromatic tea, and a good book on a rainy day. Or really any day ending in ‘y.’
About sUP
The Speech Uncensored Podcast was born out of a desire to learn more and share that information. As a lifelong learner, Leigh Ann is passionate about disseminating useful resources and equipping SLPs to provide the highest quality of care. The scope of practice for SLPs is wide, varied, and nuanced. When given the right tools, we can confidently provide quality services to our patients. And this podcast is about connecting SLPs with high quality resources to achieve that goal of quality care.
