Manager - Rehabilitation Services Cook Children's Medical Center Arlington, Texas, United States
Abstract: Do you want to advance in your career but you are not really sure what you want to do or how to do it? This session will help increase your knowledge of options, clarify your goals, and identify practical steps to grow skillsets needed to achieve these goals.
Description: Whether you are an early or mid-career speech-language pathologist, both clinical and administrative growth pathways are available, but it may be hard to discern which direction to take and how to grow necessary skills effectively. Opportunities for growth and advancement in healthcare careers are not often discussed in speech-language pathology graduate programs. Career growth is an essential part of longevity in healthcare as it facilitates engagement, fuels excitement and alleviates burnout. This is of particular importance, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic which instigated a record number of workers to leave healthcare due to stress and burnout.
First, this session will help participants to explore their own personalities, passions, and values to better understand themselves, their strengths and challenges as well as how this all aligns with career development and options. Next, growth pathways will be explored in different clinical settings (such as medical, educational and private practice) along with skillsets needed to be successful in these areas. Finally, practical tools to develop these skills will be outlined and discussed for both clinical as well as professional and leadership skills. These will include both formal options such as advanced education, continuing education and certifications as well as more informal tools including mentorship and self-study.
In addition, career growth can occur without official title and job advancement. Opportunities to lead in participants’ sphere of influence will also be explored both through professional and volunteer activities. As an exemplar, the Cook Children’s professional development program as well as being mentored in advanced competencies will be discussed. Volunteer opportunities and engagement through TSHA will also be highlighted.
Mentorship is an area that is often discussed as an important part of professional development but can be difficult to implement practically in a way that truly facilitates measurable growth and development on the part of the mentee. Ways to approach mentoring relationships will be discussed including how to approach a new mentor, communicating with a mentor and how to establish and follow through with an effective mentoring action plan.
This presentation will be an effective way to inject enthusiasm back into your job, no matter what setting. Get ready to re-inject joy and purpose back into your work life.
Presentation Format & Methods: Power point, interactive discussion, Mentimeter
Supporting Research: Reference 1: Slavkin, HC . Leadership for healthcare in the 21st century: a personal perspective. J Health Leader. 2010;2:35–41.
Supporting Research: Reference 2: Doody, Michael F. "A mentor is a key to career success. (Career Development)." Healthcare Financial Management, vol. 57, no. 2, Feb. 2003
Supporting Research: Reference 3: Hudson, M. W., & DeRuiter, M. (Eds.). (2019). Professional issues in speech-language pathology and audiology. Plural Publishing.
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Supporting Research: Reference 5:
Learning Objectives:
Formulate a short-term and long-term goal for their career pathway.
Identify three specific skills that they are in need of developing in order to progress toward career goals.
Describe a framework for having conversations with managers or mentors to facilitate career growth.