Emily Lowther wants to change the lives of people with speech impediments \u2013 and she\u2019s about to have the chance to do it.<\/p>\n
In August the Master of Speech Pathology graduate will jet off to the United States to undertake world-leading research into stuttering, a disorder that affects millions of people around the world.<\/p>\n
Ms Lowther was awarded a scholarship to spend three years working alongside geneticist and speech and language pathologist, Professor Shelly Jo Kraft, from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. She will assist Professor Kraft with her revolutionary research, a collaborative project being undertaken with Professor Janet Beilby from Curtin\u2019s School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, which is aiming to discover the genes contributing to the disorder of stuttering in families.<\/p>\n
The insights and experiences she gained during her master degree at Curtin will be valuable when undertaking research and completing her PhD. \u201cMany rewarding experiences occurred while on clinical placement,\u201d she says. \u201cI suppose the most memorable experiences were witnessing the moment when my clients began to understand a particular concept. They\u2019re so excited and proud of themselves for all the hard work they\u2019ve done, and rightly so!\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Lowther also established a strong support network of fellow alumni while completing her course.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstandably, the workload involved to complete this course full-time was considerable,\u201d she explains. \u201cYet each time I came across a problem or a situation I was unsure of, one of the GEMs (Graduate Entry Masters) would immediately offer a solution, advice or simple support. The overwhelming sense that we were \u2018all in it together\u2019 was completely unexpected, and something that I will treasure for many years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for the future, Ms Lowther doesn\u2019t intend to make too many plans as she never knows what opportunities might be around the corner.<\/p>\n
\u201cStill, I\u2019m keen to build a body of research that makes a significant contribution in my field of study and enable speech pathologists to provide more effective service to achieve better outcomes for their clients,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
She knows that by completing a PhD, she\u2019ll have opportunities to contribute to the field of speech pathology not just clinically, but academically as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to being able to do some teaching alongside research, as a way of \u2018paying it forward\u2019 through supporting future speech pathology students the same way I have been over recent years.\u201d<\/p>\n
And her advice for other students of speech pathology? \u201cMake the most of every opportunity. Support each other. Double-check your referencing. Drink coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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