ISU SPEECH AND HEARING - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology
Becky earned her Clinical Doctorate of Audiology (Au.D.) from the University of Florida in 2003. Dr. Braun is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and is Board Certified in Audiology with a Specialty Certification in Pediatric Audiology. Prior to joining Illinois State University, Becky was a Clinical Audiologist at OSF St. Francis Medical Center and Peoria Ear, Nose & Throat Group. Her interests include early assessment and treatment of pediatric patients, adult hearing evaluations and hearing aids, as well as vestibular diagnostics and rehabilitation.
Cara graduated from Michigan State University with a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Cara began her career in the High School at the Illinois School for the Deaf and then worked in K-12 buildings in Unit 5 school district before coming to ISU in 2003. Cara has been the Director of Clinical Education since 2007 and is responsible for scheduling on-campus clinic, part time off-campus placements and full time externship placements.
Job Titles:
- Medical Insurance Specialist
Heidi graduated from Illinois State University with a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 1996. Heidi began her career in the Unit 5 school district working at elementary and middle school level. Heidi began working in the ISU Speech and Hearing Clinic in 2000. Her interests include clinical education, curriculum development, and coding/reimbursement.
Jaime graduated from Illinois State University with a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2004. Jaime spent the first 7 years of her practice working with adult/geriatric patients in the medical setting and the last 7 years working with elementary-age children in the school setting. Her interest areas include language disorders in children and adults as well as social communication skills in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Job Titles:
- Medical Office Specialist
Julie graduated from Illinois State University with a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 1988. She began her career working for District 149 in the Chicago area, and has also worked for Head Start programs. She began her career with ISU as a clinical educator in 2006. Her interest areas include language and speech sound disorders in children as well as professional issues within the field.
Kim graduated from Illinois State University with a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 1996. She has been a practicing speech-language pathologist for over 20 years in the medical and university settings. Her interest areas include dysphagia, aphasia, voice, and traumatic brain injury.
Lindsay graduated from Illinois State University with a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2004. She has 15 years of experience in the public school system treating clients preschool to high school age. Her interest areas include autism, stuttering, phonological speech disorders, articulation disorders, and receptive and expressive language delays.
Rachel Wood holds a Clinical Doctorate of Audiology (Au.D.) from the University of Texas at Dallas. She is an American Academy of Audiology Fellow and earned her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-A) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Dr. Wood comes from a clinical background in ENT practice and has served as an assistant professor and clinical instructor at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. Her clinical interests include adult and pediatric diagnostics and amplification, geriatrics, vestibular diagnostics, aural rehabilitation and adult cochlear implants.
Rene graduated from Illinois State University with a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 1992. After 7 years working with adults with Traumatic Brain Injury in New York and Chicago, she joined the CSD department in 1999. Her interest areas include adults traumatic brain injury, aphasia, accent modification, and stuttering.
Job Titles:
- Medical Office Specialist
Tricia graduated from Illinois State University with a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 1991. She began her career in area school districts and later gained additional professional experiences in home health care, acute hospital care, and skilled nursing facility rehabilitation. Tricia joined the CSD department in 2015. Her current interest areas include communication services across the lifespan and gender-affirming communication services.