Katie McDonald is a dedicated, compassionate, and highly experienced speech pathologist, and serves as the current Director of Speech-Language Pathology Services for HealthSource Saginaw. She assumed this role in 2013, but started as a treating clinician in December of 2003, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of various communication, cognition, and swallowing disorders. In addition to training and overseeing a staff of 5, Katie is responsible for the overall management of budgets (capital and departmental), performance improvement reviews, and competency evaluations for the Speech-Language Pathology department. Katie is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of aphasia, apraxia, dysarthria, voice and resonance disorders, memory deficits, visual-spatial neglect and attention processing deficits, as well as dysphagia (swallowing disorders). All of these disorders can arise due to the effects of stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and other neurologic disorders. Her experiences in treating patients include acute inpatient, skilled, long term, outpatient, and in-home level of care. Katie also has experience in the schools treating children at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Katie’s areas of expertise include swallowing disorders, aphasia, apraxia, and dysarthria.

Katie received a Master Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Eastern Michigan University in 2003, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Central Michigan University in 2001. She is also Certified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), affiliated with the Michigan Speech Hearing Association, and maintains Michigan state licensure. Katie has received specialized training for Deep Pharyngeal Neuromuscular Stimulation (DPNS), Facial Electrical Stimulation, as well as Neuro-Muscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)Vital Stimulation (V-Stim). In addition, she has completed courses in the understanding and interpretation of the modified barium swallow as well as swallowing in the tracheostomy/vent population.

Originally, Katie was drawn to this field after taking a survey at a community college to determine potential career paths and areas of interest. The results indicated her keen interest in working with others, the medical field, and communications. Katie discovered firsthand the humanity of helping others, which inspired her to pursue this particular career, knowing what her grandfather went through following his stroke. Indeed, she finds it very rewarding to be an intrinsic part of the recovery process, as she is able to address issues from birth to end of life, in a wide variety of contexts facilitating best practice and use of techniques for recovery. Often speech-language pathologists are providing support and education to families who may be dealing with the challenges of various diseases and disorders, fostering the barrier of communication and understanding, while facilitating recovery. During end of life situations, Katie respectfully provides education and support allowing families, friends, and caregivers to become an extension of the support system enhancing the patient’s overall quality of life.

She is currently striving to employ additional outreach programs, contacting medical physicians to discuss services offered. She is offering more specialized treatments for cognitive-communication deficits including pre-driving skills evaluations with driving simulations, and is in the beginning processes of implementing new attention processing programs such as Interactive Metronome (IM). Katie has established rapport with the local district of dental hygienists to provide educational in-services about how their services can also enhance overall care. She attends career fairs at high schools and colleges to build interest in the burgeoning field of speech-language pathology.

Going forward, Katie would like to focus on further public speaking, in-services, and will eventually look into pursuing a doctorate and teaching at the university level. She is keen to connect with other professionals and to promote being a resource for each other. Indeed, there are many aspects of this field that remain relatively unknown, and the services are not utilized as much as they should be.

Katie is passionate about her work in this field and looks forward to each new day and what it may bring. She honestly feels she has advanced her life and personality more than her career by working in this field. She has grown tremendously in her understanding and patience. Katie has learned to respect the rich life history of her geriatric patients, and has discovered just how fulfilling it has been to work with people, helping them in their recovery and in the return to independence in their home and community. When she’s not working, Katie is devoted to promoting her children’s education and supporting fundraising at the school. She was recently awarded the Friend of Education Award by the Swan Valley Education Association (2015). She has also assisted in school program implementation such as The Leader In Me. Katie started an independent business as a PURE haven essentials consultant. She enjoys providing information to families and friends regarding harmful chemicals in everyday products to avoid. Katie supports Childhood Leukemia, March of Dimes, Breast Cancer Awareness and the United Way. Although Katie is dedicated to her professional career, she too takes significant pride in her marriage and raising her two young boys. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing games, camping, and traveling.