Alexa Ponick
214 Ullery Rd, Carmichaels
Summary
Compassionate Speech-Language Pathologist with exceptional interpersonal skills and a commitment to high-quality patient care. Expertise in individualized treatment plans and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Speech-Language Pathologist
Quality Life Services (Skilled Nursing Facilities)
Markleysburg
08.2021 - Current
- Perform and document initial exams and determine appropriate diagnoses.
- Establish realistic speech therapy goals for all patients.
- Regularly evaluate effects of treatment and adjust to achieve maximum benefit.
- Counsel and make recommendations to patients, caregivers and families about cognitive-communicative strategies and swallowing strategies.
- Test neuro-muscular, motor, cognitive and psycho-social skills.
- Consult with other direct-care staff and work with caregivers to implement programs which achieve individual therapy goals.
- Render highest quality of care when interacting with patients and families.
- Complete documentation according to compliance requirements.
- Keep current with latest treatment strategies and intervention plans.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Encompass Health
Morgantown
02.2021 - 02.2023
- Work with stroke patients who present with multiple different forms of aphasia, as well as patients who present with a TBI, dysarthria, apraxia, dementia, dysphagia, and voice disorders
- Utilize multiple standardized assessments and informal measures to perform speech and language evaluations
- Collaborate with other therapists (speech, physical, and occupational therapists) in order to generate the best evidence-based treatment plan for each individual patient, providing them with the best quality of care
- Implement all treatment plans while keeping comprehensive notes on patient progress and speech to make the necessary adjustments to treatment
- Present at family conferences and team-care conferences
- Complete all required paperwork including evaluation reports and treatment notes
- Earned reputation for good attendance and hard work
- Utilize IOPI equipment to provide lingual strength training and to help improve articulator function in stroke patients with dysarthria
- Teach clients how to improve speech with optimal control of facial muscles, jaw and breathing mechanisms
- Improve patients' cognitive, speech, receptive & expressive language, voice, and swallowing abilities.
Speech-Language Pathologist
PlayWorks- Child & Adult Therapies
Morgantown
08.2020 - 08.2021
- Worked with patients diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and Articulation and Phonological Processing Disorders.
- Programmed Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices and provided treatment to nonverbal AAC users.
- Performed and documented formal assessments to determine appropriate diagnoses and devised individualized treatment plans based on unique patient requirements.
- Evaluated treatment goals and patient progress on continuous basis.
- Counseled and made recommendations to patients, caregivers, and families about communicative strategies and devices.
- Collaborated with therapists of all disciplines in order to provide the best quality care to each individual patient, maximizing the most functional outcomes.
Substitute Teacher
Carmichaels Area School District
Carmichaels
03.2018 - 05.2019
- Managed classrooms of 20 to 30 students during the absence of assigned teachers
- Implemented a variety of teaching methods such as lectures, discussions and demonstrations
- Encouraged students to persevere with challenging tasks
- Established positive relationships with students, parents, fellow teachers and school administrators
Education
Master of Science - Communication Disorders
California University of Pennsylvania
California, PA, United States05.2020
Bachelor of Science - Communication Disorders
California University of Pennsylvania
12.2017
Skills
- Highly responsible and reliable
- Works well under pressure
- Exceptional interpersonal skills
- Upbeat, outgoing and positive
- Cooperative and collaborative team member
- Computer proficient
- Extremely organized
- Quick learner
- CPR certified
- LSVT certified
- Strong verbal communication
- Attention to detail
- Stress management techniques
- Observant
- Empathetic and patient
- Time management proficiency
- Calm and level-headed under duress
- Quick problem solver
- Determined, hardworking, and dedicated
- Culturally aware
Accomplishments
College (graduate level)
- Graduate assistant for the Institutional Review Board
- Placed on Dean's List
- GPA- 3.9
- Completed Research Project
- Completed Lee Silverman Voice Treatment Training: Now LSVT certified
College (undergraduate level)
- Placed on Dean's List
- Graduated summa cum laude
- GPA- 3.996
- Presidential Scholar Award
- Member of NSSHLA
- Member of California University Choir
Timeline
Speech-Language Pathologist
Quality Life Services (Skilled Nursing Facilities)
08.2021 - Current
Speech-Language Pathologist
Encompass Health
02.2021 - 02.2023
Speech-Language Pathologist
PlayWorks- Child & Adult Therapies
08.2020 - 08.2021
Substitute Teacher
Carmichaels Area School District
03.2018 - 05.2019
Master of Science - Communication Disorders
California University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Science - Communication Disorders
California University of Pennsylvania