Caitlin McDonald
Windsor,CT
Summary
Skilled Speech and Language Pathologist with 3 years of school-based experience in comprehensive case management, intervention planning, and detailed documentation. Proven ability to develop tailored treatment plans that effectively address diverse student needs. Strong communication and problem-solving skills complement a methodical approach to improving patient outcomes. Dedicated to fostering collaborative relationships with clients and multidisciplinary teams to achieve successful therapy goals.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Speech Language Pathologist
Manchester Public Schools
08.2023 - Current
- Consult and collaborate with parents, teachers, and administrators regarding assessment, interventions and therapy services
- Assess students' receptive and expressive language skills to determine present levels of performance and to develop appropriate goals and objectives
- Assess and make recommendations for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods
- Program AAC devices according to a student's individual communication needs
- Effectively interpret and analyze assessment results, and share them with staff and parents
- Prepare written assessment reports for each student evaluated, and write Speech and Language goals for the Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
- Implement appropriate therapy using research-based interventions
- Evaluate oral motor and feeding skills and recommend appropriate treatment plans
- Attend staffing and planning meetings for individual students and give input on student performance
- Provide parent education and support
- Develop communication plans
- Work collaboratively to deliver services to students individually or in small groups across school, community and vocational settings
- Document student performance and complete daily session notes
- Maintain accurate records of direct and indirect treatment services
- Prepare detailed reports outlining a student's annual performance and propose new goals and objectives
- Conduct comprehensive triennial evaluations to demonstrate student growth by comparing with previous test scores
- Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with students, school personnel, parents, and school staff
- Meet timelines for daily documentation and required paperwork
- Attend multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss student progress
Speech Therapy Assistant
Prudence Crandall Elementary School
10.2022 - 06.2023
- Collaborates with ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist to provide speech services to students in grades 3-5.
- Utilizes evidence-based practice to develop goals and plan treatment to students with articulation disorders, phonological processing disorders, expressive delays, and language delays.
- Collaborates with interdisciplinary team in order to develop IEPs and determine eligibility.
- Works with administration, educators, and support staff to develop most effective plan, and treatment environment for students.
Clinical Documentation Analyst
DeepScribe Inc.
05.2022 - 10.2022
- Thoroughly reviewed and audited medical notes for VIP clients developed by DeepScribe medical scribes.
- Answered user/physician complaints about patient medical notes.
- Provided feedback to veteran medical scribes in order to improve note quality.
- Developed and implemented training programs for medical scribes.
Medical Scribe
DeepScribe Inc.
10.2021 - 10.2022
- Developed SOAP style patient notes for various healthcare providers.
- Utilized appropriate medical terminology and grammar throughout medical notes.
- Stayed on-task in order to work efficiently to meet deadlines.
Member of Golf Cart Staff
Woodside Country Club
03.2019 - 10.2021
- Maintained the cleanliness of the golf carts, and golf clubs at Woodside Country Club.
- Interacted with members as well as attended their requests and needs.
- Lifted and loaded members golf bags onto their golf carts.
- Cleaned up and took care of the driving range throughout the day.
- Made sure members clubs were thoroughly cleaned and well taken care of.
- Cleaned out all golf carts used throughout the day.
- Maintained a professional work environment among my fellow staff.
Kid Zone
Woodside Country Club
03.2019 - 10.2021
- Responsible for the health and safety of children who were members of Woodside Country Club as they used the club facilities.
- Provided evaluations and progress as requested back to parents.
- Developed and implemented different activities in order to help children socialize and develop interaction skills.
- Maintained a professional work environment while interfacing with children, parents, and other staff members.
After School Counselor-Byrd Elementary School
Aiken Family Y
03.2018 - 03.2019
- Responsible for implementing YMCA funded after school program for school children from Grades K-5 from low-income households including.
- Individualized attention and assistance to academically challenged students.
- Developing and implementing activities intended to support growth of social interaction skills of children with varying personalities and abilities.
- Providing evaluations of academic and social progress as requested.
- Conducting discussions with parents regarding behavior and academics as warranted.
- Responsible for maintaining a professional work environment while interfacing with students, parents, and other staff.
After School Counselor-Aiken HeadStart Academy
Aiken Family Y
10.2017 - 03.2018
- Responsible for implementing State Funded Head Start Program for preschoolers ages 3-5 from low-income households including:
- Individualized attention and assistance.
- Developing and implementing activities intended to support growth of social interaction skills of children with varying personalities and abilities.
- Providing evaluations of social progress as requested.
- Conducting discussions with parents regarding behavior and socialization as warranted.
- Responsible for maintaining a professional work environment while interfacing with children, parents, and other staff.
Aiken HeadStart Academy Physical Education Instructor
Aiken Family Y
- Introduced preschoolers ages 3-5 to varying sports including basketball, soccer, baseball, and football.
- Conducted water safety instruction for the same age group.
Camp Counselor
Aiken Family Y Summer Camp
05.2017 - 08.2018
- Camp counselor working exclusively with children on the autism spectrum.
- Worked specifically with children in different ranges of the spectrum.
- Worked to develop better social interaction.
- Developed individual modified programs to allow participation in camp activities such as swimming, basketball, bicycle riding, etc.
- Assisted these children through everyday activities.
- Worked to develop bonds and trust with children on the spectrum.
Sandwich Artist Shift Leader
Subway, Windsor Locks, CT
05.2014 - 05.2016
- Maintained accurate inventory for manager to order.
- Made sandwiches for customers.
- Maintained food station preparation and restock.
- Ensured cleanliness of restaurant.
Research Assistant to Dr. Kathy Cooke
Quinnipiac University
09.2013 - 05.2014
- Conducted research and compiled data to be used for supporting information for a book being written on women's rights and history.
- Helped organize different honors programs events including the end of the year Honors Symposium.
- Responsible for setting up Quinnipiac Honors Program website.
Education
Doctorate of Science - Speech-Language Pathology
MGH Institute of Health Professions
08.2027
Master of Science - Speech-Language Pathology
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC08.2023
Bachelor of Science - Health Sciences
Quinnipiac University
Hamden, CT05.2016
Skills
- Patience and tolerance
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Instructional skills
- Multicultural sensitivity
- Technology proficiency
- SOAP notes expertise
- Creativity and innovation
- Assessments
- Augmentative communication
- Verbal and written communication
- Professionalism
- Special education law understanding
- Fluency Disorders Treatment
- Reliability
- Speech and language evaluation
- Family counseling
- Organizational skills
- Problem-solving aptitude
- Active listening
- Critical thinking
- Language Literacy Development
- Continuous improvement
- Time management
- Report preparation
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Ethics in Speech Pathology
- Oral Motor Skills Therapy
- Apraxia of Speech Treatment
Clinical Experience
King's Speech and Learning Center Avon, CT
- Graduate Clinician
- February 2023-April 2023
- Developed appropriate lesson plans and implemented treatment for children and adults with dyslexia utilizing the Wilson Reading System and Orton Gillingham Manual.
- Utilized evidence-based practice to develop functional goals and provide treatment to individuals with phonological awareness disorders, articulation disorders, cognitive-linguistic deficits, expressive delays, language delays, social skills, and fluency disorders.
- Effectively communicated concerns and treatment goals to patients and caregivers.
- Collaborated with other health professionals, such as school psychologists and special education teachers, in order to provide the best treatment for clients.
- Made recommendations for patient referrals, and frequency of therapy.
- Wrote SOAP notes for each patient following treatment session to properly track patient progress and determine next steps in treatment.
- Documented evaluations, treatments, and recommendations electronically using Practice Pro.
- Collaborated with supervisor and other speech-pathologists to further develop skills.
Complete Care at Glendale Center
- Naugatuck, CT
- May 2022 – July 2022
- Utilized evidence-based practice in order to develop functional goals and provide treatment to adult patients with dysarthria, aphasia, dysphagia, cognitive-linguistic deficits, expressive delays, receptive delays, hearing loss, and tracheostomy tubes.
- Provided treatments to patients with concomitant disorders such as CVA, autism, dementia, TBI, cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, and Parkinson's.
- Developed and properly demonstrated skills in evaluations of speech sound production, fluency, voice, language, hearing, swallowing, cognition, and communication modalities.
- Performed BCAT, Western Aphasia Battery, and bedside swallow evaluations for patients.
- Made recommendations for patient referrals, diet changes, frequency of therapy, and discharge plan.
- Developed and properly demonstrated skills in treatment of speech sound production, fluency, voice, language, hearing, swallowing, cognition, and communication modalities.
- Interpreted multiple Modified Barium Swallow Studies and Fibrotic Endoscopic Evaluations of Swallowing.
- Documented evaluations, treatments, and discharge summaries electronically.
- Attended and contributed to interdisciplinary team meetings for each patient.
- Collaborated with other interdisciplinary team members such as PTs, OTs, and nursing staff.
- Effectively communicated concerns and treatment goals to patients and their family members.
- Provided education to patients and their family members
Aiken Public Schools
- Aiken, SC
- June 2021 – July 2021
- Utilized evidence-based practice in order to develop functional goals and provide treatment to pediatric patients with childhood apraxia of speech, articulation disorders, phonological processing disorders, cognitive-linguistic deficits, expressive delays, and language delays.
- Developed and properly demonstrated skills in evaluations of speech sound production, articulation, expressive language, and receptive language.
- Developed and properly demonstrated skills in treatment of speech sound production, articulation, expressive language, receptive language, hearing, and social aspects of communication.
- Performed PLS-5, CELF-5, and GFTA-2 for students.
- Made recommendations for patient referrals and treatment frequency.
- Collaborated with other interdisciplinary team members in order to develop IEP for students.
- Wrote SOAP notes for each patient following treatment session in order to document and track goal progress to determine if treatment changes were necessary.
- Effectively communicated concerns and treatment goals to patients and guardians.
- Provided education to the guardians of patients.
Certification
- Adult CPR AED Certification
- Child CPR AED Certification
- Infant CPR Certification
- First Aid Certification
- PMT Certification
- ADOS Certification
- ASHA Certification
- CT Department of Education Certification
- CT Department of Health License
Timeline
Speech Language Pathologist
Manchester Public Schools
08.2023 - Current
Speech Therapy Assistant
Prudence Crandall Elementary School
10.2022 - 06.2023
Clinical Documentation Analyst
DeepScribe Inc.
05.2022 - 10.2022
Medical Scribe
DeepScribe Inc.
10.2021 - 10.2022
Member of Golf Cart Staff
Woodside Country Club
03.2019 - 10.2021
Kid Zone
Woodside Country Club
03.2019 - 10.2021
After School Counselor-Byrd Elementary School
Aiken Family Y
03.2018 - 03.2019
After School Counselor-Aiken HeadStart Academy
Aiken Family Y
10.2017 - 03.2018
Camp Counselor
Aiken Family Y Summer Camp
05.2017 - 08.2018
Sandwich Artist Shift Leader
Subway, Windsor Locks, CT
05.2014 - 05.2016
Research Assistant to Dr. Kathy Cooke
Quinnipiac University
09.2013 - 05.2014
Aiken HeadStart Academy Physical Education Instructor
Aiken Family Y
Bachelor of Science - Health Sciences
Quinnipiac University
Doctorate of Science - Speech-Language Pathology
MGH Institute of Health Professions
Master of Science - Speech-Language Pathology
University of South Carolina