Jana Mueller
Dallas,TX
Summary
I am a clinical leader with over two decades of experience in acquired brain injury rehabilitation and rehabilitation research, passionate about transforming care through innovation and evidence-based practices.
I specialize in:
✔ Designing and implementing outpatient rehabilitation programs to meet the needs of patients and maximize functional outcomes
✔ Driving outcomes analysis to inform data-driven decisions
✔ Building interdisciplinary teams and mentoring professionals to embrace continuous learning and innovation
✔ Leading initiatives that bridge research and practice to redefine rehabilitation standards
Overview
1
1
Certification
2027
2027
years of professional experience
Work History
Center Manager
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation
Dallas, TX
2019 - Current
- Multidisciplinary Team Leadership: Direct day-to-day operations for comprehensive outpatient departments, including traditional outpatient, day programs, and specialty clinics. Manage and mentor a high-performing, multidisciplinary team of 15+ physical, occupational, speech, and recreation therapists, while coordinating seamlessly with physicians and neuropsychologists.
- Program Innovation & Growth: Launched and scaled specialized clinical tracks—including intensive aphasia, concussion management, functional neurological disorder, and high-needs programs—resulting in increased patient volume and physician referrals.
- Clinical Outcomes & Quality Assurance: Championed a culture of excellence by establishing robust quarterly and annual key outcome metrics, directly yielding measurable improvements in patient satisfaction, functional outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes.
- Regulatory Compliance & Accreditation: Facilitated documentation and preparation to meet CARF accreditation standards for outpatient brain injury and pediatric accreditation; authored compliance explanations and provided clinical evidence demonstrating adherence to CARF stroke rehabilitation standards, achieving outpatient stroke accreditation.
- Data-Driven Process Improvement: Identified operational bottlenecks using data, designed strategic process improvement goals, and engaged key staff to execute clinical rollouts.
- Clinical Mentorship & Training: Designed and implemented a structured mentorship framework to ensure the onboarding and success of new-graduate clinicians. Trained therapy teams on the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS) to enhance clinical reasoning, treatment specificity, and documentation accuracy.
Speech-Language Pathologist, Team Lead
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation
Dallas, TX
2016 - 2019
- Clinical Team Leadership: Provided operational and clinical leadership to a team of 7 speech-language pathologists (SLPs) distributed across 4 distinct day neuro programs.
- Return-to-Work Initiatives: Developed standard operating processes and educated clinical staff on optimizing the SLP's role in supporting vocational rehabilitation and successful return-to-work outcomes for patients with acquired brain injuries (ABI).
- Process Standardization: Spearheaded the standardization of protocols for group treatments, improving operational efficiency and ensuring consistent, evidence-based care delivery across locations.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation
Dallas, TX
2004 - 2016
- Delivered speech-language pathology interventions to adolescents and adults with acquired brain injuries across continuum of care, enhancing patient recovery in acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, day neuro, and outpatient settings.
- Evaluated and treated complex cognitive-communication, speech, language, and swallowing disorders in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, improving patient independence.
- Led multidisciplinary team to identify outcome measures for evaluating programmatic success and improving patient outcomes.
Education
Ph.D. - Communication Sciences and Disorders
University of Texas At Dallas
Dallas, TX12-2016
Affiliations
- Editorial Board Member & Content Editor, Archives of Stroke Rehabilitation (Current)
- Member, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
- Member, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM)
- Member, ACRM Rehabilitation Treatment Specification Networking Group
- Member, ACRM Rehabilitation Treatment Specification Clinical Applications Task Force
- Member, ACRM Stroke Interdisciplinary Special Interests Group
- Member, ACRM Aphasia and Other Communication Disorders Task Force
Certification
ASHA, CCC-SLP
Texas State License in Speech-Language Pathology
BLS Certificate
SELECT PRESENTATIONS
- Clark, K. & Mueller, J (2025, October). An exploratory study of patient-reported outcomes for patients receiving single-discipline physical therapy compared with interdisciplinary care following concussion. Poster Presentation at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Conference. Chicago, IL.
- Mueller, J. & Pozzi, J. (2022, February). Communication after stroke. Oral presentation at the Select Medical Across the Continuum Symposium: Caring for Individuals Post Stroke continuing education program. Virtual Presentation to Select Medical Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Professionals.
- Mueller, J. & Parry, R. (2021, December). Using goal attainment scaling to deliver patient-centered care. Oral presentation to the Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation Speech Therapy Department, Dallas, TX.
- Mueller, J., Dunn M. & Nieves, K (2019, March). Evidence-based approach to AAC for adults with neurogenic communication impairments. Oral session presented at the Texas Speech and Hearing Association Convention. Fort Worth, TX
- Dunn, M. & Mueller, J. (2019, January). The SLPs role in the management of the post-concussive patient: Current evidence and guidelines. Oral presentation to the Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation Outpatient Speech Therapy Department, Dallas, TX.
- Mueller, J. & Dollaghan, C. (2013). A systematic review of assessments for identifying executive function impairment in adults with acquired brain injury. Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research (56) 1051-1064.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Use of AI (LLMs) for patient-centered script training to improve functional communication for persons with aphasia
- Ethical considerations for AI in aphasia care
- Creation of “aphasia friendly” consent forms allowing patients with aphasia to have increased agency during healthcare consent process
- Inclusion of persons with aphasia in research as stakeholders and aphasia research partners
Timeline
Center Manager
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation
2019 - Current
Speech-Language Pathologist, Team Lead
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation
2016 - 2019
Speech-Language Pathologist
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation
2004 - 2016
Ph.D. - Communication Sciences and Disorders
University of Texas At Dallas