About the program
The Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental & Related Disabilities (LEND) post
graduate degree fellowship in speech-language pathology is a full-time position that lasts
for 12 months, and is primarily clinical in nature. This experience includes all clinical
hours and requirements for completion of the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association fellowship experience. Primary clinical training occurs at the Child
Development & Rehabilitation Center (CDRC) Clinics at Doernbecher Children’s
Hospital/Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon, with training and
mentorship provided by our faculty of speech-language pathologists. Clinical fellows
engage in multidisciplinary team assessments in rotations through our Craniofacial,
Feeding, Autism, Down Syndrome, Child Development, and Neurodevelopment Clinics.
The fellowship also includes intervention and treatment opportunities for children with
communication disorders through community placements and in the CDRC clinics.
In addition to clinical experience, the clinical fellow will also participate in:
• Interdisciplinary training in the LEND program
• Weekly interdisciplinary seminars with topics related to community outreach, family
issues that affect children with developmental disabilities, leadership, and policy
development
• Engagement in a family mentoring experience
• Engagement in a leadership/community engagement project
• A research project and presentation under the guidance of a mentor
• Leadership and teaching opportunities
• Opportunities for continuing education
The Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities program at
the CDRC aims to provide training leadership in clinical care and coordination, family
systems, education, public policy, community resources, and advocacy for children with
neurodevelopmental disabilities, utilizing an interdisciplinary model. Our annual LEND
program includes faculty and a cohort of approximately 16 long term trainees from 12
disciplines, including speech-language pathology.
This fellowship is co-sponsored by the Division of Speech-Language Pathology and the
Institute on Development & Disability at Oregon Health & Science University in
Portland, Oregon.
How to apply
Applicants must be a US Citizen or have a permanent residency Visa, have the minimum
of a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, a conditional license to practice in
the state of Oregon (can be arranged after acceptance into the program), and meet all
the requirements for clinical certification except the Clinical Fellowship. Oregon Health
& Science University is committed to building a culturally diverse educational
environment, and successful candidates must be committed to working with diverse
community populations. Applicants must be able to pass a background check and a drug
screen.
Applicants must submit:
1. A letter of intent, not to exceed two pages, including;
• Interest and goals related to this fellowship position
• Background as it relates to the position description and activities outlined
above, including experience working with pediatric populations and diverse
populations as well as experience with leadership, advocacy, community
engagement and/or research
2. A resume, not to exceed two pages; and
3. Two letters of recommendation.
We request that the letter of intent and resume be submitted by the candidate via email
to Hannah Sanford-Keller at sanfordh@ohsu.edu.
We request that all letters of recommendation be submitted by the recommender via
email to Hannah Sanford-Keller at sanfordh@ohsu.edu. Please include the first and last
name of the candidate in the heading of the email.
Complete Applications must be received by February 1, 2022, 12 pm PST to be
considered.
Terms
Modest stipends will be available for the 2022-23 academic year. Stipends are
contingent upon continued grant funding, and fellowships are funded by a grant through
the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
Compensation inquiries can be sent to Hannah Sanford-Keller at sanfordh@ohsu.edu.
The beginning date for the fellowship is the first week of September.
Once selected, trainees will be required to demonstrate that they have health insurance
and that they have received all required vaccinations, to include COVID-19 vaccination.
Fellows are required to provide proof of up-to-date vaccinations, and if the full panel
required by OHSU is not current, then they will need to update vaccinations at their expense.
Current required vaccinations include: Diphtheria+Tetanus (within the last 10
years), Polio, Rubella, and Rubeola, or proof of prior disease. COVID-19 vaccination is
also required. Additionally, Hepatitis B vaccination is encouraged, but not required. For
more information about required vaccinations, please contact Nicole Valdivia Nava
navan@ohsu.edu
Fellows are required to provide proof of personal medical insurance coverage prior to
starting training, and must maintain that coverage over the course of the training period.
Additional financial support is added to the stipend to assist with obtaining insurance
(see Stipend/Benefits).
Inquiries should be addressed to
Hannah Sanford-Keller, M.S., C.C.C.-S.L.P.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
LEND Training Coordinator, Speech-Language Pathology
Institute on Development and Disability
LEND Program
707 S.W. Gaines Street
Portland, OR 97239-3098
503-494-2737
Fax: 503-494-6868
sanfordh@ohsu.edu