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. Clinical training occurs at the Child Development & Rehabilitation Center (CDRC) Clinics at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital/Oregon Health & Science University. Training and mentorship are provided by our faculty of 8 speech-language pathologists. Training experiences include interdisciplinary team assessments in the Craniofacial, Feeding, Autism, Down Syndrome, Child Development, and Neurodevelopment Clinics. The fellowship also includes treatment of children with communication disorders at community placements or at 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 is recognized as one of the premier programs in the country for 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:
- A letter of intent including background and areas of interest;
- A resume; and
- 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 January 31, 2021 to be considered. Terms
Modest stipends will be available for the 2021-22 academic year. Stipends are contingent upon continued grant funding. Fellowships are funded by a grant through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau. 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.
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. 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