Kelly aspires to enter a Speech Language Pathology Doctoral (SLPD) program in her future to pursue research and advanced clinical methods. Kelly attended Governor's State University (GSU) for her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees, but this was all attainable because this was a school designed for working adults, as she worked her way through college while simultaneously doing school/internships.  Kelly is thankful to GSU for the unique and exemplary school that they are and will forever be grateful for the wonderful professors she had in the Communication Disorders Department (Thank you Dr. Yacullo Au.D., Dr. Jay Lubinsky Ph.D. Audiology/SLP, Mike Williams SLP, Suzanne Hildebrand SLP, Dr. Balthazar SLP, Ph.D., Dr. Mayfield Ph.D. SLP, etc.).  Your encouragement throughout was amazing, I will never forget you all at GSU, and you have my utmost appreciation.  Kelly is very encouraged by the increase in virtual school options for college universities within the United States for herself and hope it empowers others to also enter the medical profession, as it is more accessible/attainable now than ever.  Kelly knows that the flexibility of GSU's program was a key contributor to where she is today and this will ultimately help other working adults feel empowered to enter the field, as the medical field continues to be overpopulated and underserved.  Kelly would also like to continue to learn Spanish, as she did take classes previously, but has not yet become fluent.  Kelly has worked with professional interpreters and enjoys learning from her colleagues.  Kelly enjoys talking to others within the Arizona community to further serve their needs in alignment with their culture.  Kelly enjoys playing sports, played multiple sports growing up, and played college Softball at South Suburban College.  Kelly currently enjoys anything that involves/invokes laughter/smiling, sun/water, AZ scenery/mountains, family/friends, FOOD, playing sports, coaching sports, going somewhere fun that involves wearing a dress/high heels, dogs (particularly Miniature Schnauzers), and yoga/mindfulness/meditation.  I want to give a shout out to my awesome hot yoga instructors as well as fellow students, as that helps keep my stamina strong in order to be my best authentic self to my patients.  Kelly recently in February 2022 celebrated the completion of 100 hot yoga classes, currently at over 150+ approximately and still going strong, doing continuing education units on yoga/mindfulness/meditation/burnout prevention for patients, but learning from the practice in order to functionally apply it to SLP Tx as clinically appropriate.  Kelly is also a part time home school teacher for Language Arts to her son, as this teaching experience further equips her as a SLP to blend treatment (Tx) with patient's functional academic activities to promote school advancement in regards to speech language gains/insight.  All these wonderful/blessed experiences further shaped her into the person she is today.  

 

Kelly Jenkins MHS, CCC-SLP/L specializes in feeding & swallowing problems with children and adults with oral-pharyngeal dysphagia. She has worked with various diagnoses such as language delays/impairments, motor planning problems/Apraxia, low muscle tone, high muscle tone, voice disorders, stuttering, articulation disorders, phonological processing disorders, hypernasality, hyponasality, social pragmatic language impairment, etc. 

 

She has been working with patients utilizing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices in this ever evolving technology market (e.g., IPAD Touch Chat application). 

 

Education and Credentials 

 

Kelly Jenkins MHS,CCC-SLP/L completed a Masters of Health Science degree at Governors State University in University Park Illinois in December of 2003. Kelly attended college full time throughout.  

 

She did five internship rotations in five different community environments prior to finishing college for a period of 1 year in 2003. Kelly's college did not have an on site clinic, rather it was the first school in the nation to have off site clinical practicums, in order to not compete with community businesses and help functionally impact the community directly.  This is a very different clinical practicum model vs. most colleges in the nation, however Kelly's opinion is that it is the most functional and offered more direct life experience than a clinical room alone could provide.   

 

Internships as follows: 

 

She did an Aural Rehabilitation rotation at a Middle-Junior High school

 

Audiological Assessment at an Audiologist/Ear Nose & Throat doctor’s office.

 

Mental Health rotation at a special education school for children 0-5.

 

A Hospital rotation at Community Hospital in Muenster, Indiana primarily with adults including Modified Barium Swallow (MBS) study experience (inpatient and outpatient).

 

A High School rotation at Rich East High School with kids aged 14-18. 

 

She previously worked at Upward Foundation in Phoenix for her clinical fellowship year (CFY) as a school based and outpatient speech language pathologist obtaining her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC). She provided services in feeding/swallowing and language treatment for approximately one year in 2004 for children 0-18. 

 

She worked for REM Arizona Rehabilitation as a subcontractor working for the Arizona Early Intervention Program (AZEIP) performing intakes, evaluations, and language/feeding treatment via AZEIP and/or with the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) (2004-2008). 

 

From 2004 & on Kelly Jenkins MHS, CCC-SLP worked as a sole proprietor until becoming Fusion Therapies PLLC in September of 2009.

 

Honors & Awards

 

 

 

 

 

Tinley Park High School Titans ALL CONFERENCE in girls SOFTBALL Senior Year, 1000 average in defense playing Centerfield, .333 batting average as #2 starting batter/player who also sacrificed her batting average to be a bunter for the team.  I wish I could have swung away, BUT you always have to take one for the team!  I LOVED playing catcher for 3 years of my high school season UNTIL senior year, in which I had the honor to play with my two best friends who were also catchers (someone had to do it :) ).  I became a catcher when my best friend's mom (who was my first softball coach) put me into the position when I was in 2nd grade.  Kelly played multiple sports throughout her life and at TPHS.  Kelly's uniform number throughout most of her softball career was # 1.  Kelly had to chuckle last soccer season as her son's new recreational league jerseys also illustrate #1.  Apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  

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In Junior and Senior year of high school, Kelly was a part of a work study program Business Professionals of America.  Kelly had to work her way through school to make a living while simultaneously attending to her homework and multiple sports.  Kelly competed in public speaking events through BPA at a state level.  This is where she truly discovered her gift for public speaking, which has proven useful over the years via talking to Senators like John McCain, Kirsten Sinema etc. in advocation for children with special needs.  Kelly is not afraid of talking to big crowds at public speaking, work, political, or sporting events, as she did so at ASU years back when AZ experienced financial crisis and this was ultimately impacting children with communication impairments.  Kelly uses her gift of gab and public speaking to continually advocate on behalf of her patients as well as her loved ones.

 

 

 

 

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Magna cum laude at South Suburban Community College, Associates Degree in South Holland, IL.

 

Kelly had the great honor of playing college softball for SSC with a mixture of players from IL and IN.  Definitely a memorable experience, but she certainly missed playing ball with her two best friends at that point.  

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Magna cum laude at Governor's State University for BOTH Bachelors and Masters degree in University Park, IL.  Kelly was just shy of  Summa cum laude in her Masters by approximately .3.  

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Kelly received Phi Theta Kappa Honors along her college journey.  "Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society is the international honor society of students attending open-access institutions and seeking associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, or other college credentials."

 

Kelly received national recognition from "Who's Who Among Students at American Universities and Colleges."  ""Who's Who" is a nationally recognized award. Over 2,300 college and universities in the U.S. select outstanding students to be named for this award. Generally, seniors are selected based on leadership ability displayed in the areas of scholastic aptitude, community service, and extracurricular activities." "Each year, junior and senior students are selected by the University for listing in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges. Students are selected on the basis of scholarship, participation, and leadership in academic and extracurricular activities, citizenship, and service."

 

CERTIFICATIONS

Passed ALL exams including PRAXIS to move on to CFY year.

ASHA CCC-SLP (this took 9 months to get during CFY year with supervision.)

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NOTABLE MENTION

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February 2022=the yoga instructor surprised me in front of the whole class celebrating my 100th class.  Then in 2023 received recognition for 250+ classes.  Currently 600+ HOT YOGA classes strong in 2025.  Lots of exciting research out there regarding yoga, mindfulness, as well as meditation, and how it can positively affect patients with communication and or cognitive impairments.  Dina Holdren OTR, currently teaches yoga classes at a given facility.