2013 Health Care Champions Honoree: Melody Kessinger

Melody Kessinger works with children and adults to improve communication throughout the Springfield-area community.

As the head speech-language pathologist for Springfield Public Schools, Kessinger helps children with communication disorders by directly influencing the district’s 45 pathologists.

“I’m considered the lead, so if anybody in our district has a question in regards to services, materials, evaluations, etc., they can ask me and I can be a resource for them. I also will assist in providing professional development for our therapists,” says Kessinger, who instead of working directly with children, focuses her time on providing aid to the school district’s system of language professionals.

SPS pathologists work with approximately 2,000 students in the district who require some form of speech or language therapy, says Kessinger, the lead language pathologist for four years.

Including full-time school district responsibilities, Kessinger’s work week can span six or seven days, as she also works as a part-time therapist for adults with communication issues. Kessinger commits off hours to Selection Rehabilitation, RehabCare Inc. and Genesis Rehab Services Inc., largely working with the community’s geriatric population.

Adults who see Kessinger have experienced a sudden change in their health, whether it be from a stroke or memory loss due to dementia.

“Typically, when we’re working on those kinds of cognitive issues, we’re working hand-in-hand with the nursing staff, with occupational therapists, with physical therapists. It can be a pretty intense process,” Kessinger says. “Ultimately, we want them to have the quality of life they deserve and also be as independent as possible.”

An example of work with adults can include helping those with memory losses relearn how to use utensils and interact at dinner, as well as people with swallowing problems, she says.

Kessinger says she chose speech therapy as a career because it allows those in her profession to have a substantial impact on the communities in which they practice. Her work also was fostered at home, where she watched her stepsister learn to communicate effectively after developing moderate hearing losses in both ears.

From pediatric to geriatric services, Kessinger has a role in the development of communication on a long-term basis.

“We have basically the opportunity to work with anyone from birth to death, which is unique in regards to professional opportunities,” Kessinger says. “We also have so many different opportunities to work with different disabilities and different needs, so my skills will never go to waste. I feel like we have the capability of increasing that communication skill for people who are struggling – families even – and knowing that I’m helping our community in so many different ways makes me feel professionally very satisfied.”

Kessinger was recognized by the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association for Continuing Education in 2012 and received the Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the association in 2006.[[In-content Ad]]