2017 Health Care Champions Therapist: Michelle Parsons

SBJ photo by Wes Hamilton

Resume Highlights

• Bachelor’s in communication sciences and disorders and master’s in speech-language pathology, Missouri State University

• Leadership Bolivar 2012 graduate

• Member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

The ability to communicate enhances life in numerous, vital ways. For Michelle Parsons, Citizens Memorial Healthcare pediatric speech pathologist, helping her patients achieve that quality is both a career and a joy.

“My professional role serves to evaluate, identify and meet the specific needs of my clients,” Parsons says. “Empowering children and families with knowledge, tools and resources that will last a lifetime is my major objective.”

Parsons assists her patients in numerous capacities daily, with her knowledge in communication, speech and sensory integration therapy.

“I have daily moments of pride when working with my patients,” she says. “Maybe it’s hearing a first word, a patient tasting food for the first time or making eye contact with me when talking.”

Parsons recently had the parent of a previous patient approach her to share some news. The patient she assisted as a child was getting married.

“It was because of you that he no longer stutters, and I still thank you to this day,” the parent told Parsons.

The comment humbled her.

“Even though it has been at least 15 years since I saw this patient, this parent still remembers the impact I had on her son’s life,” Parsons says.

Anytime Parsons feels she is not making a difference, she thinks back on a quote by Forest Witcraft. It’s displayed in her office: “A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the kind of car I drove ... but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”

The quote reminds Parsons of her ultimate motivation to teach, advocate for and empower her clients. Furthermore, it is that motivation that pushes her to present the needs of children in her community through organizations such as the Rotary Club of Bolivar.

“In turn, I become a better person when I share moments, stories and successes that strengthen me as a person and as a professional,” she says.

Parsons also has worked with Citizens Memorial Healthcare through a Lunch and Learn program, to provide more information about autism to families. The system has provided the same program for information on digestive health and Alzheimer’s disease, too.

As a graduate of the Leadership Bolivar program, Parson’s class assisted in providing the city with a medication distribution center that allows families to safely dispose of outdated and unused medications.

Parsons has also assisted with the rehab display for the annual CMH Baby Fair and executed the Sensory Santa 2016, she says.

A Sensory Santa, according to AutismSpeaks.org, allows children with autism and other special needs to connect with Santa Claus during the holidays in a controlled environment free from distractions – bright lights and loud noises – that may cause anxiety.

Parsons, a native of Bolivar, moved to San Antonio, Texas in 2014. There, she worked as a full-time contract therapist and in pediatric home health with Jackson Therapy Partners. In 2015, Parsons worked in California as a contract therapist at San Bernardino County Schools.

She wasn’t gone for long, however, before returning to Bolivar.

“After my exposure to other health care systems, I returned to the Ozarks to serve my community,” Parsons says. “I feel we, as a health care community, have a great deal of excellent services and expertise to offer members of our community and I want to be a part of it.”