Episode #76: Robin Pollens & Students from Coast to Coast Aphasia Access Conversations

Jerry Hoepner, a faculty member in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, interviewed six very bright students about their experiences at the Aphasia Access Leadership Summit. Today, Dr. Hoepner is joined by Robin Pollens, from Western Michigan University to discuss their contributions and chat about student learning. So, get ready to kick back and enjoy these fabulous conversations.
 
As the title implies, we heard from six students from Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and California. They all attended the 2021 Aphasia Access Leadership Summit. Today, they will share a bit about their experiences and highlight why it is so important to engage students in Aphasia Access and teach them about the LPAA. I am joined by Robin Pollens, who many of you know as a wise teacher and mentor. She shares her perspectives on teaching and mentoring LPAA and some of the lessons she has learned from students. You’re in for a treat!
Abby Joski is a first-year graduate student at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire who served as a student ambassador at the Leadership Summit. She has served as a student clinician for the Blugold Aphasia Group and Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group. 
Summer Marske is an undergraduate student, senior, at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire who also served as a student ambassador at the Leadership Summit. She helped compose many of the daily summaries at the summit. 
Raveena Birdie is now a clinical fellow, formerly a graduate student at Cal State East Bay under the mentorship of Ellen Bernstein-Ellis. She and her peers gave a wonderful presentation on aphasia choirs and were awarded the inaugural Aphasia Access Student Presentation Award. 
Nick Malendowski is a student at Central Michigan University who participated in the Strong Story Lab and collaborated on a project with Dr. Katie Strong and Dr. Jackie Hinkley on stakeholder engaged research. 
Brandon Nguy is an undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh, mentored by Dr. Will Evans. Brandon gave a wonderful presentation on a scoping review of gender representation in aphasia research at the summit. 
Clarisse El Khouri Faieta is a graduate student at Nova Southeastern University. She collaborated on a project with Dr. Jackie Hinkley and Dr. Katie Strong within the Project Bridge program on stakeholder engaged research. 
We know that there are many more student voices and we value each and every one of them. For now, listen in on these fantastic students and you can refer to interview transcripts to see their wonderful definitions of the LPAA highlighted in yellow within the transcript. 
Take aways:
Learn from Robin Pollens examples of teaching and mentorship in the LPAA. Be buoyed by the hope inspired by this next generation of LPAA practitioners. Consider why it is so important to offer learning opportunities like the Leadership Summit, other Aphasia Access resources, and teaching/mentorship in LPAA principles.  Be inspired by the knowledge, insights, and accomplishments of future LPAA practitioners represented within this podcast, knowing that you have great next generation practitioners learning from each of you, at your universities, aphasia groups, and aphasia programming.  You are all teachers whether you are a professor, a group leader, a clinical supervisor, a partner of someone with aphasia, or a person with aphasia. Our students are forever grateful.  Interview Transcripts: 

Robin Pollens’ segment
Jerry Hoepner: Hi Robin, so good to see you today.
Robin Pollens: Good to see you today, Jerry.
Jerry: Yeah, happy to have a conversation about student learning with you, as I know, that's something that's really important to you and your previous work has certainly inspired me in terms of mentoring, students and teaching students so, really, a pleasure to have this conversation.
Robin: Thank you, I’m glad to be here.
Jerry: So, I proposed