Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Joins Doisy College

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Saint Louis University has become a part of the Doisy College of Health Sciences. The department, previously housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, officially became a member of Doisy on July 1, 2016.

Communication sciences and disorders department chair Travis Threats, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, believes the move makes sense both for the department and for Doisy.

“All of the faculty and staff of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders are excited about joining the Doisy College of Health Sciences because its clinical health focus so closely aligns with ours,” said Threats. “Speech-language pathologists and audiologists work closely with occupational therapists and physical therapists with both children and adults. In addition, speech-language pathologists in medical settings work with dietitians and medical imaging professionals for patients with swallowing disorders, so it’s logical to group us within the same college.”

Threats also commented on the growing opportunities that arise from the program becoming a part of Doisy.

“CSD faculty have already worked on clinical, educational and research projects with departments within Doisy,” Threats said. “We expect that belonging to the college will greatly expand all of these efforts.  Doisy also has strong ties with the School of Nursing, the College for Public Health and Social Justice and the School of Medicine, which are also partnerships that our department wishes to strengthen along the same clinical, educational and research lines.”

The department is comprised of more than 200 students pursuing either a Bachelor of Arts in communication sciences and disorders or a Master of Arts in speech-language pathology. Many members of the research faculty have national and international recognition in their areas of expertise.

In addition to its academic programs, the communication sciences and disorders department also operates the Paul C. Reinert, S.J. Speech Language Hearing Clinic, which offers speech-language-hearing services, audiology services and an early childhood language/literacy center for citizens of the St. Louis region. The academic programs and the clinic boast top-of-the-line facilities after recently undergoing a $1 million renovation in McGannon Hall on north campus.

Doisy College Dean Mardell Wilson, Ed.D., RD, LDN, said she is excited to have another discipline of the health care team represented within the college and was grateful that the partnership was able to happen.

“We are delighted to have the department join the Doisy College of Health Sciences,” Mardell said. “CSD represents important disciplines within the allied health professions and the opportunities for students and faculty to pursue interdisciplinary education and research become more tangible with this new merger.

“This change was a grassroots effort initiated by the faculty of the department, and I am appreciative of Dean Chris Duncan and other members of the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as members of the provost’s office and our college, who were willing to work through any barriers to ensure providing the very best academic experience for students and faculty in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders,” Wilson added. “The addition of CSD truly makes the Doisy College of Health Sciences at Saint Louis University a comprehensive college of allied health professions.”

Learn more about Doisy College of Health Sciences and its programs.