Division for Professional Services

Division for Professional Services

Kim Hoffer - Vice President

 Early Intervention Committee

 Medical Practice Issues Committee

 School Affairs Committee

 Telepractice Committee

 Assistants and Supervisors Committee

 Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP) Task Force

Early Intervention Committee

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This committee strives to educate members with relative information in the field of Early Intervention regarding clinical practice issues, legislation, networking, billing and other time sensitive issues as they occur. The committee works hard to have a voice in legislation, regulation and advocacy for our profession. 

  • Karissa Louthan, Co-Chair
  • Erica Holm, Co-Chair
  • Devida Braverman
  • Nicole Mulvey
  • Amanda Albright
  • Paula Hamilton
  • Christine Fletcher
  • Lacey Peters
  • Ciera Lorio
  • Kristin Techmanski
  • Tori Hemp

  • Focus Area - Advocacy: Communicate with EI Entities to gather information for members regarding updates or changes in policy, procedure, and/or to support advocacy measures for reimbursement of EI speech-language services within the state. Support/advocate communities in speech-language activities.
  • Focus Area - Communication: Electronic or Non-electronic - Discuss ways the EI Committee members can use the ISHA Voice and social media and maintain quarterly meetings to communicate with its members and to reach out to others to encourage participation and offer support.
  • Focus Area - Professional Development: Collaborate with the EI Committee to gather names/topics regarding potential speakers for the 2025 convention and then provide this information to the appropriate ISHA Track Chairs for future planning events.

Medical Practice Issues Committee

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The Medical Practice Issues committee of ISHA strives to educate members regarding topics affecting medical practice in speech-laguage pathology and audiology. The committee serves to inform members of legislative and/or regulatory issues affecting practice in acute and post-acute settings including billing and coding, best practice/evidence based practice, documentation, denials management, and workplace trends and challenges, in addition to other topics.

  • LeaRose Moravec, Committe Co-Chair
  • Juliana Marks, Committee Co-Chair
  • Jordan Bowman
  • Sue Annerino
  • Miriam Alfano
  • Julia Carpenter
  • Jennifer Furlane
  • Hillary Valentino
  • Johnathon Wilson
  • Madison Himler

  • Promote advocacy and visibility of committee activities via quarterly newsletter and relevant social media topic submissions as well as participate in Student Day activities as appropriate. Continued participation in newsletter and planning to participate in ISHA 2026 student day activities. 
  • Present/Provide an annual update session and/or relevant topic submissions by members to share expertise. Annual update provided at ISHA 2025 convention. 
  • Present/Provide 1 additional presentations outside of the MPIC update session submission by MPIC members, either as a group or individuals, to share expertise, promote EBP, and to promote awareness of the Medical Practice Issues Committee. 2 MPIC member presentations at ISHA 2026. 
  • Collect SLP/AuD inquiries related to practice in medical settings, collect resources, and respond to 100% of inquiries, track and present at annual update session. 100% response rate, date provided at annual update. 
  • Promote best practices in care related to medical settings including education, practice, and research with potential collaborations between Ethics, EBP, Medical Practice, and others for production of articles, sessions, social media, and other deliverables as appropriate at least annually. Continuing to incorporate the latest evidence-based practice into our articles and presentations. 

School Affairs Committee

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This committee monitors legislation relevant to services in the school setting, has a voice in developing state and national legislation and regulation, and helps to create increased involvement in advocacy related to ISHA and to practice issues in the schools throughout the state of Illinois.

  • Diane Barnes-Maguire, Committee Co-Chair
  • Linnea Anderson Guither, Committee Co-Chair
  • Karen Kockler
  • Beth Leggitt
  • Sarah Moon
  • Jean Smitley
  • Julie Craft-Wilks
  • Margaret Modglin
  • Jennifer J. Klay-Kravat
  • Julie Obrien Smith
  • Rene Rosenberg
  • Rosemary Frank
  • Susan J. Buzzard
  • Lynette Edwards
  • Kelly Jean McCormick
  • Rebecca Dressendorfer
  • Annice Coughlan

  • To provide accurate information regarding ISBE and IDFPR licensure and associated PERA requirements for school districts that utilize SLPs, SLPAs, and Audiologists.
  • To provide continuing education opportunities at ISHA convention related to the work of SLPs, SLPAs, and Audiologists in the schools.
  • To recognize colleagues for the Exemplary Practice Award on at least a biannual cycle.
  • To work with other committees (Legislative & Regulatory Affairs, Multicultural Issues, Evidence-Based Practice, Public Information, Membership & Marketing, etc.) to recruit currently practicing professionals to volunteer their time to help create increased involvement in advocacy related to practice issues in the schools throughout the state of Illinois.
  • To publish articles in each ISHA newsletter related to practice in the schools.
  • To provide input to Interdisciplinary committees that leads to improved work practices/conditions and decreases the barriers of new professionals seeking to gain licensure to practice in the fields of SLP, SLPA, and Audiology in the school setting.  

Telepractice Committee

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The Telepractice Committee strives to educate members regarding the provision of telehealth services in the state of Illinois. The goal of the committee is to disseminate information related to practice guidelines, legal and ethical issues. 

  • Jennine Harvey-Northrop, Chair
  • Valerie Brosius
  • Jordan Bowman
  • Kim Pritikin
  • Angela M. Riccelli
  • Amanda Albright
  • Danielle Osmelak
  • Sarah Wu
  • Courtney Baker

  • Focus Area—Advocacy: To communicate at least annually with ASHA regarding telepractice issues, advocacy efforts and reimbursement for audiology and speech-language pathology services.
  • Focus Area—Advocacy: Advocate for Medicaid reimbursement for services provided via tele services. Illinois allows for the provision of teleservices in our practice act; however, Medicaid reimbursement for said services is not currently available.
  • Focus Area—Communication: To provide information to ISHA members on telepractice via newsletter, website, and social media 3 times per year.
  • Focus Area—Communication: To provide information to ISHA members on telepractice across practice settings.
  • Focus Area—Professional Development/Continuing Education: To propose topics and/or speakers on issues related to telepractice for annual convention. 
  • Focus Area—Quality of Service: To provide information on technical and ethical standards, evidence-based practice and improved outcomes, especially for underserved clients for services delivered by telepractice by submitting a session for ISHA annual conference. 

Assistants and Supervisors Committee

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ISHA's Assistants and Supervisors Committee was developed to support SLP and AUD Assistants in the State of Illinois by advocating for legislation that will directly impact Assistants. The Assistant Task Force is actively meeting to discuss modifications pertaining to SB 3467. The group is also working to develop added resources and guidance for SLP and AUD Assistants in the state of Illinois. 

  • Karen Kockler, Co-Chair
  • Burgandy Nicoson, Co-Chair
  • Patricia Boyd
  • Angela Anthony
  • Valerie Boyer
  • Maria C Franca
  • Whitney de Haseth
  • Janet Olson
  • Kimberly Pritikin
  • Diane Barnes-Maguire
  • Kim Peppler
  • Burgandy Henderson
  • Camille O'Quin
  • Maureen Best
  • Danielle Osmelak
  • Angela Gusakoska-Suleska 

Task Force Goals

  • To support SLP & AUD Assistant relationships in the state of IL
  • To create educational resources for SLP & AUD Assistants in the state of IL
  • To conduct a thorough analysis of the Illinois Practice Act material pertaining to SLP and AUD Assistant legislation in the state of IL
  • To provide further guidance for SLP & AUD Assistant supervisory relationships in the state of IL
  • To provide further guidance for SLP & AUD Assistants in clinical practice settings in the state of IL
  • To continue advocacy efforts on behalf of SLP and AUD Assistants in the state of IL 

Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice Task Force

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The Interprofessional  Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP) Task Force is a new taskforce with a goal to establish and maintain relationships with other organizations within Illinois representing the many providers we collaborate with in providing SLP and AuD services to clients and their families. Ultimately, the task force's goal is to build upon these relationships to provide educational content across the professions related to IP care. 

  • Michelle Zemsky Dineen, Chair
  • Angela Riccelli
  • Leslie Guca
  • Meredith Baker Rush
  • Jennine Harvey-Northrop
  • Mary Smyers

  • Establishing at least two other associations as collaborators.
  • Increasing SLP's knowledge of IPECP by maintaining a steady stream of content for dissemination across platforms.
  • Source content for links to ISHA website, as allowed.
  • Serve as a resource for members of ISHA and a contact point for other professionals across Illinois.
  • Create content for a presentation at state conventions for each participating organization.