Rewarding careers in speech-language pathology, within acute and community

Cassie Tam (left) is a SLP based in the Robert and Lily Lee Community Health Centre, who also floats around public health sites across Vancouver. At university,  while studying linguistics, Cassie realized she could combine her passions of working with children and working with languages, as a SLP.

With three years of experience at VCH, Cassie leads group sessions for families where she empowers parents to support their children's communication needs. Additionally, Cassie collaborates with other SLPs across the city to facilitate therapy groups for children. Her role is distinct in its emphasis on group therapy for families, setting it apart from positions focused on individual care. “The job is so rewarding when families tell me that they feel heard and that they can see their child’s communication skills improve. I think that is so rewarding and it’s what keeping me in this profession,” she says.

Moreover, Cassie shares that her team and clinical lead is supportive. “I’ve always felt that it was a safe space to ask questions and to learn new skills. Everyone is only a phone call or e-mail away for questions.”

Upon reflecting on the VCH values, Cassie affirms that they are embedded into their practice. On an individual level, she has strengthened her compassion, empathy, and active listening skills as she helps families better understand their children’s communication abilities. On a team basis, the group advocates for equitable access to speech therapy for children, regularly attends professional development conferences, and adapts programming to meet the needs of the children.

Ali Duke (right) is a SLP working at Lions Gate Hospital. Having always loved the study of language and linguistics, Ali was drawn to help people in a practical, hands-on way. After completing degrees in Psychology at the University of Toronto and Law at the University of British Columbia, Ali realized that being a lawyer was not the profession for her.  She then embarked on a new journey to become a SLP, obtaining her Masters in Communication Science and Disorders at McGill University.

In her current role, Ali’s work is primarily comprised of acute assessment of swallowing at bedside, through nasoendoscopy (“FEES”) and under X-ray in radiology (“VFSS”) with high acuity patients in the ICU, HAU, cardiac and emergency wards. Ali enjoys working in acute care for its exciting, fast-paced environment. “I couldn’t pick a more ideal role for myself, and I have a great team of colleagues to work alongside and discuss my more challenging and interesting cases with,” she says.

“One of the things I love most about my job is the fact that I work in a community hospital where you can build relationships over time with colleagues within your discipline and across disciplines. I continue to work with people I met in my first year on the job,” Ali expresses. “From the moment I walked through the doors for my interview in 2006, I noticed that LGH had a less institutional feel that other hospitals. It’s always felt like my home away from home, and a place where I was meant to be.”

On the other hand, Ali values the work-life balance that enables her to pursue personal passions and spend time with her family, while also providing opportunities for career and educational advancement.

With an incredible 17-year tenure at Lions Gate Hospital and ten of those years as the Practice Leader, Ali has seen an immense amount of change at both the hospital and at VCH. She shares her excitement for the growth of the department, as there is now a lively and interactive team of SLPs. Together, they triage their work in the mornings, eat lunch, share ideas for ongoing education and professional development, and more. “I couldn’t ask for a better team.”

Explore our exciting opportunities for speech-language pathologists across Vancouver Coastal Health.

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