Effective clinical reasoning is essential for delivering high-quality, client-centered care across clinical settings when working with individuals of all ages with communication differences and/or disorders. This course explores the development, assessment, and refinement of clinical reasoning skills in speech-language pathology graduate students throughout their clinical education. Participants will gain practical strategies for mentoring and teaching clinical reasoning across diverse clinical settings, with an emphasis on fostering student growth and enhancing client outcomes. This course is designed for current or prospective clinical instructors working in the field of speech-language pathology.
This course will be offered online and presented via Zoom. Information will be delivered via lecture, video(s), case studies, and small and/or large group discussions.
Date: Aug 28, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. EST
Location: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free
ASHA CEUs: 0.2 ASHA CEUS (Intermediate Level)
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Define clinical reasoning and its role in evidence-based, client-centered care.
- Describe the progression of clinical reasoning skills from novice to advanced levels.
- Identify methods for assessing clinical reasoning in students across the various stages of education and training.
- Apply strategies to effectively teach and scaffold clinical reasoning skills when instructing and supervising speech-language pathology students.
Time-Ordered Agenda
6:00 p.m. - 6:10 p.m. : Introductions
6:10 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. : Definition and progression of clinical Reasoning
6:30 p.m. - 6:55 p.m. : Assessment of clinical reasoning
6:55 p.m. - 7:20 p.m. : Teaching and scaffolding to support student learning of clinical reasoning skills
7:20 p.m. - 7:40 p.m. : Breakout Group Work- Case Study
7:40 p.m. - 7:55 p.m. : Case Study Discussion and Debriefing
7:55 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. : Q & A and closing remarks
Speakers
Shawneen Buckley
Shawneen Buckley, SLPD, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Disorders at Southern Connecticut State University. She provides both classroom and clinical instruction to undergraduate and graduate students. She has 33 years of clinical and leadership experience in health care and education and is passionate about providing person-centered care to individuals with acquired communication, cognitive, and swallowing disorders. Her research focuses on clinical instruction and feedback, as well as the relationship between oral health and dysphagia in older adults. She serves as Bylaws Chair for the Northeast Alliance for Speech, Language and Hearing (NEASLH) and as a member of the Cultural Humility Taskforce for the National Black Association for Speech, Language, and Hearing (NBASLH). She is dedicated to work that moves the field of speech-language pathology toward a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and just profession that values all SLPs and the individuals they serve.
Disclosures: Dr. Shawneen Buckley is employed by Southern Connecticut State University and receives a salary. There are no other relevant financial or non-financial disclosures.
Sujini Ramachandar
Sujini Ramachandar, PhD, CCC-SLP is the Director of Clinical Education at Southern Connecticut State University. Her interests include increasing the quality of clinical education to prepare prospective speech language pathologists for the field. In addition, she is committed to working with children and adults who stutter by helping them improve their quality of life. Her research includes investigating perceptions of people who stutter in various cultures and its implications on treatment delivery. She has over 28 years of experience working with children and adults who stutter, providing parent and family education, and collaborating with other disciplines.
Disclosures: Dr. Sujini Ramachandar is employed by Southern Connecticut State University and receives a salary. There are no other relevant financial or non-financial disclosures.
Course Completion Requirements
To obtain ASHA CEUs, or a certificate of completion, participants must adhere to the following requirements:
- Participants are required to attend the entirety of the program to be eligible to earn ASHA CEUs or obtain a certificate of completion.
- Partial credit will not be awarded.
- Attendance will be tracked automatically via Zoom.
- Complete and submit the online survey including the learning assessment, no later than Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
Accommodations
You will have the opportunity to request accommodations during the registration process. Registrants can also request accommodation up to 7 days prior to the event. Please contact Dr. Sujini Ramachandar at ramachandas1@southernct.edu.
Cancellation
- Program: Should this program need to be cancelled, registered participants will be notified via email at least three days prior to the date of the course, when possible.
- Participant: Registered participants who need to cancel should notify Dr. Sujini Ramachandar at ramachandas1@southernct.edu. at least three days prior to the date of the course, when possible.
Additional Information
If you have any refunds, concerns, or complaints, please contact Dr. Sujini Ramachandar at ramachandas1@southernct.edu.