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Griffith University to New York City

I was coming to the end of my Master of Speech Pathology degree, while everyone else was busy applying for jobs, I was applying for an overseas internship. Where did I go? New York City of course! It was even more beautiful than I’d ever imagined. I set off with a lengthy bucket list and I managed to tick each item off, except for seeing Jimmy Fallon live! His shows were booked out for months. Once my NYC bucket list was complete, I made a new one. This time for Washington, DC. I hopped on a bus and arrived in DC five hours later. No, I didn’t run into Obama, however I may end up on YouTube. There was an incident, with me sitting in a park and squirrels climbing all over me, begging for food. Fellow tourists pointed, took photos and recorded the impromptu show. But on the topic of my internship! It ran for six weeks and involved me working in a research capacity at one of New York University’s (NYU) research facilities, the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research. I worked on research projects led by Professor Diana Van Lancker Sidtis. Professor Sidtis was also my supervisor and we were investigating deep brain stimulation and its effects on speech and the voice on patients with Parkinson’s Disease. During the six weeks I was also given the opportunity to attend doctoral seminars and specialist lectures at NYU alongside NYU’s doctoral students. One of my biggest goals while I was in NYC was to write the ASHA praxis exam. I wrote it and passed! I was so happy when I received my results that I forgot to hold on while travelling on the train, I went tumbling across and broke a toe. One day I hope to move to NYC for a little while to work in a clinical capacity. I think it is fair to say that I did fall in love with everything that is NYC.

Griffith University graduate Tiyana Jones sees the NYC sights while undertaking an internship.

lifetime experience and I’m so grateful I was given the opportunity. A huge thank you to my supervisor, Professor Diana Van Lancker Sidtis; Griffith Head of Speech Pathology Program, Associate Professor Elizabeth Cardell; clinical

educator Kristy Cooney; and the Griffith Global Mobility Team & the Academic Internship Council. Tiyana Jones Speech Pathologist, Griffith University Alumni

This internship was truly a once in a

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Speak Out June 2015

Speech Pathology Australia