Event Date and Time:
Friday, August 7
10:00 am- 11:00 am Mountain Standard Time
- Event Format: Virtual via Zoom
- Tech Support Contact: con.ed@rm.edu
Description
This quarterly journal club helps speech-language pathologists strengthen skills in interpreting single-case research designs (SCRDs). Participants review peer-reviewed studies, discuss design features and methodological quality, and analyze graphed data to determine functional relations and implications for clinical practice.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this journal club, the student will be able to:
- Summarize key components of single-case experimental designs (e.g., ABAB/withdrawal, multiple baseline, alternating treatments) and their implications for experimental control.
- Apply established quality indicators (e.g., What Works Clearinghouse standards) to judge the methodological quality of single-case research design (SCRD) studies.
- Analyze graphed SCRD data for level, trend, variability, immediacy of effect, and overlap to determine whether a functional relation is present.
Credits
Primary Audience
Speech-language pathologists
Faculty
Dr. Amber Heape, CScD, CCC-SLP, FNAP, CDP
Dr. Amber Heape is a proud alumna of the first Clinical Doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology (CScD) cohort at RMU and has served on the university’s faculty since 2023, following her role as an adjunct professor beginning in 2016. She currently serves as the Concentration Track Director for Healthcare Professions Education in the SLPD program at RMU. Dr. Heape brings over 20 years of experience across diverse clinical and administrative settings, including serving as a clinical specialist supporting more than 100 skilled nursing facilities within a large healthcare corporation. She has also partnered with multiple universities to provide clinical supervision and coordinate graduate student placements.
In addition to her role at RMU, Dr. Heape serves as an adjunct professor at South Carolina State University, where she teaches courses on dysphagia, voice disorders, communication in aging, and cognitive communication disorders.
Dr. Heape’s excellence in teaching was recognized with the 2024 Hartgraves Award for Excellence in Teaching at RMU. She was also named a Distinguished Public Policy Fellow by the National Academies of Practice. As an active scholar and leader, she has authored peer-reviewed publications and delivered continuing education presentations at state, national, and international levels. She previously served as President of the South Carolina Speech-Language-Hearing Association and co-founded its Leadership Development Program. She continues to contribute to the profession through service with ASHA in areas including continuing education, publications, advocacy, and professional issues.
Her primary research interests include clinical supervision, student learning and success, medical speech-language pathology, and geriatric practice.
Disclosure: Amber Heape is a salaried employee of Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.
Dr. Sandra Seaman, PhD, CCC-SLP, F-OSLHA
Dr. Sandra Seaman is an Associate Professor and the Program Director of RMU’s Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology program. She has served as the Program Director since December 2024 after coming to RMU as the Program Capstone Coordinator in June 2021.
Dr. Seaman is a proud graduate of the University of Kentucky (B.A., ‘88) and the University of Cincinnati (M.A., ‘90; Ph.D., ‘09). Dr. Seaman has over 35 years of clinical experience and 20 years of teaching and research experience. As an Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati, adjunct faculty at Towson University, and Associate Professor here at Rocky Mountain University, she has taught courses across all levels from undergraduate through PhD in CSD. Areas of teaching and research interest include phonetics, clinical processes, language development and disorders, literacy, speech sound disorders, Autism, and evidence-based practice, as well as AAC, teacher coaching, interprofessional collaboration, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. She has published and presented her work at local, regional, state, and national conferences.
Dr. Seaman is passionate about service and collaboration. She serves actively locally, at the university, and nationally. Dr. Seaman is a former School’s Representative, Past President, and a Fellow of the Ohio Speech Language and Hearing Association. She has also served on multiple convention committees and as the Ohio ASHA State Education Advocacy Leader (SEAL) representative. She is currently serving her second term on the Academic Affairs committee for the Council on Academic Programs in CSD (CAPCSD).
Disclosure: Sandra Seaman is a salaried employee of Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.
Participants must attend the entire session and complete a post-course self-assessment activity to be reported to ASHA CE. The self-assessment will require participants to reflect on their ability to summarize components of single-case research designs, apply established quality indicators, analyze graphed data, or evaluate the strength of evidence for clinical decision-making. Certificates of completion will be awarded only after attendance is verified and the required reflection activity is completed.