The mission of the Medical Speech-Language Pathology program is to train postdoctoral fellows to establish competency in independent practice in the diagnosis and treatment of individuals across the scope of neurologic communication disorders; develop a proficiency in the differential diagnosis of acquired speech, language, and cognitive impairments; apply the principles of scientific study as they relate to the provision of service; and demonstrate knowledge and skills in both intra and interprofessional collaboration across a variety of medical settings. 

Mayo Clinic's mission is:

• Inspiring hope and promoting health through integrated clinical practice, education and research.

The program’s mission reflects the broader mission of Mayo Clinic with an emphasis of promoting hope and health through integrated practice, education, and research in the domains of neurological systems and pathology, as they relate to communication (for example, speech-language-cognition).

The Medical Speech-Language Pathology program is in a position to meet the training mission in light of the following program features:

• The Division of Speech Pathology provides a unique work environment embedded within the Department of Neurology. To our knowledge such an environment does not exist in any other medical facility in the country.
• The majority of patients encountered in the practice have a known neurological diagnosis, suspicion for an underlying neurological diagnosis, or a need to clarify communication/cognitive symptomatology to guide diagnosis.
• Upon receiving a unifying diagnosis for their symptoms, patients with a neurological diagnosis will benefit from treatment and management.
• Suggestions to optimize speech
• Methods for enhancing language abilities
• Strategies for managing cognitive impairment
• The Medical Speech-Language Pathology program encompasses service delivery across a scope of patient care, from acute care to outpatient practice.

During the program, you will receive a variety of knowledge and experiences.

• A focused clinical experience that facilitates development of expertise in differential diagnosis of a wide variety of communication disorders
• Training that develops your abilities to evaluate, describe, diagnose and formulate management recommendations for speech and language disorders in adults and children, with an emphasis on neurologic speech and language disorders
• Experience that hones your skills in communicating evaluation results and recommendations to physicians and other health care professionals, as well as patients and their significant others
• Clinical working knowledge of a wide variety of medical conditions, particularly those that frequently cause speech, voice, language, and other communication disorders

• Fellows achieve and demonstrate proficiency in the differential diagnosis of individuals with neurological speech/language/cognitive-communication impairments.
• Fellows design and implement treatment programs for individuals with neurological speech/language/cognitive-communication impairments based on evaluation findings.
• Fellows incorporate the principles of scientific study, and when possible, evidence-based practice in the provision of services for individuals with neurological speech/language/cognitive-communication impairments.
• Fellows exemplify Mayo Clinic's model of collaborative medicine in the provision of services for individuals with neurological speech/language/cognitive-communication impairments.

Key indicators are utilized to determine program effectiveness, and include:

• Fellows who are employed in clinical positions requiring expertise in the diagnosis and management of individuals with neurological communication/cognitive impairment.
• Fellows who are employed in academic centers requiring expertise for training graduate students in the diagnosis and management of individuals with neurological communication/cognitive impairment.
• Fellows who are active in the research process and dissemination of findings (presentation/publication) in the area of diagnosis and management of individuals with neurological communication/cognitive impairment.
• Fellows who were awarded board certification (BC-ANCDS).