By Katarina Fiorentino Klatzkow
For many students at the University of Florida, the first few weeks of college life pass by in a blur of activity. Those initial weeks are filled with memorable experiences, such as attending Preview, learning how to navigate the RTS bus system, becoming familiar with iconic campus landmarks like Century Tower, and figuring out what it means to be a part of the Gator Nation.
As students settle into their routine, the question becomes: What organizations do I want to be involved with during my studies? What communities do I want to be a part of? At an institution as large as UF, finding one’s place and people can seem daunting.
But at the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions, the opportunities are endless.
Students can get involved with PHHP’s many research labs, volunteer with health-related clubs, engage in mentorship with professional organizations such as LEAP and the Dean’s Ambassador Program, and join pre-professional organizations for specific health-related career tracks, including speech-language pathology, health administration, physical therapy and public health.
For Kylie Fernandez, B.H.S., a 2024 graduate of the college’s communication sciences and disorders program and an aspiring speech-language pathologist, getting involved with the college as a freshman was a career-defining experience.
Fernandez joined the UF chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association, or NSSLHA, a pre-professional organization for students interested in careers in speech-language pathology and audiology. During her senior year, Fernandez served as the organization’s president.
One of her favorite aspects about NSSLHA is its mission to give back.
The UF chapter of NSSLHA, housed in the PHHP department of speech, language, and hearing sciences, offers a unique experience to its members and the larger Gainesville community through two student-run initiatives: a philanthropy arm and a professional symposium.
Hearoes for Hearing, UF NSSLHA’s nonprofit philanthropy, hosts community outreach events and raises funds and awareness to support hearing health initiatives and the UF Health Cochlear Implant Program. All proceeds assist in the acquisition of audiological equipment and therapy materials for patients and their families.
“Hearoes for Hearing is unique in its philanthropy efforts because it raises monetary funds but also hosts events specifically for the families of children with hearing differences, who come from all over the state of Florida to attend our events and have fun!” Fernandez said. “These are the very families who, in turn, benefit from our fundraising to help fund the many surgeries and equipment required for cochlear implants.”
Some of the events Hearoes host include benefit concerts, Halloween parties and 5K runs.
“Our members are able to create a safe space for children with hearing differences to have fun together, and also get a better idea of what serving these children will look like in their future careers,” Fernandez said.
The G. Paul Moore Symposium, named in honor of a UF distinguished professor emeritus and renowned scholar in communication disorders, provides continuing education for clinical professionals, faculty and students from across the state of Florida as part of a two-day conference.
“The G. Paul Moore Symposium is one of the longest continually run student-organized symposiums in the country!” Fernandez said. “It will be entering its 47th consecutive year in 2025. We were proud to continue this tradition during COVID-19 virtually and hope to return the event to its original in-person state soon.”
For many members, says Fernandez, the G. Paul Moore Symposium is often their first introduction to clinical education units, or CEUs, which are important aspects of a future career in the communication sciences.
“Additionally, the event purposefully invites speakers who are experts in more niche speech and hearing topics, so that our members can be exposed to areas of the field that they have likely never heard of before and would possibly be interested in pursuing in the future,” she said.
Fernandez will be continuing her education at the University of Texas at Dallas in the fall to obtain her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. Looking back at her time at UF, she credits NSSLHA and PHHP with affirming her career trajectory and providing her with opportunities to make an impact.
“Being a part of Symposium and Hearoes during undergrad has been so fulfilling over the last four years, and it felt even more special once I joined the executive board and realized just how unique it was for our chapter to organize these two completely student-run programs,” she said. “These initiatives are so important because they help give back to the community but also provide our members with invaluable leadership and professional experiences.”
UF’s NSSLHA chapter was awarded gold chapter honors this year by National NSSLHA. This recognition, says Fernandez, is a testament to the amazing work the chapter is doing and how important both Hearoes and Symposium are to the community.
NSSLHA’s benefit concert, for example, has grown from only UF Health families and NSSLHA members in attendance, to UF students from all disciplines and Gainesville citizens.
“The band members and others in attendance arrive for what they think is any other live music event in the area but leave with ear plugs and a new understanding about hearing health and cochlear implants, giving them a greater appreciation for our field,” Fernandez said “It has been so amazing to see how we have raised awareness for speech and hearing differences and also brought our local community together in a beautiful way.”