Speech pathology student lands elite internship at CHOC

Riverside, Calif. (July 12, 2024) – Lupita Perez, a graduate student in California Baptist University’s speech-language pathology program, wanted to try for a challenging internship.

She reached out to advisors in the program, asking, “What could make me competitive? What would make someone glance twice at my resume and give me a chance?”

Her clinical coordinator, Michelle Ross, now the director of clinical education in the SLP program, advised her to take extra non-credit courses covering niche medical topics, such as dysphagia and cranial nerve exams.

It worked. Perez was chosen this summer as the only speech-language pathology intern at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, considered one of the most elite children’s hospitals in the state.

“It is a hard position to get. They have applicants from all over the country,” Ross said. Yet, CBU students have landed that spot several times before.

Students in CBU’s SLP program are required to do a clinical practicum every semester except their first semester. They can work in educational settings, medical settings or in private practice. Perez has had placements in each setting.

“CBU gives a great foundational skillset on the information you need to work in a place like a hospital, but getting that hands-on experience and applying it really helps you understand the subject better,” Perez said. “Every supervisor is different, every patient that you meet is different. Every site that you go to will have different experiences, and you improve in your clinical skillset because of it.”

Perez has been interning full time since May 25 and will continue until Aug. 2. She does inpatient work, where she assesses clients and will either discharge them or refer them to outpatient therapy. She relies on the foundation she learned at CBU to assess a wide range of disorders.

“I am often seeing children who have just gone through something traumatic, such as a near drowning. I assess their cognitive function, language and speech. I am able to support families during their most difficult times and give them the resources they need,” Perez said. “It’s such a rewarding feeling to have that kind of impact on someone's life.”

Perez said that some of the cases can be heavy, but she’s been supported by two supervisors at CHOC who encourage and push her.

“Lupita cares deeply about her clients and she's gone the extra mile throughout the program to really hone her skills,” Ross said. “What I've heard from CHOC so far is that she is just doing a fabulous job there and is demonstrating those skills and learning many new skills.”

In general, medical speech pathology internships are hard to come by because there are so few spots and numerous applicants, but CBU had 11 students interning in medical placements this summer.

“As a result of the students who are on medical placements this summer, we've had several medical sites reach out to us and say they would like another CBU student for next summer,” Ross said. “The students are so well prepared, and they're doing such a good job.”

Perez graduates from CBU this August and will start her clinical fellowship afterward. She plans to eventually work in a hospital or in private practice.

For now, she said, “Every day I am so grateful that I'm able to help someone have a voice.”