Our Faculty

Background

Jessica Underwood is a clinical instructor in the Division of Speech and Language Pathology at Binghamton University’s Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Underwood has 19 years of clinical experience working in the medical setting, including acute, subacute, inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient settings. Her clinical expertise has focused on providing services to patients with neurologically based communication, cognitive-linguistic and swallowing disorders, as well as the voice disordered population.

Throughout her career, Underwood’s approach in achieving optimal communication has focused on patient-centered, evidence-based treatment; family participation; training; and counseling. In addition to her clinical experience, Underwood's interdisciplinary collaboration with therapy and medical teams has contributed to excellent patient outcomes. Her experience also includes the opportunity to supervise and mentor graduate students in the medical setting during the past several years.

Underwood is an active member of the community involved in an area communication support group, and is a member in local and state chapters of the speech language and hearing associations.

Education

• MA, communication disorders and sciences, Plattsburgh State University College
• BS, health sciences, Cortland State University College

Research Interests

• Adults with communication and swallowing disorders
  
• Professional issues
• Socioemotional impact of communication disorders
• Augmentative communication in the adult aphasic population

Clinical Interests

• Neurologically based communication and swallowing disorders
  
• Adults with neurocognitive communication disorders
• Adults with voice disorders

Teaching Interests

• Dysphagia
  
• Aphasia
• Voice disorders