Course Detail: Essential Non-Clinical Skills for the Future-Ready SLP

The MGH Institute of Health Professions Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders presents an innovative virtual professional development series, designed to equip speech-language pathologists (SLPs) with essential non-clinical skills to lead, innovate, and expand their impact in today's evolving healthcare and education environments.

With 6 expert-led sessions over 12 weeks, this course provides practical training in communication, AI literacy, finance, advocacy, leadership, and entrepreneurship for SLPs. Through live webinars, self-paced readings, and community discussions, participants will gain the tools and confidence to maximize their impact - both within and beyond the clinic.


Program Format
  • 6 live expert-led sessions via Zoom
  • Session recordings available for on-demand access
  • Self-paced resources between sessions to reinforce concepts
  • Community discussion platform for peer engagement
  • Guided reflection prompts and learning activities
  • Earn up to 0.6 ASHA CEUs

Program Schedule

All live sessions will take place from 7 PM - 8:30 PM Eastern Time via Zoom. Recordings will be made available.

  • May 19: Beyond the Bedside: Non-Clinical Career Pathways for SLPs - Dr. Rinki Varindani Desai

  • May 28: AI Literacy for SLPs - Leila Denna Staiger

  • June 9: Communication and Presentation Skills for Influence and Impact - Lizzie Docel

  • June 25: Pay and Contract Essentials for SLPs - Dr. Meredith Poore Harold

  • July 9: Entrepreneurship Essentials for SLPs - Emily Diaz

  • July 23: Leadership and Advocacy Skills for SLPs - Vicki Deal Williams

  • August 13: Cohort Graduation and Community Networking Event


Who Should Attend

This course is designed for Students, Clinical Fellows, and Practicing SLPs who:

  • Feel the profession is evolving and want to evolve with it
  • Want to explore non-clinical or hybrid career opportunities
  • Aspire to lead, influence, or grow within their current setting
  • Feel underprepared for business and financial conversations
  • Are curious about AI and digital health, entrepreneurship, and innovation

Registration Fees
All MGH IHP students and clinical preceptors can register for this course for free. Contact rvarindanidesai@mghihp.edu if you have any other questions. 


There is no deadline to register for this course. Registeration can occur at anytime while this course is open.

  • Current MGH Institute of Health Professions Students and Clinical Preceptors - Free

  • MGH IHP Faculty, Staff, Alumni, and Term Lecturers - $49

  • Students and Clinical Fellows from other Institutions - $49

  • Practicing Speech-Language Pathologists and Professionals - $99

Technical Requirements
See technical requirements for completing this course here.

How to Access Your Course
When registering on this portal for the first time, you will create an Enrole profile with your email address, which will automatically serve as your username for your D2L Brightspace account, a separate learning platform for this course. Once registered into this offering, you will receive an email to set up your password on D2L Brightspace. Log on and find your course on the homepage.

If you already have an Enrole and D2L Brightspace account, you can log in with your email address here: https://mghinstitutecpd.brightspace.com. Click Forgot Password to reset if needed.

Contact Us
For any questions or concerns regarding this offering or the registration process, contact us at:

Office of Continuing and Professional Development
Email: CPD@mghihp.edu

 Session Detail

Schedule: Series Dates: May 19 - August 13, 2026
Times: 07:00pm-08:30pm EDT

Location Detail

Online Zoom + Online LMS
-
-, - -