Our Vision
Empowering Speech-Language Pathologists, Audiologists and Speech-Language and Hearing scientists to unlock communication for individuals with communication disorders.
Our Mission
Empowering our members by providing opportunities for professional development, advocacy, and leadership development necessary to foster excellence in the services provided to individuals with communication and related disorders.
Our History
Founded in 1945, the Ohio Speech-Language-Hearing Association (OSLHA) is a professional association representing speech-language pathologists and audiologists throughout Ohio. OSLHA is recognized by the national American Speech-Language- Hearing Association (ASHA) as the official professional organization for Ohio. OSLHA members provide services for the evaluation and rehabilitation of communicative disorders. Members work in a variety of settings including: clinics, health care facilities, hospitals, private practice, schools, and universities. Members must abide by the OSLHA Code of Ethics.
Our Purpose
a) to represent the professional interests of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists in Ohio;
b) to advocate for service recipients by promoting quality prevention and intervention programs and educational opportunities for those with disorders of human communication;
c) to promote the highest standards of preparation and practice in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology;
d) to promote professional growth and unity;
e) to promote public awareness and influence public opinion concerning the professions of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology and the needs of the communicatively handicapped;
f) to foster the adoption and practice of ethical principles in the field of communication disorders;
g) to encourage basic scientific research of processes of human communication and disseminate the results; and
h) to encourage the interchange of information, affiliation, and cooperation with other professional and service organizations concerned with human communication and its disorders.
Organizational Structure
Learn more about how OSLHA is structured and the committees we have in place for organizing our association activities and events.
Contact Us for volunteer opportunities and to get started as a volunteer today!
OUR LEADERSHIP
Executive Council
Functions
- Act for the Association and make organizational policy decisions within policies prescribed by the By-Laws and Procedures. Decisions are reported at Legislative Council meetings.
- Serve as the Financial Advisory Council for the Association with the Treasurer acting as Chair.
- Participate in the development of the annual budget, monitor and review Association contracts.
- Select and employ the Association Manager, determine the terms of the staff contracts and oversee the management of the business office.
- Implement policies established by Legislative Council.
- Oversee member needs and direct the Legislative Council in processes to meet those needs.
Laurie Sheehy, M.Ed.
President
Laurie is a Senior SLP at The University of Toledo Medical Center and Adjunct Graduate Faculty at The University of Toledo. She has been an OSLHA member since 2000.
Carol Hofbauer, M.S.
Vice President/President-Elect
Carol Hofbauer is the Vice President of Rehab Services at Laurel Health Care Company, a chain of nursing and rehab facilities in 5 states. Carol has been a member of OSLHA since 1979.
Maggie Kettler, Au.D.
Past President
Maggie Kettler, AuD is a Clinical Manager and Audiologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She specializes in diagnostics and treatment of children from birth to 21 years of age.
Christie Needham, M.A.
Treasurer
Christie works at Baldwin Wallace University where she is the Director of Clinical Education. She lives in Bedford, Ohio.
Laura Schrock, M.S.
Secretary
Laura is a Lecturer and Clinical Instructor at Bowling Green State University and has been a member of OSLHA since 1986. Laura enjoys kayaking, sailing, reading, and spending time at her family’s lake house.
Legislative Council
Functions
- Act under the leadership of the Executive Council to implement the policies prescribed by the By-Laws and Procedures as reported by the Executive Council at Legislative Council meetings.
- Participate in carrying out the identified procedural duties provided in accordance with the annual budget.
- Serve as liaisons to the membership, communicating needs and participating in procedural and annual goal activities related to meeting those needs.
Emily Berry, M.A
VP of Membership Engagement
Kelly Johns, M.A.
VP of Council Leadership
Kelly graduated from the University of Toledo and is a supervisor and SLP at Promedica Toledo Children’s Hospital. She lives in Toledo, Ohio and has been an OSLHA member since 2011.
Colleen Visconti, Ph.D
VP of Continuing Education
Colleen Visconti is the Dean of Health Sciences, Professor and Program Director of the Speech-Language Pathology program at Baldwin Wallace University. She lives in Bay Village, Ohio and has been a member of OSLHA since 1995.
Ann Biehle, M.A.
VP of Awards & Recognitions
Ann works for OhioHealth and Mount Carmel Healthcare systems working with adults in the inpatient and outpatient settings. She lives in Dublin, OH and has been a member of OSLHA since 2012.
Linda Wellman, Ph.D.
VP of Legislation & Advocacy
Linda Wellman is the owner of Wellman Literacy & Learning specializing in dyslexia, executive function as related to ADHD, language/literacy demands within the K-12 academic curriculum and advocacy for SLPs’ role in language-based learning disabilities.
Shyla Miller, M.A.
VP of Resource Development
Shyla Miller is a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She specializes in speech sound disorders, resonance disorders, cleft lip/palate, and evaluations for culturally and linguistically diverse families. She has been an OSLHA member since 2006.
Chip Hahn, Au.D.
Audiology Practice Representative
Chip Hahn is an Assistant Clinical Professor and Director of Audiology Education at Miami University in Oxford, OH.
Stephanie Rahe, M.S.
Health Care Practice Representative
Stephanie Rahe obtained her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Bowling Green State University and currently works as a Speech-Language Pathologist for ProMedica.
Evelyn Hoglund, Ph.D.
DD Practice Representative
Evelyn Hoglund teaches in the Speech and Hearing Science department at Ohio State University. She has been involved with people with disabilities since junior high school in various capacities. Evelyn has lived in Ohio since 1991.
Christina Horak, M.A.
Private Practice/Non-Profit Practice Representative
Christina Horak obtained her Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Akron and enjoys owning and operating The Speaking Company. She is married with 2 small children and a poodle and enjoys exploring the outdoors and volunteering in her community.
Matt Hott, M.A.
Schools Practice Representative
Matt Hott graduated from the Ohio University. Matt currently works in the high school setting and lives in the Cincinnati area with his wife and 2 children.
Nadine Whiteman, M.A.
Supervision Practice Representative
Nadine is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Clinical Supervisor with Ohio State University. She has been a member of OSLHA since 1991.
Katie Bochi, M.A.
University & Student Affairs Practice Representative
Katie Bochi works at ProMedica Toledo Children’s Hospital as a Speech-Language Pathologist in the NICU and pediatric home care. She has been a member of OSLHA since 2013.
Youkyung Bae, Ph.D.
CLD Practice Representative
Youkyung Bae is an Assistant Professor for the Department of Speech and Hearing Science at The Ohio State University. Her research interests lie in anatomic, physiologic, and acoustic aspects of speech production, with special emphasis on the velopharyngeal mechanism.
Christine Worthington, M.A.
Telehealth Practice Representative
Christine Worthington was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from Cleveland State Univ. and has practiced in various states before returning to Ohio in 1997. Christine works for psi in Twinsburg, Ohio and is a Speech Supervisor and Coordinator of Virtualpsi. She and her husband, Brad, enjoy traveling, hiking and fishing with their son, Mark and their dog, Tucker.
Past Presidents
2018: Maggie Kettler
2017: Michele Kramer
2016: Donna Edwards
2015: Davida “Davy” Weaver
2014: Carolyn “Carney” Sotto
2013: Sandra Combs
2012: Michelle Burnett
2011: Janice Wright
2010: Colleen Visconti
2008: Jo-Anne Prendeville
2007: Katrina Zeit Purcell
2006: Amy Thorpe Wiley
2005: Sandra Grether
2004: Sheryl Back
2003: Kenneth Ruder
2002: Dorothea Wise
2001: Linda Petrosino
2000: Joy Hyman-Goldberg
1998: Diane Games
1997: Ginger O’Connor
1996: Dianne Karnes
1995: Nancy Creaghead
1994: Bernard Henri
1993: Margaret Roberts
1992: Sally Disney
1991: Patricia Skinner
1990: Karyn Bobkoff Katz
1988: Kathy Kelly Ohlrich
1987: Joann Huprich
1986: Carole Donnelly
1985: Jane Warner
1984: Peggy Fitzmaurice
1983: Bonnie Gregory
1982: Carol Kamara
1981: Carol Leslie
1980: Richard Nodar
1978: Dale DeGirolamo
1977: Allyn Taylor
1976: Kathleen Podoba-Lind
1975: Ann Glaser
1974: George Fichter
1973: Jane Cochran
1972: Joseph Millin
1971: Jerry Johnson
1970: Melvin Hyman
1969: Paul Ptacek
1968: Robert Valyo
1967: William Weidner
1964-66: Robert Stimpert
1963: George Herman
1962: Thomas Anderson
1959-61: Loraine Wilson
1958: Dorothy Kester
1957: Loraine Wilson
1954-56: Claude Kantner
1953: Mary Quirk
1952: Ruth Becky Irwin
1951: Warren Gardner
1950: Adeline McClelland
1948: A. C. LaFollette
1947: J. Gerber Drushal
1946: John Montgomery
1945: Ruth Becky Irwin
Become a Member!
Join our Membership Community Today!
- Full Membership (Speech & Audiology Professionals): $75
- Associate Membership (Allied Professions, Consumers, Clinical Fellows): $45
- Student Membership (Full-time CSD Students): $25
- Life Memberships Available to Lifetime Membership Participants
Benefits: Members receive significant discounts off the OSLHA Convention as well as access to exclusive online continuing education programming and accessibility to reasonably priced professional liability insurance coverage, ALL Included in an annual membership. All memberships expire on June 30th.