Sami is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) working in the Pacific Northwest. She works at an AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) company, where she connects individuals with communication challenges with tools to increase their independence, communication, and quality of life.

Sami is also pursuing a doctorate to deepen her expertise in aphasia, become a leader in return-to-work research within the SLP field, and create meaningful opportunities for her clients.

In addition to full-time work and her doctoral studies, Sami is a small business owner. She creates free resources for SLPs, individuals with communication challenges, and care partners. Sami also creates study aids and digital prints for SLPs. Her unique personal and professional background allows her to provide effective individualized mentoring and coaching to others.

Sami's journey began at 14 when her dad experienced a stroke in 2008, sparking her interest in acquired communication disorders. She traveled across North America, visiting intensive, comprehensive aphasia programs that her dad attended, and working with her dad on his speech and language recovery at home in California.

At 17, Sami moved to New York City to pursue a degree in media communications from New York University. She held successful careers in fashion and finance in NYC before returning to the West Coast. After her dad passed away in 2016, Sami decided to pursue a career in speech-language pathology to continue working with people with aphasia and other communication challenges.

Combining her background in communication sciences and disorders, media communications, retail fashion, finance, and education, Sami founded Speech+Language to share her story, provide free resources, and raise awareness about aphasia and the role of a speech-language pathologist in supporting return-to-work goals.