Guest: Ashley Muñoz López MBA, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/course?name=Discovering-the-Leader-in-You

In this episode, Michelle Dawson introduces the theme of leadership within the field of speech pathology. Michelle shares insights from her recent experience at the Feeding Matters conference, highlighting the importance of advocacy, especially regarding the protection of 504 plans under threat in several states. The week's guest, Ashley Lopez, delves into her journey as a speech pathologist transitioning from adult care to pediatric care, her pursuit of leadership roles, and the challenges of balancing professional and personal life during these transitions. Ashley also opens up about the impact of postpartum depression, the necessity of finding one's tribe for support, and her educational path that includes obtaining an MBA to enhance her leadership skills. This episode is a heartfelt discussion about personal growth, professional transitions, and the essential role of advocacy in the field.

Link to ASHA Advocacy - Texas v. Beccera: https://www.asha.org/news/2025/texas-v-becerra-a-lawsuit-that-threatens-disability-rights/

Episode Timeline:

00:00 Welcome to First Bite

00:18 Reflections on Feeding Matters Conference

02:52 The Fight for 504 Plans

07:39 Introducing Ashley Lopez

09:14 Ashley's Journey into Speech Pathology

17:33 Career Pivots and Challenges

20:45 Transitioning to Pediatrics

22:52 Navigating Postpartum Depression

32:35 Mentorship and Adult Learning

34:19 Pursuing an MBA During the Pandemic

37:38 Discovering a Passion for Medicine

38:01 Pursuing an MBA

38:41 Balancing Education and Career

39:59 Understanding the Bigger Picture in Healthcare

40:50 The Importance of Leadership in Healthcare

41:38 Graduating and Future Aspirations

43:06 Challenges in Clinical Training

45:09 The Role of Business in Healthcare

46:10 Personal Life and Professional Balance

49:14 Finding Support and Building a Tribe

51:43 Adapting to New Normals

01:03:04 Leadership and Continuous Learning

01:09:09 Concluding Thoughts and Gratitude

About the Guest: Ashley is a board-certified clinician with experience in direct patient care, project management, service line development, and leadership. She has worked as a speech-language pathologist for over a decade and has experience working with children and adults in various practice pathways. She has substantial experience working with patients with acquired brain injury, respiratory compromise, and dysphagia.

Ashley has been published in the ASHA Leader and Aerodigestive Health as well as the Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups. She received the Distinguished Early Career Professional (ECP) Certificate in 2018 and graduated from ASHA's Leadership Development Program (LDP) in 2019. She is a current member of the Hispanic Caucus for ASHA and a previous board member. She has been a guest speaker for several universities and has presented at the local, state, and national levels, including multidisciplinary presentations with nursing organizations. Most recently, she was invited to be a speaker at ASHA's upper airway online conference. In 2020, Ashley began her term as a site visitor for the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA). ​​​

Ashley provided dedicated service to ASHA's Special Interest Group 13 as a professional development member from 2021 - to 2023 and the CE content manager. Currently, she is serving on the adult swallowing committee for the ASHA 2024 convention. Outside of her duties in the clinical realm, Ashley empowers diverse members of the healthcare workforce and was the 2022 co-chair and 2023 chair for the Hispanic/LatinX Alliance for the Houston Methodist system. She currently serves as a part-time lecturer for the University of Texas—Rio Grande Valley, a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI).