Discovering the Leader in You with Ashley Munoz Lopez

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 Bite00:18 Reflections on Feeding Matters Conference02:52 The Fight for 504 Plans07:39 Introducing Ashley Lopez09:14 Ashley's Journey into Speech Pathology17:33 Career Pivots and Challenges20:45 Transitioning to Pediatrics22:52 Navigating Postpartum Depression32:35 Mentorship and Adult Learning34:19 Pursuing an MBA During the Pandemic37:38 Discovering a Passion for Medicine38:01 Pursuing an MBA38:41 Balancing Education and Career39:59 Understanding the Bigger Picture in Healthcare40:50 The Importance of Leadership in Healthcare41:38 Graduating and Future Aspirations43:06 Challenges in Clinical Training45:09 The Role of Business in Healthcare46:10 Personal Life and Professional Balance49:14 Finding Support and Building a Tribe51:43 Adapting to New Normals01:03:04 Leadership and Continuous Learning01:09:09 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).