Nov. 2, 2020

After nine years as an associate adjunct professor in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences (SLHS), University of Missouri, Anne Bedwinek, PhD, CCC-SLP is retiring from teaching. We are grateful for her contribution to our department. Anne taught Cleft Palate/Craniofacial Disorders, a required graduate course. During her time at Mizzou, our students had the opportunity to observe craniofacial teams in a hospital setting. Students also learned from Anne how to present at a professional conference, providing continuing education to SLPs in the field about this complex area. The students were encouraged to share what they learned in her class with SLPs across the state, giving back to their professional community.

Spanning 47 years, Anne’s academic career included faculty positions at the University of Tennessee and St. Louis University, as well as a lectureship at Washington University School of Dental Medicine. Early on, she held clinical instructor positions at Washington University and Central Institute for the Deaf. Over her career, she provided clinical mentorship to numerous student and trainees from around the state. Clinically, she worked as a medical SLP at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and Mercy Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, serving on four cleft palate-craniofacial teams and is a founding member of two of those teams. She was the senior speech-language pathologist at Mercy Children’s Hospital, where she worked for nine years. Her publications and presentations contributed to the primary literature on craniofacial abnormalities and resonance disorders, increasing our clinical understanding in these areas. Her scholarly work provided continuing education for other professionals seeking to learn more about this subarea.

During her time at the University of Missouri, Anne has been very active in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA’s) SIG 5, serving on the coordinating committee and on the editorial review board of ASHA’s Perspectives, and serving as a practice portal content expert in her area. She co-produced a webinar in the area of cleft palate and regularly reviews texts and continuing education materials in this area. She has also been active in the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA), serving on publication and conference planning committees. She remains active in ASHA, the Missouri Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and ACPA.

Dr. Stacy Wagovich, chair of SLHS, shares her gratitude for all that Anne has given to the department. “Dr. Bedwinek is an expert and master-clinician in the area of cleft palate and orofacial abnormalities. She is an excellent instructor whose enthusiasm for the field and love of training the next generation of clinicians is inspiring and humbling. Our students are better clinicians for the time they spend with Anne, both in the classroom and through all the outside learning opportunities she provides.” Anne shares, “I’m inspired by the students I teach. It’s been an honor to teach in the graduate program at Mizzou, where the caliber of students is outstanding. The curriculum here is rigorous and demanding. I’m always amazed at our students’ intellect, caring, and desire to learn more!”