Breaking Barriers in Brain Health with Dr. Kelli A. Uitenham
Bright Ideas Media is proud to celebrate Women’s History Month by recognizing trailblazers in speech, language, and hearing sciences who are making a lasting impact. We’re honoring the phenomenal leaders who are not only advancing the field, but also advocating for critical issues that improve the quality lives.
One of those incomparable figures is Dr. Kelli A. Uitenham, the award-winning medical SLP, entrepreneur, public speaker, and owner of Serenity Speech Therapy. She made the pivot to remove herself from certain challenging spaces and created her own space to lead with minimal challenges and operate among like-minded leaders.
Dr. Kelli founded Brain Talk Foundation to raise awareness of neurological conditions, including concussions, TBI and CTE in athletes. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in adult neuro rehab and telehealth across nine states. She is also an adjunct professor and a passionate advocate for brain health.
From her work in adult neuro rehab to her passion for brain health awareness, Dr. Uitenham shared her experiences, challenges, and hopes for the future of the industry.
In your 10+ year career, what was a defining moment that reaffirmed your passion for work in speech, language, and hearing sciences?
My defining moment that reaffirmed my passion for this work was in February 2024, when I was invited to be a featured speaker at the South Carolina Speech Language Hearing Association (SCSHA) annual convention.
At the end of my presentation, so many SLPs had concerns for their spouses and/or children. They asked a lot of questions, which made me realize a lot of work needed to be done to raise awareness about brain health.
If my wonderful colleagues, who have access to this information, were unaware of the risks of concussions in sports, this meant there was a strong chance that my neighbors and other community members were unaware as well. Parents have the best intention when placing their children into sports. I think it is fair to make sure athletes and parents are educated on the risks as well as how to identify signs, and where to get the necessary support if they need it.
Are there any breakthrough research findings that excite you about the future of brain health studies and advancement?
There is currently a study taking place where Dr. Robert Turner, a retired NFL player turned medical doctor, is conducting a study on Black men's brain health. He is comparing brain health of Black men with a history of playing contact sports versus non contact sports.
Women’s History Month is about celebrating impact and progress. How do you hope your work contributes to the legacy of SLPs raising awareness for neurological health?
I hope my work to raise awareness for neurological health contributes to a legacy of SLPs working together in their communities to prevent unnecessary head injuries and deaths in sports.
Additionally, I want my efforts to extend to other populations in need of awareness such as CTE in domestic abuse survivors. My goal is for the silent epidemic to cease and for survivors and their loved ones to have the necessary tools to advocate for themselves.
Learn more about Dr. Kelli's work at braintalkfoundation.org and connect with her on Instagram @drkelli.medicalslp and @braintalkfoundation.
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