Patti Nelson

Patti Nelson mentors graduate and undergraduate students pursing the field of speech language pathology. She has taught at the University level prior to coming to Emerson, and has held a variety of senior management, administrative and clinical positions supporting individuals with cognitive communicative and behavioral challenges in rehabilitation and school settings.  Her areas of special interest include working with children and adults with Autism, Traumatic Brain Injury, dysphagia, cognitive impairments, along with areas of program development, supervision, teaching, and mentoring.

Patti was born and raised in Boston. Her initial clinical experience started in the public school setting, then to working with individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries in the mountains of New Hampshire as part of New Medico at Highwatch. She then traveled to Perkins School for the Blind and worked in the Head Injury Unit, ultimately heading over the bridge to Cape Cod to take on a Coordinator of Speech Language role at the New Medico at Lewis Bay Head Injury program. Her career then led to positions as Director of Rehabilitation in a dynamic skilled nursing facility as part of Advanced Rehab/Prism Health care, and then as Director of Therapy Services for 18 years at Cardinal Cushing Centers at Hanover. She most recently supervised Clinical Fellows as part of Easterseals of MA. Patti has supported a variety of professional teams to include occupational and physical therapies, assistive technology specialists, social work, and speech language pathologists and assistants. All along the way, she has taken pride in her ability to provide educational opportunities to a variety of professional, direct care staff, and families. In addition, Patti is active in her home community and serves as Secretary to the town Disabilities Commission.