There are many factors that lead me to the field of speech-language pathology. A driving force came about from my experiences pursuing a career in music for several years after completing my undergraduate studies at UNC. It is through music that I learned the importance of creating and fostering relationships and the role that strong communication skills play in bringing about successful collaborations. It is in this reflection that I find myself most drawn to our field. I personally took vocal lessons for two years with a professional singer, Joan Wittman. Prior to these lessons, I played a minimal vocal role in my band, singing back up occasionally. I learned about my own voice; I learned how to breathe properly, how to shape resonance, and how to project. It was through the application of Joan’s technique that I improved my vocal abilities and gained confidence. I find great motivation in the thought of being able to serve others in this capacity. I have been a clinician specializing in voice and swallowing at the UNC Voice Center since 2017. I joined the multidisciplinary ALS clinic team in 2019 and the multidisciplinary Parkinson’s and Parkinson’s plus teams in 2020. I completed the Advanced Team Training for Parkinson’s disease in May of 2021.
Joseph Hall, SLP
