August 16, 2024 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu

Fluent in English, Arabic, and French, Nadia Sabeh Ayon is also learning Spanish. Oh, and she’s dedicated herself to a career helping others regain their communication abilities.

“Speech pathology is a young and dynamic field where significant research and clinical efforts are constantly being made to advance it,” Sabeh Ayon says. “This blend allows me to engage directly with patients while also contributing to the development of new treatment methods and interventions through research.”

Her passion for the field began in Lebanon, where she studied speech and language pathology at Saint-Joseph University in Beirut. Sabeh Ayon worked as a speech therapist in private practice before relocating with her husband to Charleston, South Carolina.

Eager to return to her vocation, Sabeh Ayon began looking for graduate programs to earn her credentials in the United States. The master’s program offered by the Arnold School’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (COMD) stood out as the only school she considered that offered a neuro track. She also valued the opportunity to gain experience at the Montgomery Speech-Language Hearing Clinic, which is known for its speech pathology and audiology/hearing services.

“USC also offers graduate assistantship opportunities, allowing students to immerse themselves in the research world,” Sabeh Ayon says. “To ensure students stay current with evidence-based practices, the university provides numerous opportunities to attend conferences.”

During her two years in the M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology - Residential Education program, she attended five conferences, presenting at three of them. She also gained clinical experience at medical centers, nursing home and elementary school settings across the state.

Having worked with diverse populations with an array of communication challenges, Sabeh Ayon has determined that her calling is to treat adults in acute care settings. She is particularly interested in swallowing and voice disorders and enjoys working with patients who have aphasia, stuttering and selective mutism.

After wrapping up her final internship at the VA Hospital in Charleston, Sabeh Ayon graduates this month with a 4.0 and her department’s Outstanding Student of the Year Award. Long term, she would like to work as an SLP alongside her husband (an MD/Ph.D. student with plans to become an ENT head and neck cancer surgeon).

“We have always envisioned working together on the same team,” says Sabeh Ayon, who plans to return to school in a few years to complete a doctoral degree.  

“When asked about my experience at USC, I often find it difficult to put into words how thankful and blessed I am to be part of the COMD program,” she says. “Over the past two years, I have experienced tremendous academic and practical growth. Additionally, USC has provided an exceptional environment for me as an international student. The support and warmth from the COMD faculty members and my friends have made me feel at home, despite being far from my own country.”

Sabeh Ayon stresses the importance of taking advantage of opportunities, such as contributing to research, but most critically, to take care of your mental health during graduate school. She found support in family, friends and classmates, as well as her professors.

“Every mentor I had at the COMD program has influenced me in unique and meaningful ways,” Sabeh Ayon says. “Collectively, they have shaped me into a better version of myself than when I first started. Each student has their own strengths and weaknesses, but at the COMD, weaknesses are consistently turned into strengths, thanks to the guidance and support of our supervisors and mentors. Their dedication and personalized approach have been foundational to my growth and success.”

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