Cermak Receives Award from SDSLHA

  • October 16, 2012

Becky Cermak, speech-language pathologist at Brookings Health System, was recently presented the Honors of the Association from the South Dakota Speech-Language-Hearing Association (SDSLHA). Cermak received the recognition for advocating the South Dakota legislature to pass a bill to require universal licensure of all speech-language pathologists.
Becky Cermak, speech-language pathologist at Brookings Health System, was recently presented the Honors of the Association from the South Dakota Speech-Language-Hearing Association (SDSLHA). Cermak received the recognition for advocating the South Dakota legislature to pass a bill to require universal licensure of all speech-language pathologists.

Becky Cermak, speech-language pathologist at Brookings Health System, recently received the Honors of the Association from the South Dakota Speech-Language-Hearing Association (SDSLHA).

The Honors of the Association award is bestowed in recognition of distinguished contributions to the association or to the field of audiology and/or speech-language pathology. It is the highest honor conferred by the SDSLHA and recognizes outstanding service and leadership in the association and the professions over a period of many years.

Cermak, who holds a bachelor’s from SDSU and a master’s from USD, received the honor for working with the South Dakota legislature which passed a bill in February 2012 to require universal licensure for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) practicing in South Dakota. As co-president of the SDSLHA, Cermak served as one of the principal advocates of the new law, working with legislators for over four years to ensure SLPs who care for South Dakotans of all ages meet the highest possible professional standard. The 2012 bill marked the fourth attempt in a 40 year time span by the SDSLHA to seek licensure.

SLPs are professionals who treat all types of speech, language, and related disorders such as voice, cognition, and swallowing. In the medical setting, they hold at least a master’s degree and are nationally certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Speech-Language Pathology services are one of the comprehensive therapy services offered at Brookings Health System. For more information on how you or a loved one may benefit from speech therapy, please visit www.brookingshealth.org/Speech or call (605) 696-8821.

About Brookings Health System

Brookings Health System, located in Brookings, South Dakota, includes a 49-bed hospital, the 79-bed Brookview Manor nursing home, and Brookhaven Estates apartments. It is a non-profit, city-owned facility that offers the community a full range of inpatient, outpatient, and extended care services. The emergency room is staffed 24 hours a day and provides around the clock medical-nursing care for patient needs ranging from minor injuries to life threatening crises. For more information about the services offered at Brookings Health System, please call (605) 696-9000 or visit us on the Web at brookingshealth.org.