The University of New Mexico Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences will expand its clinical services benefiting thousands of New Mexicans across the state – after a newly formed partnership with UNM Medical Group (UNMMG).  

The partnership will be announced during an open house at the clinic, Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 10 a.m. 

“The partnership between the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences and UNMMG allows us to serve all New Mexicans who are in need of speech-language pathology or audiology services,” said Dr. Phyllis Palmer, chair of the Department of Speech and Hearing Science. “Our students, in addition to the varied clinical experiences, will enter the workforce prepared for current healthcare practice management.” 

Housed within the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences in UNM’s College of Arts and Sciences, the clinic provides training opportunities for graduate students who are studying to become speech-language pathologists. Clinical faculty oversee students who provide evidence-based evaluation and treatment for individuals with various speech, language, hearing and swallowing disorders. 

The clinic also provides the following specialty services: 

  • Hearing aid distribution 
  • Swallowing disorder treatment  
  • Feeding support for infants  
  • Vocal health training for individuals with voice disorders or for those transitioning gender 
  • Fluency treatment 
  • Memory and language training 
  • Augmentative devices training for non-verbal individuals 
  • Literacy support for school-aged children  

Palmer says the clinic has always been limited in its billing capacity – making the recent partnership with UNMMG crucial as it allows them to bill all insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid. UNMMG will specifically be providing operational support and revenue cycle services – key elements of the clinic and the interface with patient visits.

“A part of UNMMG’s mission is to improve the health of New Mexicans and it is very exciting to be partnering with another UNM entity in doing so,” said. Dr. Robb McLean, president and EO, UNM Medical Group, Inc. “This partnership not only improves care by opening up access to those that need it, but it also demonstrates our continued growth and expansion of resources and services to this community.”

If individuals can't make the in-person open house, the event will be available via Zoom.