School of Speech, Language, Hearing and Occupational Sciences Faculty & Staff

Catherine Off

Professor and School Chair

Contact

Office
Curry 034A
Phone
(406) 243-2104
Fax
(406) 243-2362
Email
catherine.off@umontana.edu
Office Hours

Office hours by appointment by email.

Catherine Off, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a Professor and Chair in the School of Speech, Language, Hearing, & Occupational Sciences at the University of Montana who directs the Behavioral Research for Aphasia and Intensive Neurorehabilitation (BRAIN) Lab. She also founded and co-directs the Big Sky Aphasia Program, which offers aphasia rehabilitation for stroke survivors on an individual basis, in the group context (Aphasia Community Group), and during an intensive comprehensive aphasia program (ICAP) that is designed to improve speech, language, and cognitive function. Catherine is Co-Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board for the UM Neural Injury Center, and has affiliations with the UM Health & Medicine (UMHM) Initiative, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Stroke Workgroup, the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences (ANCDS), and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's Special Interest Group 2: Neurogenic Communication Disorders. She is also a member of Aphasia Access, a non-profit whose mission is to improve awareness of aphasia and to increase access to resources for families living with aphasia.

Catherine completed her Ph.D. in the Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences at the University of Washington in 2008 with an emphasis on stroke, aphasia rehabilitation, and behavioral neuroplasticity. She then worked as a lecturer at California State University - Northridge before taking her position at the University of Montana. Her research focuses on treatment intensity and rural outreach in the context of post-stroke aphasia rehabilitation, with a focus on both patient and family caregiver outcomes and graduate student clinician training.  Catherine’s team investigates principles of neuroplasticity as they relate to the rehabilitation of neurologic communication disorders stemming from stroke and traumatic brain injury in the context of the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (WHO-ICF) model.

 

MEDIA & VISIBILITY

Off, C.A. (March 11, 2021). Interview for Wake Up Montana (ABC/FOX) with Maria Anderson. UM Aphasia Group Helps Stroke Survivors.  https://www.montanarightnow.com/missoula/um-aphasia-group-helps-stroke-survivors/article_75990f12-8256-11eb-8b38-4b6fb8d69b28.html

Off, C.A., Murray, K., Kincheloe, H., & Murphy, M. (March, 2021). Interview for UM News Services with Courtney Brockman, Stroke Survivors Receive Holistic Care from UM Group.  https://www.umt.edu/news/2021/03/030121care.php

Off, C.A. (2020, June). Creating a New Cohort on Zoom: Developing and Implementing a Telehealth ICAP in Rapid Response to COVID-19. Synchronous, live presentation (on Zoom) at AphasiaAccess’s 24-hour Global Aphasia Awareness Month Teach-In.  https://vimeo.com/440150805

Off, C.A. & Patterson, J. (2020). Aphasia Access Podversation: “In Conversation with Cathy Off”. Invited podcast interview about rural aphasia community groups. http://aphasiaaccess.libsyn.com/episode-41-in-conversation-with-cathy-off

 

STEM STORIES....

Website
http://health.umt.edu/slhos/about-us/default.php?ID=2444
Curriculum Vitae
View/Download CV

Education

Ph.D. -  2008 - Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences - University of Washington

M.S. - 1999 - Communication Disorders - University of Wyoming

B.A. - 1996 - Linguistics - University of California-Berkeley

Courses Taught

Courses Taught on a Regular Basis

CSD 430, Sr. Capstone, Advanced College Writing (undergraduate)

SLP 565, Aphasia (graduate)

SLP 566, Acquired Cognitive-Communication Disorders (graduate)

SLP 598, Master's of Science Capston (graduate)

SLP 691, Special Topics SLHS PhD (graduate)

SLP 694, PhD Seminar (graduate)

 

 

 

Teaching Experience

  • University of Montana, School of Speech, Language, Hearing, and Occupational Sciences, Missoula, MT     Full Professor    May 2022-present
  • University of Montana, School of Speech, Language, Hearing, and Occupational Sciences, Missoula, MT     Tenured Associate Professor 2028-2022
  • University of Montana, Dept. of Communicative Sciences & Disorders, Missoula, MT                                   Assistant Professor 2012-2017
  • University of Montana, Dept. of Communicative Sciences & Disorders, Missoula, MT                                   Interim Assistant Professor 2011-2012
  • California State University, Dept. of Communication Disorders & Sciences, Northridge, CA                           Lecuturer  2008-2011

Research Interests

Aphasia

Language

Spoken Language Production

Apraxia of Speech

Stroke Rehabilitation

Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programs

Caregiver Education, Training, and Wellness

Treatment Intensity and Dosage

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Cognitive-Communication Assessment and Treatment

Projects

Current Project #1: Big Sky Aphasia Program: Patient, Caregiver, and Student Training Outcomes

Intensive comprehensive aphasia programs (ICAPs) are a relatively new service delivery model for speech, language, and cognitive impairments following stroke. ICAPs typically provide a minimum of three hours of therapy per day for two weeks, with some programs providing as many as four to six hours a day over a period of four to five weeks. Daily therapy typically includes individual sessions, group sessions, computer-based therapy delivery, and community outings. Persons with aphasia (PWA) enrolled in an ICAP may receive as many as 120 hours of focused language therapy over the span of one month, whereas a person in a standard therapy model receives approximately 8 to 12 hours of therapy in the same time frame. While research of the ICAP model is in its infancy, initial efficacy studies indicate positive patient outcomes across a variety of impairment-based and psychosocial domains.

The Big Sky Aphasia Program at the University of Montana is designed to meet the criteria for an ICAP and has been designed with clearly defined intensity parameters, a concern for client, caregiver, and clinician perspectives, and a focus on comprehensive therapy that addresses multiple modalities using strategies and recreational opportunities individualized to the PWA. The goals of this project are: (1) to measure patient speech, language, and cognitive outcomes and psychosocial well-being at the impairment and participation levels of the WHO-ICF model (including patient reported outcomes), (2) to assess caregiver psychosocial (i.e., wellness and mental health) outcomes following education and counseling groups, and (3) to assess graduate student clinician training outcomes in terms of skills acquisition and clinical competencies.

  • Patient perspectives of the ICAP and the experience of living with aphasia are currently being investigated with funding support from the 2018-2019 University of Montana Small Grants Program. The project title is Patient Perspectives & Patient Reported Outcomes of an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program. The Principle Investigator is Catherine Off. 
  • Qualitative caregiver outcomes were evaluated with funding support from the 2016-2017 CTR-IN Mini Grant sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (#16-746Q-UM-MG26). The project title is The Well Caregiver: Fostering Caregiver Health to Support Aphasia Outcomes. The Principle Investigator is Catherine Off. The Co-Investigator is Kirsten Murray, Department of Counselor Education. 
  • Preliminary feasibility data were collected with funding support from the 2014-2015 University of Montana Small Grants Program. The project title is Big Sky Aphasia Program: Patient and Student Training Outcomes. The Principle Investigator is Catherine Off.

Field of Study

Speech-Language Pathology

Health Sciences

Neurorehabilitation

 

Selected Publications

Invited Presentations

Scharp, V., Off, C.A., & Barnes, K.J. (May, 2022). Sustainability of Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programs: A Qualitative Study. Paper accepted as an Invited Poster Presentation at the 2022 Clinical Aphasiology Conference. Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

Off, C.A., Balser, A., & Carson, J (May 19, 2022). Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork: Interprofessional Post-Acute Stroke Rehabilitation Interventions. Panel presentation accepted at the 2022 Montana Stroke Rehabilitation and Post-Acute Care Conference, Bozeman, Montana.

Off, C.A. (November 10, 2021). Implementing a Telehealth ICAP in Rapid Response to COVID-19. Presentation at the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Montana Cardiovascular Health Program, Montana Stroke Workgroup Fall Meeting. Synchronous virtual presentation.

Off, C.A. & Brown, M. (May 26, 2021). Concussion Management and Speech-Language Pathology. Presentation of concussion management and a pilot concussion research project at a Public Health Class at Sentinel High School. Missoula, Montana.

Scharp, V., Off, C.A., & Griffin-Musick, J. (2021, May). ICAP Clinician Onboarding: Training Graduate Student and Novice Clinicians to Implement an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program. Paper presented as a synchronous virtual round table presentation at the 2021 Clinical Aphasiology Conference. Virtual.

Off, C.A. (2021, April). Integrating Speech-Language Pathologists into the Concussion Management Plan. Synchronous virtual presentation at the inaugural Montana Youth Sports Safety Institute’s Healthcare Provider Summit. Virtual.

Off, C.A. (2020, June). Creating a New Cohort on Zoom: Developing and Implementing a Telehealth ICAP in Rapid Response to COVID-19. Synchronous, synchronous virtual presentation at Aphasia Access’s 24-hour Global 2020 Aphasia Awareness Month Teach-In. Virtual. https://vimeo.com/440150805

Scharp, V. & Off, C.A., (2020, May). ICAP Clinician Onboarding: Training Graduate Student and Novice Clinicians to Implement an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program. Paper accepted as an invited round table presentation at the Clinical Aphasiology Conference, Kona, HI. [Conference Cancelled Due to COVID-19 pandemic]

Off, C.A. & Murray, K. (2020).  Three Priorities for Interprofessional Collaboration. Master Clinician Guest Lecture. https://app.mcnslp.com/dashboard/videos/watch/360688864

Off, C.A. (May 5, 2019). Stroke Recovery & the Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP): Adapting Patient Provider Communication for Patients with Communication Disorders. Invited platform presentation at the Rocky Mountain Stroke Conference, Whitefish, MT.

Galletta, E., & Off, C.A. (May, 2019). So you want to start and ICAP? Research and ideas for implementation. Invited round table presentation at the Clinical Aphasiology Conference, Whitefish, MT.

Murray, K., Griffin, J.R., & Off, C.A. (May, 2019). Professional Collaboration that Works: Counseling and SLP in the Context of an ICAP. Invited round table presentation at the Clinical Aphasiology Conference, Whitefish, MT.

Off, C.A., Griffin, J., & Milman, L. (May, 2018). The impact of an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP) on aphasia-related quality of life. Invited poster presentation at the Clinical Aphasiology Conference, Austin, TX.

Off, C.A., Griffin, J., & Milman, L. (May, 2018). The impact of an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP) on depression in persons with aphasia. Invited poster presentation at the Clinical Aphasiology Conference, Austin, TX.

 

International Presentations

Off, C.A. & Griffin-Musick, J. (June 22-24, 2022). The ICAP “Nest” – Targeting Third-Party Functioning for Family Care Partners of Stroke Survivors with Aphasia in the Comfort of a Cohort. Oral presentation accepted for the International Aphasia Rehabilitation Conference. Hosted by Aphasia Access in Philadelphia, PA.

Off, C.A., Scharp, V., & Griffin-Musick, J. (September 9, 2021). Reducing Rural Health Disparities: A Discussion of Two Rurally Located ICAPs in the US. Pre-recorded oral presentation and synchronous 1-hour Q&A session at the British Aphasiology Society International Conference. Hosted virtually by Newcastle University, United Kingdom.

Griffin-Musick, J., Off, C.A., & Kincheloe, H. (April 8, 2021). Patient Outcomes Following an Interprofessional Psychoeducation Group in a University-Based Telehealth ICAP. Synchronous virtual poster presentation at the 2021 Aphasia Access Leadership Summit. Virtual.

Rose, M., Cherney, L., Off, C.A., Griffin, J., Scharp, V., Babbitt, E., Pierce, J. (June, 2020). Design and implementation of Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programs and their modifications: An international survey of practice. Paper accepted as a platform presentation at the International Aphasia Rehabilitation Conference, Vancouver, Canada. [Conference cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic].

Off, C.A., Rogers, M.A. (June, 2006).  Three Methods of Quantifying the Quality of Communication in Aphasia.  NIDCD Fellows poster presented at the annual Clinical Aphasiology Conference, Ghent, Belgium.

National Presentations

*Off, C., & Griffin, J. (2021, November). Proposal Number 2193V. Implementing a University-Based Telehealth ICAP in Rapid Response to COVID-19. Proposal accepted as a 1-hour pre-recorded oral seminar for the hybrid Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Washington D.C.

*Brown, M., Off, C., & Griffin, J. (2021, November). Proposal Number 8649V. Feasibility and Acceptability of a Functional Cognitive-Communication Assessment for Post-Concussion Syndrome in Adults. Proposal accepted as a 15-minute pre-recorded Poster Session for the Hybrid Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Washington D.C.

*Missel, A., Milman, L., Amundson, D., Nelson, L., Off, C.A., Rees, E., Sproul, R. (2021, November). Proposal Number 4765V. Tele-Connect Aphasia Group (TAG): Continuing Language Treatment after an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP). Proposal accepted as a Pre-Recorded 30-minute Technical Research Session for the Hybrid Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Washington D.C.

*Gilmore, N., Scimeca, M.D., Griffin, J., Off, C.A., & Kiran, S. (September 26-29, 2021). Telerehabilitation for Acquired Brain Injury: Evidence and Insights from Three Unique Cognitive-Linguistic Treatments during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Proposal accepted as a live-recorded panel symposia for the 98th Annual Conference of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, “Progress in Rehabilitation Research: Translation to Clinical Practice.” Virtual.

*Off, C.A., Griffin, J.R. (2020, November). Proposal Number 11264. Implementing a University-Based Telehealth ICAP in Rapid Response to COVID-19. Proposal accepted as an Oral Seminar at the Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, San Diego, CA. [Conference cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic].

*Missel, A., Milman, L., Rees, E., Murdock, A., Off, C.A., Amundson, D., et al. (2020, November). Proposal Number 12546. Tele-Connect Aphasia Group (TAG): Continuing Language Treatment after an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP). Proposal accepted as a Technical Research Session at the Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, San Diego, CA. [Conference cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic].

Laukes, C., Rosen, B., Humphrey, R., Off, C.A., Moody, V., Ostertag, S. (2020, November). An Innovative Model for mTBI Screening, Research, and Education: Enhancing Specialized Services, Research Collaborations, Experiential Learning, and Reducing Overhead Costs through a Coordinated Cost-Sharing System of Existing University and Community Partnerships. Paper presented at the International Brain Injury Association Conference, New Orleans, LA.

*Molesh, K., Off, C.A., Griffin, J., McFarland, C. (2019, November). The Impact of Salient Naming Targets during Aphasia Therapy. Paper presented as a 30-minute technical session at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) annual convention, Orlando, FL.

*Leyhe, A., Off, C.A., Baylor, C., Griffin, J., & Murray, K. (November, 2019). Patient Perspectives of an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program for Stroke Survivors. Paper presented as a 1-hour seminar at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) annual convention, Orlando, FL.

*Off, C.A., Griffin, J., Murray, K., Colstad, M. (November, 2017). Interprofessional collaboration to provide caregiver education, training, and counseling during an intensive comprehensive aphasia program. Paper presented as poster presentation for American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) annual convention, Los Angeles, CA. 

Off, C.A., & Collins, G. (November, 2017). Evaluating data to harness principles of neuroplasticity & determine client progress: Two case studies. Paper presented as poster presentation for American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) annual convention, Los Angeles, CA.

Murray, K. & Off, C.A. (March 18, 2017). Family caregivers: supporting your most valuable resource. Round table presentation at the American Counseling Association (ACA) annual convention, San Francisco, CA.

*Off, C.A., Griffin, J.R., Milman, L., Colstad, M., Powers, E.C., Wilkening, L., Curth, J., Cox, T., & Woodruff, H. (November, 2016). Patient       psychosocial outcomes following an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program. Poster presentation presented at the American Speech-       Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) annual convention, Philadelphia, PA.

Off, C.A., Lauria, A., Colstad, M., Hinther, V., & Kanning, C. (November, 2015). Intensity & dosage for student learning: Benefits of training in an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program. Poster presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual convention, Denver, CO.

Baylor, C., Oelke, M., Hunsaker, E., Off, C.A., Wallace, S., Pennington, S., Barner, A., and Yorkston, K. (November, 2015). Measuring communicative participation for people with aphasia: Validating the Communicative Participation Item Bank (CPIB). Seminar presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual convention, Denver, CO.

Smith, S., Rice, S., Off, C.A., and Yonovitz, A. (November, 2015). Cortical electrical responses occurring prior to speech initiation. Poster presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual convention, Denver, CO.

Off, C.A., Milman, L., and Lauria, A. (May, 2015). Psychometric perspectives of ICAP outcome measures: a triangulation of researcher, clinician, and client perspectives. Platform presentation at the Clinical Aphasiology Conference, Monterey, CA.

Off, C.A., and Griffin, J. (November, 2014). Within and across-session naming under the microscope: How dosage and stimulus variables influence naming performance. Technical research presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual convention, Orlando, FL.

Griffin, J., and Off, C.A. (June, 2014). Treatment intensity and the effect of repetition priming on naming performance in individuals with anomia. Poster presentation (NIDCD Research Symposium) at the Clinical Aphasiology Conference, St. Simon’s Island, GA.

Eandi, M., Off, C.A., and Baylor, C. (November, 2013).  Reliability of proxy respondents who report communicative participation for persons with aphasia (PWA). Poster presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual convention. Chicago, IL.  

Off, C.A., Jackson, C.A., Einholz, H., Cummings, P., and  Langan, M. (November, 2012). Intensive communication practice for individuals with aphasia: better with therapy? Poster presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual convention. Atlanta, GA.

Jackson, C.A., Off, C.A., Cummings, P.D., Malka, K., Monahan, N., Sartipi, S., Simon-Weiner, A., and Eiholzer, H. (November, 2011). Intensive aphasia communication workshops with student volunteers. Poster presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual convention, San Diego, CA.

Off, C.A., Kavalier, H., Rogers, M.A., and Spencer, K.A. (November, 2008). Anomia & Stimulus Dosage: Investigating the Influence of Repetition during Picture Naming. Technical paper presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual convention, Chicago, IL.

Off, C.A., Kavalier, H., Rogers, M.A., and Spencer, K.A. (May, 2008). Repetition Priming and Anomia: An Investigation of Stimulus Dosage. Poster presented at the annual Clinical Aphasiology Conference, Jackson Hole, WY.

Off, C.A. (November, 2005).  Investigating the Time Course of Phonological Encoding Through Motor Programming. Student technical paper presented at the ASHA annual convention, San Diego, CA.

Off, C.A., Rogers, M.A., and Alarcon, N.B. (November, 2002).  Quantifying the Quality of Communication in Aphasia.  Poster presented at the ASHA annual convention, Atlanta, GA.

Off, C. A., and Thompson, C. L. (November, 1999).  Subcortical Lesions and Language: A Conversational Discourse Analysis.  Poster presented at the ASHA annual convention, San Francisco, CA.

Publications

Publications (*underline denotes student author)

Off, C.A., Kim, E., Devanga, S. & Sather, T. (in preparation). Issue Editor Forward: Proceedings of the 2022 International Aphasia Rehabilitation Conference: The Engaged Community. Journal of Communication Disorders

Scharp, V.L., Off, C.A., & Roberts, K.J. (in preparation). The sustainability of Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programs (ICAPs): Perspectives of International ICAP Leadership.

Scharp, V.L., Off, C.A., & Wilson, M. (in preparation, invited manuscript). Gaps in the Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP) evidence base: Perspectives of International ICAP Leadership.  Invited manuscript for a special issue of Aphasiology focusing on ICAPs.

Off, C.A., Scharp, V.L., & Griffin-Musick, J.R. (2023). Graduate student clinicians in healthcare professions as stakeholders in Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP) implementation and research. Topics in Language Disorders, 43 (1), 30-42.

Off, C.A., Leyhe, A.A., Baylor, C.R., Griffin-Musick, J.R., & Murray, K. (2022). Patient perspectives of a university-based Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP) for stroke survivors with aphasia. Aphasiology, ahead of print (EPub 12/16/22), DOI: 10.1080/02687038.2022.2153327   

Kincheloe, H., Off, C.A., Murphy, M., Griffin-Musick, J., Murray, K., Jakober, D. (2021). “We all have coping and communication problems.” Student clinician and patient experiences of a telehealth interprofessional psychoeducation and wellness group for stroke survivors with aphasia. Aphasiology.https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2021.2020716

Rose, M.L., Pierce, J.E. ,Scharp, V.L., Off, C.A., Babbitt, E.M., Griffin-Musick, J.R., and Cherney, L.R. (2021). Developments in the application of Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programs: An international survey of practice. Disability and Rehabilitation. DOI: 10.1080/02687038.2021.1937920

Griffin-Musick, J., Jakober, D., Sallay, A.,  Milman, L., and Off, C.A. (2021, ahead of print). Cognitive-linguistic outcomes from an intensive comprehensive aphasia program implemented by graduate student clinicians. Aphasiology. https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2021.1937920

Griffin-Musick, J., Off, C.A., Milman, L., Kincheloe, H., & Kozlowski, A. (2020). The impact of a graduate student clinician-implemented Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP) on psychosocial well-being in stroke survivors with aphasia. Aphasiology, 35 (10), 1363-1389. https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2020.1814949

Off, C.A. & Yorkston, K. (2019). Issue Editor Foreword: Expanding the envelope of care: Redefining the patient as the patient-family caregiver unit. Topics in Language Disorders, 39(1). Invited.

Off, C.A., Griffin, J.R., Murray, K.W., and Milman, L. (2019). Interprofessional caregiver education, training, and wellness in the context of a cohort model for aphasia rehabilitation. Topics in Language Disorders, 39(1). Invited.

Baylor, C., Oelke, M., Hunsaker, E., Off, C.A., Walalce, S., Pennington, S., Bammer, A...Yorkston, K. (2017). Validating the Communicative Participation Item Bank (CPIB) for use with people with aphasia: a Differential Item Functioning analysis. Aphasiology, 31 (8), 861-878. DOI: 10.1080/02687038.2016.1225274.

Slovarp, L., King, L., Off, C.A., and Liss, J. (2016). A pilot study of the tongue pull-back exercise for improving tongue-base retraction and two novel methods to add resistance to the tongue pull-back. Dysphagia, 30(6). DOI 10.1007/s00455-016-9693-y.

Off, C.A., Griffin, J.R., Spencer, K.A., and Rogers, M.A., (2015). The impact of dose on naming accuracy with persons with aphasia. Aphasiology. DOI: 10.1080/02687038.2015.1100705.

Rogers, M.A., Off, C.A., Silkes, J., Potts, A., Kenny, A., and Pompon, R.H. (2006, abstract).  The effect of repetition priming on picture naming accuracy and latency in individuals with aphasia.  Brain and Language, 99, 212-213.

Off, C.A. (2003).  Positron emission tomography and single photon emission tomography.  Perspectives on Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders, 13 (1), 34-38.

Dissertation

Off, C.A. (2008). Repetition priming and anomia: An investigation of stimulus dosage (Doctoral Dissertation, University of Washington).  Retrieved from ProQuest Digital http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1604560761&sid=2&Fmt=2&clientId=48297&RQT=309&VName=PQD

Master's Thesis

Off, C.A. (1999). Subcortical lesions and language: A conversational discourse analysis (Master’s Thesis). Retrieved from  ProQuest Digital http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1306823441&sid=2&Fmt=2&clientId=48297&RQT=309&VName=PQD.

Specialized Skills

Speech-Language Pathologist (national certification and state licensure)

Professional Experience

CLINICAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • University of Washington, Dept. of Speech & Hearing Sciences, Seattle, WA, Medical SLP Program Administrator & Clinical Educator for Adult Clinical Evaluation Clinic (2007-2008)
  • University of Washington, Speech & Hearing Sciences Clinic, Seattle, WA, Clinical Supervisor & Instructor (2001 – 2006)
  • Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Services, Philadelphia, PA, Staff Speech-Language Pathologist (2000-2001)
  • Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Services, Philadelphia, PA; Clinical Fellow – Speech-Language Pathology (1999-2000)

Honors / Awards

Grants, Honors, & Awards

Intramural Grant: Off, C.A. (Principal Investigator) (May 2022-December 2023).  Multidemensional Cognitive Assessment for Concussion. University of Montana Small Grants Program. $5000.

Intramural Grant: Off, C.A. (Principal Investigator) (Spring 2020-Spring 2021).  Reducing Rural Health Disparities through Interprofessional Collaboration between Graduate Students in Speech-Language Pathology and Family Counseling to Provide Psychoeducation and Wellness to Stroke Survivors with Aphasia. Inaugural University of Montana College of Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences Interprofessional Research Seed Grant. $5000.

Intramural Grant: Off, C.A. (Principal Investigator) (May 1, 2018-August 31, 2019). Patient Perspectives & Patient Reported Outcomes of an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program. University of Montana Small Grants Program. $4921.

Award for Continuing Education (ACE): (2015, 2018, 2023). Granted by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. This award is granted to speech-language pathologists who earn more that 70 hours of continuing eduction in a 36 month period.

Research Travel Award: Griffin, J. & Off, C.A. (2018). Research Mentoring-Pair Travel Award (RMPTA), NIDCD. 28th Annual Research Symposium at the ASHA Convention. Advances in Neuroplasticity Research: Language Recovery in Aphasia. Saturday November 17, 2018. Provides a stipend and research mentoring experience for students and early-career scientists. Award activities include attending a research symposium, networking events, and completing a mentored manuscript review.

University of Montana Faculty Service Award (2017): The Montana Faculty Service Award recognizes a faculty member who has a history of providing superior, effective service that benefits The University of Montana.

State Clinical Achievement Award (2016): Granted by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (ASHFoundation) in September 2016 for the state of Montana. This award is granted to speech-language pathologists who demonstrate advancement of knowledge in clinical practice as evidenced by significant recent accomplishment within the past six years. Each state association is asked to nominate one individual from within the state.

Extramural Grant: Off, C.A. (Principal Investigator) (March 10-June 30, 2016). The Well Caregiver: Fostering Caregiver Health to Support Aphasia Outcomes. 16-746Q-UM-MG26 Mini-Grant award through the Clinical Translational Research – Infrastructure Network of the National Institutes of Health. $12,065.

Intramural Grant: Off, C.A. (Principal Investigator) (2014-2015). Big Sky Aphasia Program: Patient and Student Training Outcomes. University of Montana University Small Grants Program. $3220.

Intramural Grant: Off, C.A. (Principal Investigator) (2013-2014). Reaching Rural Montana: Developing a Telepractice Program for Speech-Language Pathologists. University of Montana University Small Grants Program. $3022.00.

Intramural Grant: Off, C.A. (Principal Investigator) (2012-2013). Investigation of Stimulus Dosage and Treatment Intensity in Individuals with Aphasia. University of Montana University Small Grants Program. $3599.00.

Fellowship Award: NIDCD Fellowship to attend the NIDCD-supported “Research Symposium in Clinical Aphasiology” at the Clinical Aphasiology Conference in Jackson Hole, WY. In addition to financial support, this fellowship provided mentorship activities and seminars for young researchers.  June 2008.

Travel Award: The Graduate School Fund for Excellence and Innovation (GSFEI), $500. This travel award provided financial support to attend the Clinical Aphasiology Conference in Jackson Hole, WY to present a poster. June 2008.

Fellowship Award: NIDCD Fellowship to attend the NIDCD-supported “Research Symposium in Clinical Aphasiology” at the Clinical Aphasiology Conference in Ghent, Belgium. This fellowship also provided mentorship activities and seminars for young researchers. June 2006.

Travel Award: The Graduate School Fund for Excellence and Innovation (GSFEI), $500. This travel award provided financial support to attend the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual convention to present a student technical paper titled: Investigating the Time Course of Phonological Encoding through Motor Programming. San Diego, CA. November 2005.

Award: Graduate student researcher, NIH Institutional Training Grant 05T32DC0003-13. Monthly stipend of $1300 and training necessary to complete a pre-dissertation project titled, Investigating the Time Course of Phonological Encoding through Motor Programming: Effects of Word Frequency and Repetition.

Hobbies

Hiking, trail running, gardening, skiing