Making an Impact in Vietnam

• By Amy Skousen
• September 4, 2018

Sue Ann Lee, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, an associate professor in the department of speech pathology at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Health Professions, has received a six month Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program grant to Hue, Vietnam, where she will be hosted by Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy (HUMP). 
 
Lee came to the U.S. from South Korea 23 years ago to study speech-language pathology because South Korea did not offer a speech-language pathology program at that time. Lee received her masters and Ph.D. degrees in speech pathology. She specializes in pediatric speech disorders, and focuses on children with hearing loss and cleft palate as well as bilingual children with speech disorders.
 
In 2016 and 2017, Lee was invited by Dr. Hyun-Gi Kim, professor of Chonbuk University and Dr. Ha Chan Nhan, professor and head of department of Rehabilitation at HUMP, to offer an intensive course on aural rehabilitation for children with hearing loss at HUMP in Vietnam.
 
“This opportunity gave me eye-opening experience about Vietnam and strongly motivated me to assist development of speech-language pathology in this country.” Lee said.
 
During her time in Vietnam, Lee will assist Vietnamese universities, hospitals and special education schools in developing speech-pathology training programs. This program will allow physicians, special education teachers and occupational and physical therapists to receive training.
 
“With the Fulbright scholarship, I will be able to stay in Vietnam for six months to teach courses, supervise students, and provide workshops and consultations to make a greater contribution to the existing speech pathology training program. I believe that my extensive educational and clinical experience in the U.S. will be of great benefit to Vietnam.”
 
Lee will also conduct research examining speech acquisition in Vietnamese children. Through identifying normal speech development, Lee can better identify children with speech sound disorders (SSD) and provide a basis for treatment. Understanding developmental milestones of developing children is essential to correct diagnosis and treatment for SSD children. This study will provide educational and clinical implications for children with speech disorders.
 
Lee is one of 1,200 individuals who will travel abroad through the U.S. Scholar Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.  The Fulbright program, as one of the most prestigious and competitive fellowship program in the world, is a U.S. cultural exchange program whose goal is to improve intercultural relationship between the U.S. and foreign countries.