"From the mountain to the sea, communication is key."
"From the mountain to the sea, communication is key."
OUR TEAM
OUR TEAM
Syd Wang, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Director of Walaʻau Therapy LLC
Syd is a local-born kama'aina of the Big Island of Hawai'i. A graduate of Kamehameha Schools Hawai'i Campus, she completed her higher education at California State University, Sacramento, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology in 2012 and Master's Degree in Speech Pathology in 2014. She has worked in a variety of settings including private practice, school district, home health services, skilled nursing facilities, adult/pediatric outpatient clinic, and ICU/Acute care unit in several U.S. states. In addition, she has volunteered her time internationally at child development centers in the rural countries of Nicaragua, Uganda, and. Ghana. She returned home to the Big Island in February 2020 to share her expertise and knowledge with her local community. In her free time, she loves traveling the world to lesser-known places and spending quality time with her husband and family. Se habla Español.
Hawai'i License # SP-1661
Board Certified Autism Specialist
ASHA Member of Special Interest Group (SIG) 13 Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders
Member of Hawaii Speech and Hearing Association (HSHA)
Awards and Honors
Article published in ASHA Leader entitled "Lessons Learned from My Sister" Spring 2017
https://leader.pubs.asha.org/doi/full/10.1044/leader.FPLP.22082017.88
HSHA Member Spotlight
2021 Fall/Winter Newsletter
Conferences and Workshops
ASHA, New Orleans, November 2022
Talk Tools Feeding First Virtual Conference, January 2022
Parkinson Voice Project Training, October 2021
Hippotherapy Treatment Principles Part 1, September 2020-August 2021
Orton Gillingham Intermediate Training, October 2020
SOS Approach to Feeding 4-day Conference Level 1 July 2019
Dysphagia in Older Adults Online Conference March 2019
Social Thinking Level 1 Assessment April 2017
The Zones of Regulation: A Framework to Foster Self-Regulation and Emotional Control December 2016
International Work
Smiles for Speech, Project Ghana 2022
July 2022, Volunteer Speech-language Pathologist
Kyaninga Child Development Center, Uganda
October - December 2019, Volunteer Speech-language Pathologist
Nuestros Pequeño Hermanos (NPH), Nicaragua
January-June 2018, Volunteer Speech-language Pathologist
Shayla Lemon, M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Shayla was born and raised in Kansas, keeping busy playing sports and hanging out with family. She went to undergraduate college playing soccer and received a Bachelor’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. Shayla then graduated in 2022 with her Master of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. She has since moved to Hilo and has been working at Wala’au Therapy LLC learning and growing into a holistic-based SLP.
Shayla has experience in settings that include: schools, hospital-inpatient, private practice, and university clinic. She hopes to find a specialized passion further in her career; right now, she enjoys all areas of Speech-Language Pathology.
In her free time, Shayla enjoys snorkeling, reading by the beach, hanging out with her two cats and husband, visiting different parts of the island, and learning about the culture.
Emi Preston, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Emi is a devotional creature. She has lived on Big Island since November 2021 and has fallen in love with the community, beauty, and rawness of the island.
Emi was born in California and moved with her family all around the mainland growing up. Her cats and younger sister were her constant companions during these times of transition. She speaks fluent Spanish and conversational Japanese and Mandarin.
Emi received her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology (CoreSLP Program) from the University of Washington in 2019. She worked as an SLP at an elementary school in Washington for two years, where she specialized in bilingual/multicultural assessment and treatment. During her graduate training and time in the schools, she gained experience evaluating and treating developmental delay as part of an interdisciplinary team. She feels grateful to bring this experience to Wala’au Therapy. It is a great honor to support the growth of our keiki, and to deepen in connection with families.
Outside the clinic, you can find Emi training and performing contortion (ask about upcoming shows!), immersing in the ocean, reading, writing, preparing nourishing meals, basking in sunshine, and talking story.
Stephanie Mullin, MHS, CCC-SLP
Stephanie Mullin, MHS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Stephanie Mullin is an experienced speech language pathologist (SLP) practicing since 2007. She takes pride in providing the most current, research-based care, with interprofessional collaboration to ensure all options are considered for an optimal outcome. Stephanie is driven by the desire to help clients achieve their goals, with a target of "putting herself out of business because the client is doing so well that they don't NEED her anymore."
She looks forward to remain in contact with many families post-graduation considering the personal bond that is formed and the beauty of close community on the Big Island of Hawaii, where she calls home. Personal time is spent enjoying all the nature and beauty that home has to offer, Stephanie received the Parkinson's Voice Project Grant for 4 years in a row (2019, 2020, 2021,and 2022), hosts a free weekly maintenance speech group for Parkinson's called the LOUD Crowd®, hosts a free monthly ‘Talk Story’ group on Zoom for individuals with communication and cognitive challenges, historically volunteered on the educational affairs committee for the Hawaii Speech Language Hearing Association (HSHA), co-collaborates the SLP medical caucus for Hawaii, and is a preceptor for new hires in home health care.
Stephanie has experience in a variety of settings and geographic locations including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, outpatient and home health care throughout Indiana, England, Florida, and Hawaii. As a result, she developed well rounded professional and interpersonal skills that are culturally sensitive. A mentality of a lifelong learner offers the opportunity for ongoing development. Through her compassionate, client driven sessions she guides many individuals to regain their ability to swallow, communicate, think, and remember. She is looking forward to meeting you. Let's grow together.
Essie Jennings, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Certified Brain Injury Specialist
Essie received her Masters in speech-language pathology at The University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine and was awarded Student of the Year in 2016. Essie integrates her minor in Nutrition to assist with feeding safety and holistic care for brain and body wellness. Essie puts education at the forefront to be dynamic and current with intervention research within her field. Essie is a licensed Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) and is passionate in providing individuals with head trauma and/or other neuro-linguistic impact with an in-depth assessment and evidence-based treatment plan. Essie is passionate in dysphagia (swallowing care) and voice therapy and is trained in the McNeil Dysphagia Therapy Program (MDTP) and The Lessac Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy (LMRVT) approach. Essie spent her beginning work experience conducting instrumental exams (both Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallow-FEES and MBSS) Modified Barium Swallow Studies) to develop an extensive understanding and analysis of speech and swallow anatomy and function. Essie's medical background has now allowed her to shift to the pediatric and school-based population for developing integrative practices in the day-to-day communication and feeding needs. Essie is ready to provide speech-language services across the lifespan and enjoys including art and music outlets. “I love helping people find their authentic voice, share their real thoughts, sing, and eat with safety and understanding.” In her spare time, Essie is tending to the aina to plant food via permaculture growing methods to share with her local community.
