Fellowship empowers PhD student to advance empathy-oriented speech-language pathology

For Kiana Tanghatar, the power of speech-language pathology is life-changing — opening doors to not only communication but also restoring confidence and connection that were previously lost.

After frequently visiting rehabilitation centers and sitting in on therapy sessions alongside her family during her childhood in Iran, Tanghatar has witnessed the transformative moments that happen when professionals go beyond traditional techniques — valuing the exchange of vulnerability with clients through every stage of progress.

A speech-language pathologist by trade, she aspires to someday establish her own practice rooted in compassion and innovation. While a doctoral student in ��������’s College of Community and Public Affairs’ community research and action program, Tanghatar primarily works with the Division of Speech and Language Pathology at the University’s Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences, particularly with Professor and Founding Director Rodney Gabel.

Tanghatar recently received the Digital Scholarship and Communications Fellowship — a new award administered by the Graduate School, the University Libraries and Harpur College of Arts and Sciences — which has elevated her ongoing research on clinical decision-making to the next level. Working with faculty mentors over the summer, she developed an interactive game-inspired simulation using Twine software to create an accessible training tool to help expand empathy in the field.

What initially sparked your interest in speech-language pathology?

My interest in speech-language pathology has deep roots in my family history. Growing up, rehabilitation centers were a familiar part of my life because members of my family needed different kinds of therapies. As a child, I often found myself in those spaces, sitting in waiting rooms, listening to conversations or catching glimpses of therapy sessions. I remember being fascinated by the speech sessions in particular. Even at a young age, I could see how meaningful it was when a client was finally able to express a word or when a child’s face lit up because they managed to share a thought that had been trapped inside.

What struck me most was not just the individual progress, but the way those small steps transformed entire families. I noticed parents leaning forward with hope, siblings celebrating new words and the collective relief when communication opened a door that had felt closed. These weren’t just clinical moments — they were life-changing milestones that restored dignity, strengthened family bonds and reshaped how people saw themselves. Those experiences left a deep imprint on me. They showed me that speech therapy is about so much more than speech mechanics. It is about connection, identity and belonging.

From those early days in the rehabilitation centers, I knew I wanted to be part of a profession that makes such profound differences in people’s lives.

What do you consider the most rewarding or compelling aspects of this field?

What I find most rewarding about speech-language pathology is witnessing how communication changes lives in ways that may seem small at first but are actually life-changing. I’ve seen children who once sat quietly at the dinner table suddenly join in family conversations, and adults who avoided speaking in public finally express themselves with confidence. In those moments, it isn’t just about practicing strategies or producing sounds — it’s about opening doors that had felt closed, restoring connection and giving people a stronger sense of self.

Another part that compels me is the privilege of being welcomed into the lives of families. Communication challenges affect not only the individual but also parents, siblings and loved ones who carry the weight of worry, frustration and hope. I’ve seen families hold their breath in anticipation during a therapy session and then beam with joy when a child speaks more clearly or a parent hears their loved one share a thought for the first time.

To be trusted with those vulnerable, intimate moments is humbling. It reminds me that speech therapy is not only about skills — it’s about strengthening families, rebuilding hope and reminding people that they are not alone. I think what makes this field extraordinary is that we don’t just measure progress in words or sentences. We see it in families laughing together, in parents’ tears of relief, in friendships that grow stronger and in lives that feel fuller because communication barriers have been lifted.

As an international student, what inspired you to pursue your PhD at ��������?

Honestly, the main reason I chose �������� was my advisor, Professor Rodney Gabel. As an international student far from home, I knew I needed a mentor who would not only guide me academically but also be someone approachable and supportive. From our first conversations, I felt reassured. He was easy to talk to, genuinely interested in my goals and open to the ideas I wanted to pursue. At the same time, his expertise in stuttering aligned perfectly with my research interests. Having a mentor who is both a leader in the field and someone I could trust personally made all the difference.

Another factor was that �������� offered me a full funding package. That support gave me the stability to focus entirely on my research, clinical training and teaching without the constant worry of financial strain. The combination of world-class expertise, personal support that made me feel less alone far from home and financial security made �������� the clear choice.

How has this program shaped or changed your perspective, either personally or professionally?

This program has shaped me in ways that go far beyond academics. Professionally, it has opened my eyes to the bigger picture: that speech-language pathology isn’t only about what happens in the therapy room but also about the systems, cultures and communities that surround each client. I’ve come to see stuttering not simply as a difference in speech, but as a lived experience shaped by identity, culture, language and access to support. It affects how people see themselves, how families connect and how communities respond. Being in an interdisciplinary environment has reinforced this perspective, showing me that when diverse voices come together, we can create care that goes beyond techniques and strategies to honor the whole person and offer support that is both compassionate and meaningful.

Personally, the program has given me resilience and a deeper sense of belonging. As an international student far from home, I faced moments of doubt and isolation, wondering if my voice truly mattered here. But the mentorship I’ve received, the opportunities to lead projects, and the encouragement from my professors and peers have helped me grow into someone who now feels confident not just in her research, but in her ability to make a difference. I’ve learned that my unique perspective — shaped by my background, my culture and my experiences — has value in this community. More than anything, this program has taught me that research is not an abstract exercise. It’s a way to create tools, knowledge and resources that change lives.

Could you tell me more about your current research project and what your findings hope to achieve?

Right now, my research is centered on two projects that both look at how empathy shapes the work of speech-language pathologists.

The first is a mixed-methods survey study where we’re examining how empathy levels in SLPs impact their clinical decision-making. Alongside the quantitative measures, we’ve built in open-ended questions that invite clinicians to reflect on their own perspectives of what it means to be an empathetic clinician. The goal is not just to measure empathy but to really understand how clinicians define and experience it in their day-to-day work. By combining numbers with narratives, we hope to paint a fuller picture of how empathy influences the choices clinicians make and the care clients receive.

The second project grew directly out of that study. After analyzing the qualitative responses, I used the themes to create an interactive simulation in Twine, which I call the Empathy Game. In this game, clinicians are placed in realistic therapy scenarios such as navigating disclosure about stuttering, responding to a family’s concerns or supporting someone preparing for a job interview, and asked to make choices that branch into different outcomes. Each decision carries “empathy points,” allowing clinicians to see how their responses might build or weaken trust and rapport. At the end, reflection prompts help them think more deeply about what guided their choices and how they might approach similar situations in practice.

I was honored to receive the Digital Scholarship and Communication Fellowship to support the development of this game. The fellowship provided mentorship, resources and funding that allowed me to turn the insights from my first study into a digital tool that can be shared widely. Together, these projects highlight my belief that empathy is both measurable and teachable. By first studying how empathy levels influence clinical decision-making and then creating a space where clinicians can practice and reflect on those skills, I hope to contribute tools that strengthen clinical training and ultimately improve the experience of people who stutter.

Could you describe the application process for the Digital Scholarship and Communication Fellowship?

The application process was very thoughtful. I had to submit a detailed project proposal outlining the problem I wanted to address, how I planned to use digital tools to create a solution, and a clear timeline and budget. Just as important, the application required a faculty recommendation letter, which gave the reviewers another perspective on my potential to carry out the project successfully. That piece mattered to me because it showed that the fellowship values mentorship and community support as much as innovation.

When I received the fellowship, it felt like more than just funding — it was a vote of confidence in both my project and in me as a scholar. It encouraged me to think not just as a researcher but also as someone who can create accessible digital resources that make a real-world impact.

What kind of opportunities for support, resources or mentorship did the fellowship offer you?

The fellowship is supported by the Graduate School, �������� Libraries and Harpur College, and it offered me so much more than funding. I was paired with a mentor who had deep expertise in digital scholarship and specifically in Twine, which was invaluable as I learned to design and build the empathy game. Having that guidance meant I wasn’t just experimenting on my own, I had someone to help me think through user experience, accessibility and how to translate my research findings into an engaging, interactive format. The fellowship also provided both a stipend and material funding that allowed me to purchase the tools and resources I needed to bring the project to life.

Beyond that, I was connected to a cohort of fellows across disciplines, which gave me the chance to share ideas, get feedback and see how others were using digital tools creatively. And one of the most exciting opportunities is that I’ll be able to present my work to the campus community. That visibility means my project won’t just live in academic spaces — it will spark conversations about empathy, clinical practice and digital scholarship across the University. Altogether, the fellowship gave me financial stability, expert mentorship, technical resources, material support, a community of peers and a platform to share my work publicly, all of which allowed me to take an idea from research and turn it into a living, interactive tool.

How do you hope to make an impact in the field?

I hope to make an impact by reminding us that speech-language pathology is not only about communication skills but about restoring confidence, dignity and connection. For me, the heart of this work lies in empathy, how we show up for people in their most vulnerable moments, how we listen to their stories and how we make them feel seen. My research focuses on understanding how empathy shapes clinical decision-making and on creating innovative ways, like the empathy simulation game, for clinicians to practice and strengthen it. I want every client who enters a therapy room to feel that their voice matters and that their story is honored.

But my vision extends beyond research. I want to help prepare future clinicians who carry both knowledge and compassion into their work. Training someone to deliver therapy techniques is important, but helping them build the courage to sit with someone’s struggle, the patience to celebrate small steps and the openness to treat each client as unique, that is what transforms lives.

Long term, I see myself leading both a research lab and a university clinic, creating a space where science and service are inseparable. In the lab, I want to investigate the questions that matter most for people who stutter and how innovative tools can improve training. But I don’t want those findings to stay on paper; I want them to flow directly into the clinic. In the clinic, I imagine students learning by doing, working with clients under close mentorship, practicing not just therapy strategies but also listening, perspective-taking and compassion. I see families walking in without the burden of financial barriers and leaving with the sense that their voices have been heard and their needs respected. And I picture the clinic as a hub where new ideas from the lab are tested in practice, refined and then shared with the broader field.

For me, the vision is about creating a cycle: research that fuels better practice, clinical work that trains more empathetic professionals and community service that ensures access and equity. Together, the lab and clinic would be places where knowledge, care and innovation continually reinforce one another.

Ultimately, the impact I want to leave is not only in data or publications, but in the lives of people who feel less alone, more confident and more connected because of the care they receive. That, to me, is the true measure of success.