Florida State University (FSU)’s School of Communication Science and Disorders (SCSD) hosted a Japanese Study Tour in Human Communication Disorders from October 9-12. During this time, a group of 12 visitors from Japan toured Florida State’s campus and facilities. Three of the visitors were university professors and the rest were practicing professionals in the hospitals of Japan. They learned about the most recent advances in the study of communication disorder via presentations led by FSU faculty and associates.
The Tour, coordinated by Francis Eppes Professor, Dr. Leonard L. LaPointe, was the most recent in a thirty-year partnership between Japan and FSU. In the past, SCSD has hosted as many as 25 Japanese visitors. The cross-cultural communication and cooperation to study speech-language pathology was initiated with Dr. Keiichi Takeda of Osaka University, and is currently headed by Dr. Isami Kumakura of the Kawasaki University of Medical Healthcare.
Starting with a welcome reception on the fifth floor of the University Center Club on Oct. 9, Dr. LaPointe introduced various members of SCSD and the College of Communication and Information (CCI) that would be involved with the Tour, including Dean Dr. Larry Dennis, SCSD Associate Professor, Dr. Julie Stierwalt, and the new SCSD Director, Dr. Hugh Catts. Dr. LaPointe himself has visited Japan five times, and spoken to professionals in seasoned Japanese whenever presented with the opportunity. The speeches and lectures during their visit were translated by Kayoko Shigematsu.
After an early-morning welcome led by Dr. LaPointe, the visit’s workshops were underway, starting with Dr. Stierwalt’s “Clinical Update on Current Research and Management of Tracheotomy and Ventilation” and led to an exploration of alternative communication systems using tablets by SCSD Associate Professor, Dr. Carla Wood Jackson. Afterwards, the group had a themed barbeque lunch based on U.S. pop culture figure, Honey Boo Boo, before heading to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital to study hands-on techniques for treating Dementia and Parkinson Disease with Activities Coordinator, Corinne LaPointe.
Day three of the Tour started with a presentation about “Latest Research on Brain Science: From the Labs to the Clinics” by Dr. Charles Ouimet of FSU’s College of Medicine, following which the visitors toured the Warren Building where SCSD is located. Then they attended two more sessions, led by SCSD Assistant Professors, Dr. Kaitlin Lansford and Dr. Megan MacPherson.
The final presentation was led by Dr. LaPointe and entitled “Brain-based Communication Disorders: A Few Pearls from 51 Years of Dredging Oysters.” He discussed the advances in communication and science disorders he had observed and been a part of, the obstacles the field had tackled and the challenges and discoveries yet to come. Aphasia theory and the concept of neuroplasticity held the spotlight, but Dr. LaPointe also mixed in his own personal experiences with the field and concluded the presentations series with laughter and good cheer. To those that he had worked with and been influenced by in the past, and the people and experiences he hoped to encounter in the future, he expressed, “sincere gratitude for a life well-lived.”
The Japanese Study Tour in Human Communication Disorders ended much as it began: a personal farewell reception was held at the LaPointe residence to thank Florida State’s Japanese friends and colleagues and wish them well on their journey home.
