Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are advanced healthcare practitioners with similar responsibilities, such as diagnosing illnesses and prescribing medications. However, their training and paths toward certification differ in significant ways. This blog post unpacks the key differences between NPs and PAs to help you determine which career path best aligns with your goals. What Is a Nurse Practitioner? A nurse practitioner (NP) is a licensed clinician who provides comprehensive healthcare to patients of all ages. An NP can work in virtually any healthcare setting, diagnosing patient conditions and prescribing medications. As of October 2022, nurse practitioners have full practice authority in 27 states, meaning that they can practice Read more
Meghan Savage, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is the Program Director and an Associate Professor in the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) program. Dr. Savage, who is located on the Austin, TX campus, was previously the Interim Program Director and served as core faculty, Clinical Director and Assistant Program Director since joining the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2018. Her previous experience includes serving as the Graduate Coordinator of the Communication Sciences Disorders Master’s program at Southeastern Louisiana University.
Dr. Savage earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2004 from Hendrix College in Conway, AR. She completed her master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2007 from Louisiana State University. In 2012, she earned her PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders, with an emphasis in Neurogenic Communication Disorders from Louisiana State University.
Dr. Savage has worked clinically with pediatric and adult populations. Her research interests are in adult neurogenic communication disorders, and specifically in conversational treatments with people with aphasia and their conversation partners. She also has a passion for interprofessional education and collaborative practice teaching and research. She has numerous presentations at the local, state, national and international level and has published book chapters and peer-reviewed articles. She has also directed several master’s theses and mentored students through the research process.
Dr. Savage was selected to participate in the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD) Lisa Scott Leadership Academy. She is also a T3Training Grant recipient to attend the University of Virginia’s Train the Trainer Interprofessional Training Program. She serves on the Board for the Academy of Neurological Communication Disorders and Sciences (ANCDS). Furthermore, Dr. Savage actively participates in service at the University. She founded and facilitated a monthly community stroke support group at a local hospital and has served as a founding board member for a nonprofit pediatric clinic. Dr. Savage is the recipient of the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences’ 2020 Board Excellence ‘Student First’ Award.
