معرفی
Dr. Donna Thomas is a Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Speech Pathology within the Faculty of Medicine and Health at The University of Sydney. With a PhD completed in 2018 and certification as a Speech Pathologist, she maintains active clinical research and teaching roles while holding Senior Fellow status with the Higher Education Academy.
Her research focuses on two critical streams: advancing diagnosis and treatment for children with motor speech disorders (particularly Childhood Apraxia of Speech), and enhancing clinical education methodologies for speech pathology students. This dual focus manifests in numerous international collaborations and substantial grant funding from organizations including NSW Health, Cerebral Palsy Alliance, and the Once Upon a Time Foundation.
Analysis of her recent publications reveals strong thematic consistency in motor speech disorder interventions, with significant emphasis on Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) and Rapid Syllable Transition (ReST) treatments. Her work increasingly incorporates telehealth applications and examines implementation barriers in real-world clinical settings, reflecting the profession's adaptation to technological and pandemic-related challenges.
- 2024 Leadership Award (SEMCAN 'Good Mentor')
- 2023 Vice Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence nomination
- 2020 Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies
- 2012-2017 Australian Post-Graduate Award recipient
- Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy
- Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist
Thomas actively supervises one PhD and six Honours students while coordinating undergraduate and master's clinical units. Her current projects include NHMRC-funded international studies on DTTC treatment and cross-cultural educational collaborations with institutions in Hong Kong, USA, and Canada. She leads initiatives examining telepractice efficacy, diagnostic uncertainty in motor speech disorders, and innovative clinical placement models.
