Julie Peterson, MA, MA. Ed., CCC-SLP, comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and experience. She completed two Master’s degrees, both with Magna Cum Laude honors, from California State University, Fullerton in the area of Speech Language Pathology and University of Phoenix in the area of Educational Administration. Julie began her career as a Speech Language Pathologist working with infants and toddlers in a state developmental program, Special Children’s Clinic, in Las Vegas, Nevada. She moved on to work with the Clark County School District for 15 years, holding positions as an Early Childhood Speech-Language Pathologist, Special Education Teacher for self-contained programs at the high school level, Assistive Technology Region Lead for ages 3-22, and Assistant Principal for the number one rated magnet elementary school in the United States of America, Sandy Searles Academhy for International Studies.
Julie was highly innovative in opening and operating a school-based coffee shop business with her high school self-contained intellectually and developmentally challenged students who ran the shop successfully within the school, was a leader in integrating specialized augmentative and assistive technology for disabled students into the school district’s curriculum, and eventually brought her experience to run an International Baccalaureate certified school where she integrated the curriculum for all students, from special education through highly gifted.
Following her experience in the school district, Julie moved into clinical practice at the Nevada Community Enrichment Neurorehabilitation Program (NCEP) as a Speech Pathologist and Clinical Director, where she delivered comprehensive community based skilled treatment services to residential and outpatient children and adults with brain injuries. Julie was a leader in bringing evidence-based practices to the program, and created highly specialized advanced interventions for military personnel with traumatic brain injuries. Julie’s team successfully obtained two 3-year CARF accreditations while at NCEP, receiving several exemplary ratings. Her team of clinicians was also presented with a prestigious award from the Nellis Airforce Base Commander, for exceeding standards of excellence in the rehabilitation of active duty high ranking military members.
Julie left her position at NCEP to take on a multi-site Director of Rehabilitation position with Kindred Healthcare in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she oversaw skilled rehabilitation services for the Long Term Acute Care (LTAC) Division which focused on providing physical, occupational, and speech therapy to patients who had complex medical needs. Julie then, eventually moved on to overseeing the operations of 26 Kindred LTAC hospitals, as the Director of Operations for the West Region, at which point she received training at John Hopkins Medical Center on implementation of Early Progressive Physical Mobility Programs in the acutely ill population. With her team of clinical experts, Julie brought the first hospital wide Progressive Early Mobility Program to Kindred Healthcare for ventilator dependent and ICU patients. Julie also had the honor of receiving the number one ranking ADO award for the LTAC division across clinical and financial metrics.
After several years spent in the for-profit healthcare business, Julie experienced a call to move back into the non-profit arena, bringing the highest quality of care to those most in need. She finds it her greatest honor and pleasure to lead CNE in bringing state of the art, person-centered and evidence-based treatment practices to persons who have intellectual, cognitive, and physical disabilities.