MedSpeech, Inc., Medical Speech Language Pathologists of the Palm Beaches, a private practice, became incorporated in September 1995, in order to provide state of the art Speech Language Pathology evaluation and treatment for individuals with speech, language, voice and swallowing disorders.


MedSpeech, Inc. is a state of the art Speech-Language Pathology practice dedicated to providing compassionate service delivery to individuals with Voice, Swallow, Airway, and Communication Disorders in a supportive and relaxed environment. Our primary focus is to educate each individual and their family regarding strategies to enhance their quality of life.

1. Let people know that help for communication and swallowing
   problems is available from our licensed and certified staff.
2. Provide state of the art compassionate service delivery to
   individuals with Voice, Swallow, Airway, and Communication
   Disorders.
3. Remove obstacles to care by helping each individual identify
   resources to ensure that they obtain the help that they need.
4. Engender working relationships with referring physicians,
   community agencies and other health care agencies.
5. Prevention of speech and language disorders through
   community education.
    

Upon identification of necessary services, we will help each individual to clarify their financial responsibility prior to beginning treatment. We will bill for most insurance plans. We are contracted with Medicare, Health Options, and Humana. In addition, MedSpeech, Inc. offers reasonable private rates and payment plans.

MICHAEL D. CHIDESTER, MD

Michael D. Chidester, MD received his Medical Degree from the University of Tennessee in 1982. He received his undergraduate degree in biology from Southwestern University in Memphis, which is now Rhodes College. After medical school, he attended the Naval Undersea Medical Institute and served as a submarine and diving physician for the US Navy from 1985-1988. Currently, he is an Internal Medicine physician in private practice in West Palm Beach, FL, with a specialty in hyperbaric medicine. He is on staff at St. Mary’s Hospital, Good Samaritan Medical Center, and Columbia Hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is the Section Chief of Internal Medicine for St. Mary’s Hospital. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine for Nova Southeastern University.

REBECCA L. GOULD, MSC, CCC-SLP

Director/Owner of MedSpeech Inc., Medical Speech-Language Pathologists of the Palm Beaches. She has 28 years of Medical Speech Language Pathology experience, directing and developing programs in every aspect of SLP service delivery including SNF, Rehabilitation, Acute Care, Outpatient, ACLF, and Developmental Center in addition to Voice, and Swallowing Diagnostic Center.

Experience includes: Director of a Speech Clinic in Fort Walton Beach from 1981-1989, Supervisor of Speech Services at St. Mary’s Hospital from 1990-1995, and Vice-president of Continuing Education for FLASHA 1991-1993.

Areas of expertise and certifications include: Laryngectomy - International Association of Laryngectomee Certified instructor of Alaryngeal Speech; Treatment of Airway disorders including Trach and Ventilator dependent patients to patients with Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD); Evaluation and management of voice, swallowing and neurogenic disorders using instrumental diagnosis with competency in Videostroboscopy, Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS), Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), and Bio-feedback techniques.

Rebecca provides in-services and is available for training and mentoring individuals who wish to obtain competency in FEES and Videostroboscopy. She is the adjunct professor for voice at FAU. And she directs the Voice and Swallow Center, Inc. a private, non profit agency, dedicated to providing education, research, and prevention regarding voice, swallowing and airway disorders.
 

CLAUDIA P. JASSIR, BA, SLP-A, MS-Ed

Claudia Jassir has over 25 years of experience in the field of speech-language pathology. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Rosary University, Bogotá, Colombia, South America, in 1983. She taught for 3 years in the area of Neurological Language Disorders. She has been a guest lecturer for continuing education programs in the field of speech-language pathology.

After immigrating to the United States in 1994, she has been working at MedSpeech, Inc. since 1995 as bilingual licensed speech-language pathology assistant. Recently, she obtained her Masters of Science degree in Education with a major in Spanish Language from Nova Southeastern University. Her long term goal is to work with a variety of patients to develop a rich and diverse environment through which they can acquire the ability to flourish in a multicultural society.
 

ANDREW CHRISTLER, MA, CCC-SLP

Andrew Christler has been working in the area of professional voice for over 10 years. He started his voice career as a disc jockey, working and performing before earning his bachelors from Central Michigan University. Andrew is a Speech Language Pathologist with Palm Beach County Public Schools. He earned his Master’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He came to Florida after working in the voice and swallowing center of Children’s Hospital of Michigan. He is currently the pediatric swallowing representative for the central area of Palm Beach county school district. He has continued to practice in the areas of vocal health working with MedSpeech Inc. Andrew has earned several awards, including the prestigious Detroit Area Theater Awards, PAGE award for his role as Bud Frump in How to succeed in Business without really trying. Andy recently was awarded a “Worthy” award for best featured actor in a musical for his role as Jud Fry in Oklahoma. His current areas of interest include corporate speech, singing, and audience persuasion; incorporating his love and vast knowledge of neurology to impact public speaking and performing.