WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital is proud to announce that MacKenzee Watson, MS, CCC- SLP, has been honored with the Distinguished Early Career Professional (ECP) Certificate by the American Speech- Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)—a national recognition awarded to outstanding speech-language pathologists and audiologists who are in the early stages of their careers and have demonstrated leadership, advocacy, or volunteerism within the profession.
ASHA grants this prestigious award annually to only a select group of professionals across the nation and this year had 180 applicants. MacKenzee’s work in rural healthcare, clinical innovation, and interdisciplinary leadership stood out among this year’s recipients.
“MacKenzee has made an extraordinary impact not only within our hospital but across our entire region,” said Janet Phillips, RN, BSN, Director of Acute & Critical Care Units at St. Joseph’s Hospital. “She has built foundational programs that directly improve patient care, accessibility, and long-term outcomes. We are proud to have her as part of our team.”
Upon developing the initial concepts, MacKenzee took on the challenge of building essential speech-language pathology services from the ground up. Her work began with establishing Modified Barium Swallow Studies (MBSS) within the radiology department—an effort that significantly enhanced diagnostic capabilities for patients with swallowing disorders. Recognizing the lack of outpatient services in the region, she then launched the hospital’s first-ever outpatient speech therapy program, the only one of its kind available across six counties in central West Virginia. This program has expanded access to care for countless individuals who previously had no local options for speech therapy.
In addition to expanding services, MacKenzee introduced a formal aspiration screening tool that empowers frontline staff to identify patients at risk for dysphagia early in their care journey, allowing for faster intervention and improved patient safety. She authored comprehensive, evidence-based policies and procedures not only for these new programs, but also for her role—creating a framework that will guide future speech-language pathologists at the hospital. She revised existing protocols, such as oral hygiene procedures tied to infection prevention, and led education sessions to ensure staff understanding and alignment. Her commitment to measurable quality outcomes is ongoing, as she
continues to track performance improvement goals and collaborate with leadership on data-driven enhancements to care. Her contributions extend beyond the clinical setting. MacKenzee has mentored students and new staff, participated in community outreach, and represented therapy services on key interdisciplinary committees, including stroke and fall prevention teams and a systemwide rehabilitation leadership group. Through this work, she has advocated for the integration of speech-language pathology into broader patient-centered care initiatives, ensuring the field remains visible and vital within the healthcare system.
“I’ve had the unique opportunity—and responsibility—of building essential speech therapy services from the ground up in a rural healthcare setting,” said Watson. “This recognition from ASHA affirms the importance of that work and motivates me to keep advocating for accessible, evidence-based care in underserved communities.”
