Sarah Stidham

Name: Sarah Stidham

Summers as a Camper: 6

2 years of Starter Camp

3 years of Second Session

CILT Summer

Years as a Staff Member/Positions held: 6

2 years as a cabin counselor (in Cabin 4)

2 years as a Powerboating UA (ski program)

1 summer as Head Counselor (Camp 3 Wildflowers)

Came out of “retirement” for a half summer as a Powerboating UA again

Current Professions and Title/Years in Role: 

Speech-Language Pathologist (Senior Clinician); I have been working as a full-time SLP at Duke University Hospital for 6 years.

Can you provide a brief overview of your job responsibilities?

I evaluate and treat communication, cognitive and swallowing disorders in adult and geriatric patients. I most often work with people because of a stroke, brain injury or neurodegenerative disease (such as Parkinson’s, ALS, dementia, brain tumor, etc.). I work in the outpatient clinic of Duke University Hospital. My role is to help people who experience communication or swallowing difficulties to problem solve their challenges and find meaningful ways to continue participating in their lives. In my role, I am also responsible for documentation, collaboration with other medical professionals and occasionally supervising student clinicians.

Do you have any career advice for members of our Camp community?

Always have a learning mindset! No matter what stage you are in, there is always going to be a new skill or new perspective that will allow you to grow. Ask thoughtful questions and seek out different experiences. Even once you are in a career, never stop working to learn and expand. 

What do you believe have been some of your greatest personal and professional accomplishments? Is there a goal toward which you are currently working?

I’m proud of how I stuck with it! I was never a student who particularly enjoyed the classroom. I worked best in hands-on experiences or opportunities where I could demonstrate what I had learned. I kind of “accidentally” picked a career that required more school - a 2-year graduate degree. However, through clinical experience, I knew that being a speech pathologist would be something I could really enjoy. Though school wasn’t an easy process, I stuck with it and am proud of where I am today. I attribute a lot of that to Camp. You are constantly working toward goals you have set, and though even sometimes it is challenging, you keep trying and feel the sense of accomplishment once you reach the goal.

How do the values or skills you learned at Camp show up in your everyday work and/or personal life? 

Collaboration is a skill I developed at Camp and now use every single day in my work. I collaborate with my colleagues about complex cases. I collaborate with my patients to develop therapy plans that are individualized and meaningful. I collaborate with other medical professionals to ensure we are using a holistic approach to patient care. The list goes on!

Is there a person or a situation that had a huge influence on you while you were at Camp? How and why did they/it impact you?

When I think about moments that helped shaped my success in my current job, I think about the compassionate communication that happens at Camp. There were many times as a UA or a Head Counselor that I had the opportunity to lead conversations with campers and counselors that required a great deal of constructive feedback, listening and problem solving. Those are mature communication skills that most teenagers don’t have safe opportunities to exercise, but that’s what is so great about Camp. Camp works to equip their staff members with skills to address tough topics, such as talking with a camper about homesickness, a counselor team who needs help working together, or activity staff about safety. I can remember conversations with Elayne Steinman or ML Crook where they would help me plan for these types of conversations so I could feel confident and prepared. These skills have continued to serve me well in my career and in my personal life. 

What advice would you give your younger self?

You are capable of more than you know…keep trying!

Favorite Camp meal: Silver bowl desserts, duh!

Favorite mess hall entry song: I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) – I have a great mess hall memory of Mindy Hawes and me marching in unison on the benches to this one . I also have fond memories of belting out “Part of Your World” from the Little Mermaid in the mess hall.

All-time favorite skit memory: Anything Allison and Lydia did together!

Favorite special event at Camp: The ski show! I also loved the Camp dances. Nothing like sweating and dancing like a goofball for hours with your best friends!

What would you eat if you could only have one food for the rest of your life? Mexican Food!