Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center Archive — Page 1 of 8

July 8, 2026

75 years of the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center

Over seven decades, the center grew alongside the field of hearing and speech sciences. These photos are a glimpse into its early days.

July 8, 2026

Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute collaboration with General Motors fuels patient recovery with driving simulator

A driver rehabilitation program initiated by occupational therapists now encompasses multiple disciplines. Speech-language pathologists explain how these groups came together — and how a donation from partners at General Motors has steered the program in the right direction.

January 19, 2026

Christmas Village supports hearing and speech programs at Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center, Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute

December 10, 2025

Sit, stay, heal: Meet the facility dogs of Vanderbilt Health 

More than a pet project, facility dogs can lower patient blood pressure, reduce pain perception, ease loneliness and fear and offer an important form of medicine — connection.

From left, SLP graduate students Leah Wirthlin, Sydney Lex, Abby Ragan, Bella Blanchet, and Sam Eason pose with adapted Mickey Mouse dolls at the Adaptive Toy Workshop. Photo by Emily Mathis.
November 17, 2025

Latest workshop to modify toys for children with physical disabilities held at Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center

Participants successfully adapted more than 30 toys using simple modifications that allow children with limited mobility to operate them with an accessibility switch.

February 10, 2025

Anne Marie Tharpe steps down as Hearing and Speech Sciences chair

Under Tharpe’s leadership, the department has maintained a remarkable trajectory of advancing clinical care for those with communication disorders.