Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center Archive — Page 1 of 8

Black-and-white archival photograph of a suited man holding a clipboard and examining the outstretched arm of a woman standing barefoot on a small platform in a laboratory or clinical setting.
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.

By Holly Fletcher
A person sits in a Virage driving simulator, holding the steering wheel as wraparound screens display a city street, a red car, and a stop sign.
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.

By Evan Dorian
Four women pose together holding an oversized Christmas Village donation check payable to Vanderbilt Hearing & Speech Sciences for $539,000, dated Jan. 13, 2026, at the Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute.
January 19, 2026

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

Three Labrador retrievers—two yellow and one black—sit on a ramp wearing blue comfort-dog vests, with a plush toy between them.
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.

By Danny Bonvissuto
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.

By Evan Dorian
Head-and-shoulders portrait of a smiling woman with short brown hair, wearing a gray ribbed turtleneck and black jacket.
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.

By Danny Bonvissuto