Biography
Marie currently manages a team of 22 speech language pathologists across 4 outpatient clinic sites and the acute care, level 1 trauma, level 4 NICU at Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine. Clinically Marie specializes in the treatment of feeding and swallowing disorders from our smallest neonates though adolescence. In addition she has extensive experience in pediatric developmental diagnostics and treatment. Recent research and administrative responsibilities have focused on the care of our post extubation COVID 19 population and transition of in person treatment to telehealth. She is actively involved in professional development, student and clinician supervision and the business of health care and health care administration. In addition to the Penn State College of Medicine, she has taught in the West Chester University Communication Sciences Department.
Research Interests
- Pediatric Dysphagia with Laryngomalacia
- Reflux and its effect on primary swallow dysfunction in neonates
- NMES in the pediatric population
Publications
Publications
Kurtz, M, Narins, L, Kauffman, K (2020). Practice Change for Acute Care Speech Pathologists in a Covid 19 World. ASHA.
Tierney, C., Pitterle, K., Kurtz, M., Nakhla, M., & Todorow, C. (2016). Bridging the Gap Between Speech and Language: Using Multimodal Treatment in a Child with Apraxia. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 138(3).
Tierney CD, Kurtz M, Panchik A, Pitterle K. (2014) 'Look at Me When I am Talking to You': Evidence and Assessment of Social Pragmatics Interventions for Children with Autism and Social Communication Disorders. Current Opinions in Pediatrics. 26(2):259-64.
Tierney, C. D., Kurtz, M., & Souders, H. (2012). Clear as Mud: Another look at Autism, Childhood Apraxia of Speech and Auditory Processing. Current Opinions in Pediatrics. 24(3): 394-399.
Presentations
Kurtz, M. (2018, May 22). Diagnosing and Treating Apraxia in the 2-3 Year Old [Conference presentation]. PA Early Intervention Education Conference. Harrisburg, PA.
Kurtz, M., Perry.S. (2017, January 18). Inclusion of the Arts in Special Education Curriculum. [Presentation]. Ministry of Education. Dili International School, Dili, East Timor.
Nourse, J. Doyle, L., Kurtz, M. (2016, November) Inspiring and interdisciplinary Partnership for speaking valve Policy [Poster presentation]. ASHA National Convention, Philadelphia, Pa.
Kurtz, M., Keener, S (2014, April). Multidisciplinary approach to treatment of the post radiated neck [Poster presentation]. ASHA Health Care and Business Institute, Las Vegas, NV.
Kurtz, M. (2013, June). The Role of the SLP and Communication Development in Children with Autism. [Conference presentation]. Connecting the Dots: Bridging Services for Children with ASD. Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pa.
Research Activities
Patient Perspectives on the Value of Teletherapy vs. In-Person Therapy. Co-Investigator, April 2020 – present.
Playing the Game, Social Pragmatics in Teenagers. Other Investigator, 2018.
Validity of CASD in Apraxia. Other Investigator. 2014-2015.
Professional Affiliations
Search Committee for the Director of the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program Penn State Harrisburg
Member - August 2020 - Present
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Member – July 1996 – Present
Special Interest Group - Dysphagia
Special Interest Group - Supervision and Leadership
Pennsylvania Speech and Hearing Association
National Association of Neonatal Therapists
Education
B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders - James Madison University
M.S. in Speech Language Pathology - Penn State University