Kyla Dirks, MS CCC-SLP

Kyla Dirks, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist, educator, and advocate whose work is grounded in the belief that all people deserve compassionate, affirming, and equitable healthcare. With extensive experience in acute care, rehabilitation, home health, and outpatient settings, Kyla brings a wealth of real-world clinical expertise to her teaching, helping students connect evidence-based practice to the complex realities of patient care. She is deeply committed to addressing the social determinants of health that shape communication, swallowing, and access to services, and she champions gender-affirming, neurodiversity-affirming, and culturally responsive approaches to care. As an instructor, Kyla creates engaging, case-based learning experiences that encourage critical thinking, reflection, and clinical reasoning while centering the dignity, values, and lived experiences of the individuals and communities students will serve. Her passion for advocacy, justice-centered practice, and lifelong learning inspires future speech-language pathologists to become clinicians who promote belonging, equity, and meaningful participation for all.