Emily Runnoe

Background

About Emily Runnoe

I am a pediatric bilingual speech-language pathologist with global experience and a passion for working with children and families. My career has spanned multiple settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, preschools, community clinics, homes, and teletherapy, allowing me to provide comprehensive care to diverse multilingual and multicultural populations. I began my career at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, specializing in bilingual speech-language therapy and evaluation (English & Spanish), speech-resonance therapy for the cleft/craniofacial population, orofacial myofunctional therapy, and augmentative & alternative communication (AAC) evaluation and caregiver training. I later transitioned to the Health Services Authority in the Cayman Islands, where I played a key role in expanding public hospital speech-language pathology services as only the third clinician added to the team. Beyond clinical care, I am deeply committed to mentorship and workforce development within the fields of communication sciences, rehabilitation, and early childhood education. I have mentored graduate students in the U.S. and Trinidad & Tobago, fostering their growth as future speech-language pathologists. My work in direct care also exposed me to the systemic barriers and inequities that limit access to essential services for patients and families. These challenges fueled my decision to pursue a Master of Public Health with a focus on global health, equipping me with the tools to advocate for systems-level change and improve health equity on a broader scale. I approach my work as a curious systems thinker, solutions-driven problem solver, and person-centered provider, always seeking to bridge gaps and create meaningful, sustainable improvements in healthcare and education. I firmly believe that communication is at the heart of all human connection, and strengthening communication means strengthening health, education, and opportunity for individuals and communities alike. I welcome opportunities to collaborate on initiatives that advance health equity, early childhood development, interdisciplinary rehabilitation services, community-level program development, and disability advocacy and rights. I am eager to contribute to innovative solutions that benefit the most vulnerable populations beyond borders.