Tammy L. Johannson

When you think of how a 17-year-old might spend their free time, it's not often that you envision them volunteering at an elementary school. That is, however, exactly where you would find Tammy Johannson in her last two years of high school. When the Speech and Language Pathologist for the elementary school in Riverton, Manitoba was looking for extra help working with children who had articulation problems, Tammy jumped at the opportunity.

While volunteering at her former school, she gained valuable experience but didn't realize at the time the effect that would have on her future. As she moved into her final year of high school, she was determined to become a pharmacist — it wasn't until she finished her first year of university that she came to the realization her passion wasn't in the pharmaceutical industry.

Tammy discovered that her career aspirations were to help people with communication disorders. She chose to complete her Master's Degree in the United States as program options in speech and language training were medical-based. "Being able to apply medical-based speech pathology into an academic setting gives you a different perspective, as well it gives you an understanding of physiology and how the brain works," said Tammy.

With a Master of Science and accreditation with both the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and Speech-Language & Audiology Canada, Tammy can practice as a Speech-Language Pathologist anywhere in the world. However, her clients are beyond grateful that she chose to build her career right here in her home province.

With more than 34 years of experience, Tammy has helped 10,000 children in both hospital and school settings, through outreach programs and in private practice in the Westman and Parkland regions. She has worked in ten different school divisions in the province and has been offering speech and language services as the main clinician through her private practice at the Brandon Speech & Language Clinic for over 30 years.

Tammy says that work is her hobby, but she still finds plenty of time to care for her three grown children, to travel, and to host family and friends at their lakeside cottage in southern Manitoba.