Senior speech pathologist: Patients are my No. 1 priority

When I started my career in speech pathology, I fell in love right away. It was truly rewarding to help people communicate better, which improved their quality of life.

My patients are special to me, and I’ll do anything I can to help them. Early in my career, I had several patients with rare cancers. I wanted to learn more about cancer care so I could better address their unique needs. That desire lit a fire under me. The rest is history.

My role in head and neck cancer treatment

I was first introduced to MD Anderson as I began researching oncology, particularly head and neck cancers. MD Anderson has a great reputation for cancer care. I took advantage of several continuing education opportunities at MD Anderson. Later, I joined MD Anderson as a senior speech pathologist in the Head and Neck Center.

Cancers of the head and neck can be devastating because they affect normal functions like speaking, hearing and swallowing. Imagine not being able to communicate your wants or needs to your family. Imagine the social isolation that comes with sitting down for a meal with your family and not being able to eat or drink.

Speech pathologists play a critical role in caring for head and neck cancer patients at MD Anderson. I work closely with the oral oncologists, and much of what we do is tied to improving patient outcomes and function. For me, that means helping patients communicate and swallow.

We are with you from diagnosis through survivorship. We get so excited when we get a message that you were able to eat breakfast with your loved ones. We love hearing that you went on a cruise and ate at the buffet. We love hearing patients’ success stories when they come to the clinic because we know how hard they worked to get there. We want to celebrate every single win with you. 

Understanding my patients

Just like my patients, my family has also been touched by cancer. My godmother had lung cancer. And I still remember the day I got the devastating call from my dad saying he had been diagnosed with stage IV cancer.

I cannot convey the peace I felt working at MD Anderson and knowing that my dad would receive the best possible care here. As a provider, I knew what to expect from all the teams at MD Anderson. Being able to see both sides of a cancer diagnosis is important. Watching my dad go through his cancer treatment has made me a better provider. I make sure to see patients beyond their diagnosis as a person with specific needs, and I also acknowledge their families who may also have needs. 

Why MD Anderson is the best in cancer care

MD Anderson is such an amazing place to work. I’ve had many opportunities here, including becoming co-director of the Trismus Clinic. Many head and neck cancer patients have trismus, which is trouble opening the mouth. The Trismus Clinic is the first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary clinic dedicated to this specific side effect of head and neck cancer treatment. Since opening in 2020, the clinic has continued expanding. We are now a full-service line from the operating room to the clinic, and we are developing customized prosthetics for the mouth to help restore patients’ function.

MD Anderson is an evidence-based practice institution. So, we’re always researching to find more answers. We want to know the how and the why of every aspect of care so that we can help every patient who comes through our doors.

MD Anderson is rich in resources. And I don't just mean supplies and equipment. We have the best minds and the best hearts. Every employee at MD Anderson wants to be here and is here for the right reasons. We prioritize our patients.

My team is so effective because we absolutely love what we do. If I had endless resources, education and opportunities, I would still whole-heartedly choose to be doing exactly what I'm doing right now, in the exact same place, with exactly the same team of people.

Holly McMillan is a senior speech pathologist and co-director of the Trismus Clinic in Head and Neck Surgery at MD Anderson.

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