Title: Speech-Language Pathologist
Company: 1) AdventHealth at the University of Chicago Medicine; 2) The Weston Group; 3) Payne Wellness Center
Location: Streamwood, Illinois, United States
Carey Meredith Payne, MCD, CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist at the Weston Group, Payne Wellness Center, and the University of Chicago Medicine AdventHealth, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Health Care Professionals for dedication, achievements, and leadership in communication disorders.
After spending his early life struggling with stuttering, Mr. Payne discovered speech therapy while attending college. Subsequently, he decided to pursue a career as a speech-language pathologist with hopes of helping others who were trying to overcome the same difficulties. Now more than 40 years into that career, Mr. Payne contributes his expertise to multiple organizations, including the University of Chicago Medicine AdventHealth, the Weston Group and the Payne Wellness Center. He visits patients in their homes, allowing him to cover the entire diverse metro Chicago area and help people of varying socioeconomic backgrounds. Mr. Payne specializes in working with adults who have speech problems, utilizing his decades of experience to aid them. He generally works in collaboration with a physician to ensure that any health problems that might exist beyond communication disorders can be addressed as well.
Mr. Payne’s career prior to his current roles includes time as a speech-language pathologist at Lexington Health Care of Streamwood and Independence Plus Inc., and as a speech therapist at Brookdale Senior Living. Earlier in his professional life, he had lengthy tenures with Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare and Michael Reese Hospital. While serving as a speech therapist at the Allendale Association for two years, Mr. Payne helped elementary- and high school-age children to improve their speech and meet their educational needs.
Before embarking on his vocational path, Mr. Payne sought an education at the University of Mississippi. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree, he earned a master’s degree in communication disorders in 1977. Subsequently, Mr. Payne completed a certificate of clinical competence in speech-language pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 1983. Alongside his academic foundation, he attributes his success to his strength in listening to and empathizing with his patients. Mr. Payne derives great satisfaction from helping those in need.
As a commitment to his field, Mr. Payne has been a member of several important organizations. Since finishing his education in 1977, he has been actively involved with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association. In addition to his daily responsibilities, Mr. Payne believes in the importance of educating others on his work. He has presented at state and national conventions and has written a blog on speech-language pathology for nearly 15 years.
Long dedicated to civic advocacy, Mr. Payne has participated in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Student to Empowered Professional (S.T.E.P.) Mentoring Program. His efforts in this regard were honored in 2014 when he was presented with the Legacy Mentor Award. Additionally, Mr. Payne donates to the Heifer Project, a nonprofit initiative that fights hunger and poverty around the world. A proponent of voting, he has volunteered as an election judge in the past.
Beyond his career, Mr. Payne is a devoted husband and father to one son. In his free time, he enjoys gardening, playing brass instruments, attending live music performances and writing blog posts. Though he plans to maintain a private practice, Mr. Payne’s goal for the future is to transition into public health. In doing so, he hopes to teach more doctors and nurse practitioners about speech pathology while being able to intervene in situations for a wider range of patients.
For more information, please visit:
Contact Mr. Payne:
