About Us

Mary Billings, a speech-language pathologist, began her journey in 2007, dedicating herself to interdisciplinary collaboration in therapeutic practice. She immersed herself in researching historical therapeutic methods and exploring ways to combine perspectives from speech pathology and related fields. Her commitment to bridging gaps between disciplines led her to gain both local and national recognition for her innovative approach, particularly within the IAOM. 

In 2008, Mary was appointed Chair of the IAOM’s first Mentoring Committee, tasked with building a team to support newcomers to the field. Under her leadership, the committee grew from 4 to 15 members, representing diverse expertise in speech pathology. 

By 2012, after years of mentoring and opening her clinic for internship opportunities, Mary began receiving requests to create an introductory certification course. In response, "Make the Connection" was launched in 2013, reflecting her mission to deepen the understanding of orofacial myofunctional disorders. The course quickly gained national and international attention for its impact in advancing treatment options within the field.

Recognizing the need for additional support to maintain personalized attention for course attendees, Mary recruited Patricia Fisher, MA, CCC-SLP. Patricia, an experienced speech-language pathologist with a thriving private practice in Ohio, brought extensive expertise in orofacial myofunctional disorders to the team. 

Together, Mary and Patricia expanded the "Make the Connection" program, networking with specialists in breathing, osteopathy, sensory-motor deficits, dentistry, and medical fields to further enrich their curriculum. Their efforts have helped train thousands of professionals, with many attendees sharing that the course was a pivotal moment in their careers.

Mary Billings, MS,CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist