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Molly Cull, M.A., CCC-SLP/L, Manager Speech Therapy, Easterseals Central Illinois

From Patient to Leader: Molly Cull’s Journey in Pediatric Speech-Language Therapy at Easterseals Central Illinois

From patient to team leader, Molly Cull’s journey is a testament to the power of purpose-driven care. Learn how her experience shaped a thriving career in pediatric speech therapy—and how you can start your own.

Molly Cull

May is Better Speech and Hearing Month, and at Easterseals Central Illinois, we’re celebrating by spotlighting the remarkable story of Molly Cull, MA, CCC-SLP/L—our Manager of Speech Therapy and a shining example of what’s possible when passion, purpose, and professional development align.

Molly’s journey with Easterseals Central Illinois started long before she became a therapist—she was once a speech therapy client here as a young child.

 

Molly’s journey with Easterseals Central Illinois started long before she became a therapist—she was once a speech therapy client here as a young child.

“I was not talking when I started speech therapy, but I was communicating in a variety of other ways with my family,” Molly recalls, “My therapist showed that she truly cared about what I had to say enough for me to trust her and work with her.”

After completing her graduate studies in Speech and Hearing Science in 2019 at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, followed by a medical clinical internship at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, Molly returned to Peoria for a clinical fellowship at Easterseals Central Illinois. In a full-circle moment, she delivered therapy in the very same room where she once received care as a child.

 

In a full-circle moment, Molly delivered therapy in the very same room where she once received care as a child.

Molly earned her Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) in 2020 through supervised work at Easterseals Central Illinois. She continued as a member of our speech therapy team as a full-time speech-language pathologist and quickly stood out for her clinical excellence and leadership.

Today, Molly leads our Speech Therapy Team, bringing not just clinical excellence but also heartfelt leadership. “I am incredibly grateful and honored to lead an amazing team of speech-language pathologists and support them in doing what they do best—delivering quality care with compassion.”

Molly is especially proud of how her team embraces the multidisciplinary model at Easterseals Central Illinois. “We work closely with Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy teams in order to collaborate on care plans and learn from each other to best care for and support the clients and families we serve.”

Molly was recently selected to participate in a prestigious leadership development program through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), where she traveled to the headquarters in Rockville, Maryland to collaborate with other leaders in the field.

Molly was recently selected to participate in a prestigious leadership development program through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), where she traveled to the headquarters in Rockville, Maryland to collaborate with other leaders in the field. She will continue her participation through 2025–2026, with a focus on advancing the practice and impact of speech-language pathology.

Molly’s professional evolution illustrates the kind of growth that’s possible here—Easterseals Central Illinois supports students, interns, new graduates, and experienced professionals with mentorship and opportunities for learning.

“Easterseals Central Illinois provides professional and clinical growth opportunities that can be targeted toward specific areas of interest,” Molly notes. “If you’re interested in a specific clinical area, we are able to help design your schedule to provide those opportunities and offer mentorship or professional development opportunities to align.”

 

No matter where you’re at in your career, Easterseals Central Illinois is a place to grow. Whether you're a:

  • High school student exploring healthcare careers (ask us about free observation hours),
  • College or graduate student looking for part-time or full-time internship or clinical placement (we host students year-round),
  • Clinical fellow SLP interested in supervised clinical fellowship experience,
  • Newly credentialed SLP ready to grow your skills in a supportive environment, or an
  • Experienced SLP looking to lead, specialize, or mentor

…there’s a place for you on our team.

We offer more than just traditional pediatric speech-language therapy. At Easterseals Central Illinois, SLPs have the unique opportunity to:

  • Assist with designing their schedules to best reach their professional and clinical goals
  • Contribute to our Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Clinic
  • Complete specialized training and mentorship in pediatric feeding therapy
  • Support clients using AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) devices
  • Collaborate with experts in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and behavioral health

If you're looking for more than just a job—if you’re looking for a purpose-driven career where your growth is as valued as your impact—we’d love to meet you.

Explore SLP career opportunities and learn more about our pediatric Speech Therapy services at www.eastersealsci.com.

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