By Miguelangelo Hernandez, Augusta University
Early detection and intervention in child development are critical, but many training programs focus more on older children. This results in students in health professions often lacking structured, hands-on opportunities to observe and interact with infants under age 2 before clinical placements.
Afua Agyapong, associate professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology in Augusta University’s College of Allied Health Sciences, conceived the idea of a baby lab, which was designed to give students early childhood observation opportunities that are often difficult to access.
Agyapong said the baby lab bridges the gap by allowing students to connect developmental theory with real-life, caregiver-child interactions in a supportive, educational setting. It also provides rare, structured exposure to prelinguistic, motor, feeding and early social-communication skills.
Speech and Language Pathology students will gain insight into feeding, early communication and caregiver interaction. OT students will focus on fine motor, sensory regulation and daily routines. PT students will observe postural control, reflexes and gross motor milestones.
“It enhances the students’ ability to recognize developmental milestones and red flags earlier and builds clinical confidence in working with families and caregivers in naturalistic contexts,” Agyapong said
Agyapong partnered with co-investigators Ryan Carrick, Mallory Rosche and Beth Willson from the Department of Occupational Therapy and Dustin Cox and Gregory Edwards, from the Department of Physical Therapy to design an interprofessional learning experience.
For their efforts, the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions announced that AU and Agyapong were recipients of the 2025 Interprofessional Innovation Grant Program.
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