About.

Established in 2015

 Vocalize LLC was initially created to meet the communication practice needs of  individuals living with  with Parkinsons disease.  Since its start in 2015, it has grown to help health care businesses  and organizations understand how to meet the communication and swallowing needs of their constituents.


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Our Goal

To offer empathy, support, and effective treatment to all clients suffering from voice, speech, language, airway and swallowing disorders.
Matt McKeon has been leading the Northern VA community in the care and treatment of individuals with voice, speech, and swallowing disorders for over a decade.  Matt is highly regarded for his genuine interest in helping others understand and overcome their condition..

Accomplishments
  • Matt was among the first in the region to start remote communication practice groups via video-tele-conference for people with Parkinsons disease beginning in March of 2015. Since then he has led >300 meetings and continues to lead weekly groups.
  • Matt has used the video-tele-conference technology to connect his members to renowned instructors and leaders in the Parkinson community all over North America.
  • In 2015 Awarded peer-nominated Sodexo CARES award for work completed above and beyond expectations for clinical care and work in the community
  • Matt has leads the only in person support group in VA for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
  • 2012 Allied Team Training for PD (ATTP) graduate- 4 day intensive education program
  • Matt is among a very select group of health practitioners worldwide who can effectively treat reactive airway conditions of vocal cord dysfunction, exercise induced laryngeal obstruction(EILO), paradoxical vocal fold, irritable larynx syndrome, and chronic cough.


Consultant for Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area (PFNCA)
March 2011 - Present
  • Created “Communication Club” (CC) for  PFNCA in 2011 to meet the social, voicing, and swallowing needs of the Parkinson community.
  • Matts CC draws 10-21 people with Parkinsons weekly from all over the region
  • Matt was responsible for spreading CC's to 6 health facilities/hospitals in VA/DC/MD including Inova hospitals and Georgetown University Hospital.
  • Speaker at 2012 and 2014 PFNCA Symposium to discuss how to prevent and improve speech, voice, and swallowing disorders.
  • Speaker during opening ceremonies of 2013 PD Walk at NATS park
  • Lead (7) annual fundraising teams for PFNCA's Walk Off at NATS park totaling $130,000 to bring programs to underserved areas
  • Led over 500 Communication club meetings ensuring its constituents had a functional voice and swallow for the duration of their time living with the disease

Inspirational Video
-Matt is the mastermind, trainer, and, voice over for the 2018 inspirational international Parkinsons video  "HAKA to fight Parkinsons" 
​Performed with Virginian outpatient staff and Matts CC clients with Parkinsons disease

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Myself

Matt McKeon M.S. CCC-SLP
Founder

Graduated with a Masters in Health Science in Speech Language Pathology in 2004 from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA. Moved to Northern VA in 2007  and currently resides in West Springfield with his wife and 2 daughters. Matt's interest in voice was present from the start of his career with experience as a research assistant studying the aging voice for the VA, clinician for an Otolaryngology office, and clinician for a voice clinic. It was not until he joined The Virginian in Fairfax VA in 2009 however that his passion for advocacy was allowed to flourish. Matt was  highly influential in the creation, development, and growth of the Parkinsons care team at The Virginian in Fairfax,VA. He began their programming and relationship with PFNCA with the first communication club in 2011.  Matt continued to hone his treatment skills and understanding of Parkinsons disease while working with clients in the outpatient clinic, skilled nursing, home care, and assisted living levels of care giving him a very diverse and comprehensive overview of the progression of the many symptoms of the disease.  He has since used this knowledge to create prevention programs, effective treatment techniques, support groups, and maintenance programs for many misunderstood chronic conditions where standard healthcare falls short of treating the "whole person."   In his spare time he greatly enjoys being outdoors, working in the yard, playing with his kids, or relaxing and watching a movie with the family.