Employee Spotlight: Campbell Dukovich – Feeding Therapy, Early Intervention, and a Whole Lot of Heart
When Campbell Dukovich tells people she "plays with food for a living," she's not kidding, but the work she does goes far deeper than that.
As a Speech & Feeding Therapist and Early Intervention Lead at Jabbergym in Sacramento, CA, Campbell supports families navigating the complex journey of feeding therapy, from progressing textures and building oral motor skills to weaning from g-tubes. She also leads an incredible team of child development specialists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech therapists. This summer, she added "camp counselor" to her job description, helping host Jabbergym's first-ever “Feeding Explorers” feeding camp, free of charge for 11 families!
Her journey into speech-language pathology started in high school, when she worked as a teacher's assistant in Adaptive PE and Independent Living Skills Math classes. The teacher she worked with encouraged her to pursue speech pathology, a push she's been grateful for ever since.
"This has been the most rewarding and challenging career I could have ever imagined," she says.
Play, Trust, and a Whole Lot of Food
A large part of Dukovich’s work comes from building trust. The best way to do that, she says, is through play.
“Kids need to play to build trust with the therapist and the food. Without trust, there is not much progress.” Often times, parents may be surprised to learn how much thought and research goes behind each step of play.
"When we approach therapy with creativity and a sense of play, we're not just building skills, we're building relationships," Campbell explains. "And that's where the real growth happens."
In addition to those essentials, she also emphasizes the importance of humility in this work.
"We bring a lot of knowledge to the table, but it's more than okay to admit that you need to research an area more or consult with a mentor. Admitting that we don't know, but are committed to learning, helps break down walls and build relationships with the families we support."
A Team That Treats the Whole Child
What Campbell values most in her work is collaboration, which she's found that at Jabbergym.
"Jabbergym and Point Quest make that possible by promoting a transdisciplinary model of therapy,” she says. “I'm so thankful that I can easily reach out to my CDS, PT, and OT coworkers and get ideas on ways I can better support my clients. The teamwork within this company is pretty wonderful."
Campbell Dukovich with her teammates, Shannon Luckovich (left) and Sarah Moser (right), at the Feeding Explorers feeding camp.
Beyond the Clinic
When she's not working, Campbell spends time with her two "sweet, rambunctious boys" learning to make new treats, swimming, and playing soccer and baseball. She also enjoys reading, going to concerts with her husband, traveling, and exploring all the great food Sacramento has to offer.
As for hidden talents, she admits you may not want to hear her singing voice, but she learns and thinks in songs, and often changes lyrics to fit whatever situation she's in.
"I don't burden those around me with my tone deaf ballads, unless I'm at home," she laughs.
We're proud to have Campbell on our team. Her passion, creativity, and commitment to collaboration embody everything Point Quest Group stands for.
Interested in joining a team that supports you, your growth, and your clients?
Click here to explore open roles at Point Quest Group.