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At the recent Aphasia Access Leadership Summit in Pittsburgh, Leora Cherney, PhD, scientific chair, Robert R. McCormick Foundation Think + Speak Lab, and director, Center for Aphasia Research and Treatment, received the Audrey Holland Award.
This award — Aphasia Access’ highest distinction — recognizes outstanding clinical, research, advocacy and leadership contributions to the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia (LPAA). This is a holistic service model for helping people with communication barriers and disorders participate more meaningfully in their family and community life.
The colleagues who nominated Dr. Cherney included the following praise:
- “Dr. Cherney's 40-year career has been characterized by groundbreaking contributions that have fundamentally transformed how we understand and implement LPAA principles.”
- “She has bridged research and clinical practice in ways that have made life participation approaches accessible to countless individuals with aphasia.”
- “What distinguishes Dr. Cherney's contributions to LPAA is her holistic vision of aphasia rehabilitation that spans the entire continuum of care while maintaining an unwavering focus on meaningful life participation. Her pioneering work has influenced multiple domains of LPAA practice.”
- “What makes her work so impactful is her ability to integrate research, clinical innovation, technology and mentorship into a cohesive vision that advances life participation for people with aphasia.”
- “Dr. Cherney's career demonstrates that rigorous science and compassionate, person-centered care are not just compatible, but mutually reinforcing.”
Aphasia Access is an organization dedicated to providing education and training to SLPs who work with patients with aphasia.
Pictured above: Elissa Larkin, Brooke Boxrud, Rachel Hitch, Dr. Cherney, Abby Jeppson, Erin Blaze, Laura Kinsey and Carolynn Prisco