In This Issue...

1. President's Message
2. ANCDS Member Spotlight: Dr. Mary Boyle
3. ANCDS Student Spotlight: Claudia Raines
4. Committee Updates
5. ANCDS Student Fellows
6. ASHA Convention Reflection
7. ASHA Aphasia Breakfast
8. ASHA Announcements
9. Aphasia Access Updates
10. Upcoming Meetings and Conferences
11. Member Accomplishments

ANCDS Board/Officers 

Melissa Duff, Ph.D.
President

Catherine Off, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
President-Elect

Lauren Bislick, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, CBIS
Secretary

Neila Donovan, Ph.D., CCC‐SLP
Treasurer

Heather Clark, Ph.D., BC-ANCDS
Immediate Past President

Stephanie Grasso, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Executive Board Member

Jamila Minga, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Executive Board Member

Adele Raade, Ph.D., BC-ANCDS
Executive Board Member

Ramani Voleti, M.S., CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS
Executive Board Member

Mary H. Purdy, Ph.D., BC-ANCDS
ANCDS Archivist 

Diana Petroi-Bock, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS, BCS-S
Chair, Board of Clinical Certification

Janet Patterson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Chair, Board of Residency Education

Sheryle Hazard, CAE
Executive Director

ANCDS Board Certification

Why become Board Certified?

- Recognizes your advanced clinical knowledge and skills

- Enhances your confidence in your clinical knowledge and skills

- Enhances consumer and referral source confidence in the care you can provide

- Encourages professional growth through the continuing education required for the maintenance of board certification

- Provides a respected credential to support professional advancement

Click here to learn more about the application and certification process.

On-Demand CE Offerings (Expiring 12/31/25)

A Case Study: Determining Organic Versus Functional Motor Speech Disorder

2024 Annual Scientific Meeting Lecture Recordings

REDI Self-Study Course: Freedom of Discomfort

ANCDS members have access to view past webinar recordings (no longer available for ASHA CEU credits) at your convenience.

ANCDS Merch

Show your ANCDS pride at your office, home, and everywhere you go with new ANCDS logo items!  From coffee mugs to t-shirts, ANCDS merch makes for great gifts for colleagues, employees, friends, family, and yourself!

Start Shopping!

Welcome New Members!

Full Members 

Raad Alameer
Amanda Wadams, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Clinical Fellow and Student Members

Sascha Borjas
Katherine Bryan, M.S., CCC-SLP
Olivia Fegter, B.S., M.A.
Nastassia Horn, B.S.
Chloe Houghton, B.S.
Andrea Laskowski
Alexandra Pachciarz, B.S.
Moriah Pearce
Claudia Raines, M.S., CF-SLP
Brooke Smith
Jessica Timog
Nicole Viola, M.S., CCC-SLP
Kaitlyn Wilson

Congratulations to the New Board Certified Clinicians!

Caitlin McKnight, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS

Contact Us

ANCDS
2345 Rice Street, Suite 220
St. Paul, MN 55113
Online: www.ancds.org
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-925-5528
Fax: 651-317-8048

Have feedback or suggestions for the newsletter? Contact us here!

President's Message

Dear ANCDS Members,

It is a great honor to serve as ANCDS President this year.  As I step into this role, I am filled with deep appreciation for the incredible work done by our past leaders, whose efforts have shaped ANCDS into the respected and vibrant community it is today.  I am also inspired by the many members currently serving on the Executive Board and as committee chairs and members working to advance the mission of ANCDS.

It is an exciting time to be part of our community.  We are at a pivotal moment in our field as rapid innovations in research are transforming our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of neurologic communication disorders across the lifespan and of the impacts of social determinants of health on the individuals we serve.  Breakthroughs in technology promise to advance models of service delivery through AI, digital healthcare, and personalized medicine.  ANCDS is uniquely positioned to be at the forefront of these transformations and to remain a leader in the clinical service, education, and research pertinent to individuals of all ages with neurologic communication disorders.

In the year ahead, we are working to identify opportunities to align our activities with these innovations so we can continue to provide the highest quality of service to individuals with neurologic communication disorders.  Below are some of our ongoing efforts.

1. Expanding Educational Opportunities: Through our webinars, evidence-based clinical research writing groups, and annual meeting, we will continue to provide professional development on the basic science and clinical management of neurologic communication disorders.  We aim to expand our content to include offerings on neurologic communication disorders in pediatric populations, technological advances, and becoming board certified.

2. Strengthening Our Community: The strength of ANCDS lies in the diversity of perspectives and experiences of our membership.  I invite you to complete the REDI Self-Study Course offered by the ANCDS Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee to consider the impact of your unique experiences and positionality on your research and practice and how the unique experiences and positionality of your clients and colleagues impact your professional interactions.  I also invite you to share your perspectives, experiences, and talents with us by sharing ideas or volunteering on a committee.

3. Growing Awareness: To fulfill our mission, we need to increase awareness of ANCDS within the field and across related professional organizations, and, most importantly, individuals and their families looking for high quality care.  As a first step, we hope you will follow ANCDS on LinkedIn (look for Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences) and invite colleagues in your professional network who are not members of ANCDS to follow us on LinkedIn to learn about who we are and what we do!

I am truly excited for what we will accomplish together over the next year.  Our collective efforts and dedication have the power to make a real difference in the lives of individuals with neurologic communication disorders.  I encourage you to get involved and share your ideas. Thank you for your continued commitment to our field and to ANCDS.  I look forward to working alongside you in advancing our shared mission of enhancing the communicative lives of people affected by neurologic disorders.

Warm regards,

Melissa Duff, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
ANCDS President 
[email protected]

ANCDS Member Spotlight: Dr. Mary Boyle

In 2024, ANCDS recognized Mary Boyle, Ph.D., BC-ANCDS, with the Honors of the Academy.  Dr. Boyle's exemplary contributions to the field of aphasia made her an ideal candidate for the Honors award.  Her research achievements, clinical expertise, teaching excellence, and leadership qualities have not only advanced the field but also positively impacted the work of clinicians and the lives of individuals living with aphasia.

In addition to her far-reaching influence in the area of research and education, we are particularly appreciative of her significant leadership contributions to ANCDS.  Importantly, she served as President-Elect of ANCDS (2003–2004), President (2005–2006), and Past President (2007–2008) at a time when these leadership positions spanned two years each, for a total of six consecutive years.  In addition, Dr. Boyle was a member of the Honors Committee for a record eight years from 2010–2017, serving as both Co-Chair (2013–2014) and Chair (2014–2017).  Other ANCDS committees that benefited from Dr. Boyle’s participation included the Membership Committee (1997–2000) and Nominations Committee (2007–2008), both of which she also chaired, as well as the Publications Committee (1990–1991) and the Certification Board (1997–2001).  Thank you, Dr. Boyle – we are so proud to recognize you in this way.

ANCDS Student Member Spotlight: Claudia Raines

Name: Claudia Raines, M.S., CF-SLP
University: Vanderbilt University Medical Center

"As a speech scientist and clinician, my research focuses on the mechanisms underlying speech and swallowing impairments in individuals with neurological diseases.  Through kinematic and perceptual speech analyses, I aim to identify disease-specific motor impairments and their perceptual consequences, with a particular interest in how behavioral speech therapy cues—such as clear, loud, and slow speech—impact speech production.  Additionally, I explore swallowing physiology and safety in individuals with neurological conditions such as Huntington’s Disease (HD) to address the pressing need for improved screening and management of dysphagia in this population.  My ultimate goal is to bridge the gap between basic science and clinical application, providing a scientific basis for personalized assessment and treatment strategies."

Committee Updates

Education & Standards Committee

Webinars
A new webinar recording recently became available for ASHA CEUs: "A Case Study: Determining Organic Versus Functional Motor Speech Disorder" presented by Michelle Hoefnagel, M.S., CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS.

Annual Meeting
For anyone who missed our annual meeting "Culturally Responsive Interventions in Neurogenic Communication Disorders", registration to watch the recordings for CEUs is now open.

Podcasts
We are seeking interested members to assist with producing podcasts for ANCDS.  If you are a student member that may have interest/experience with the process of recording podcasts, the Education and Standards Committee would love to have you join!  If interested, please reach out to the committee Chair, Louise Keegan: [email protected].

REDI Committee

ANCDS REDI Self-Study is back in 2025!
The ANCDS REDI Committee’s self-study course, Race, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Self-Study: Freedom of Discomfort, is now available for 2025.

This course is open to ANCDS Members and Non-Members, so feel free to share with colleagues and students!

Testimonials:
“This was an eye-opening, well thought out educational endeavor for me.  Thank you for the new path of learning and perspective.”

"I gained a deeper appreciation for the diverse perspectives and experiences that shape our society.  The program's structured approach not only challenged my assumptions but also empowered me to take meaningful action towards fostering inclusivity and equity in both personal and professional spheres."

ANCDS REDI Committee Listening Session, 3/26
The REDI Committee will be hosting a listening session on Wednesday, March 26th from 7pm–8pm CDT.  This listening session is intended to serve as an informal space for ANCDS members to come together to express thoughts, feelings, and strategies related to the evolving conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in academic and clinical spaces.  This will not be a space to get specific, detailed information and guidance; rather, it is our hope for the session to provide a space for ANCDS members to come together for community conversation in a supportive environment.

Look out for more information soon!

Communications Committee

ANCDS is seeking member-driven content for social media (Instagram, X, Facebook, and – just launched – LinkedIn)!

Please send ANCDS-member-led or made CEU courses, manuscripts, invited speaker talks or webinars, or shareable resources to [email protected].

ANCDS Student Fellows

Please help us congratulate the following students who were awarded fellowships prior to last year's ANCDS Annual Meeting.  Fellows were matched with an ANCDS member who has similar research and clinical interests.  The ANCDS member acted as a mentor throughout the Scientific and Business Meeting, introducing the fellows to others and offering opportunities to discuss research and clinical issues.

Katherine Bryan, Vanderbilt University
Erin Carpenter, Boston University
Bridget Dwyer, Northeastern University
Olivia Fegter, M.A., Northwestern University
Hannah Griffey, M.S., CCC-SLP, Georgia State University
Nastassia Horn, Howard University
Chloe Houghton, Brigham Young University
Alexandra Pachciarz, East Tennessee State University
Moriah Pearce, Georgia Southern University
Claudia Raines, M.S., CF-SLP, Vanderbilt University
Jessica Timog, The Ohio State University
Nicole Viola, The Ohio State University

ASHA Convention Reflection

At the 2024 ASHA convention, doctoral student Faith Stagge presented an excellent one-hour seminar entitled “Clinical Applications of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Cognitive-Communication Disorders: Current Uses and Overcoming Barriers”.  Faith is a Ph.D. student at the University of Delaware, working under the direction of faculty Dr. Matthew Cohen and Dr. Alyssa Lanzi in their Resilient Cognitive Aging Lab (RECALL).

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ASHA Aphasia Breakfast

It’s 6:45 a.m. on the first day of the ASHA National Convention.  That can mean only one thing: It’s time for the ASHA Aphasia Breakfast.  A longstanding tradition, the “ASHA Breakfast” is a pre-dawn gathering of clinicians, researchers, developers, and providers of all things aphasia to celebrate over coffee, food, and stories.  This year was no different.  The Aphasia Breakfast at the ASHA Convention in Seattle brought together 75 passionate professionals dedicated to advancing care, research, and advocacy for individuals with aphasia.  This annual gathering provides a meaningful space for networking, sharing insights, and celebrating the outstanding contributions to the field.

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ASHA Announcements

Two new continuing education opportunities:

• ASHA 2025 Health Care Summit: Grand Rounds in the ICU, May 2–3, 2025
• This in-person event is an opportunity to hear directly from other professionals in the ICU and increase your knowledge and confidence so you can elevate your role on the team and maximize your effectiveness.
• Learn more and register for this in-person event here
• Pediatric Aerodigestive Disorders: Fundamentals and Critical Thinking for SLPs, March 12–24, 2025
• This online conference provides actionable insights into communication, cognition, and swallowing in the pediatric intensive care unit
• Learn more and register for this online event here

Grant Program for Projects on Multicultural Activities: New applications for grant funding are open to clinical and/or school-based speech, language, and hearing programs, university programs, state associations, and allied and related professional organizations.

NEW Evidence Map: ASHA’s Disorders of Consciousness Evidence Map provides research on screening, assessment, and treatment of individuals with disorders of consciousness such as coma, minimally conscious state, and unresponsive wakefulness syndrome.  Visit the Evidence Maps to find free, summarized evidence on this and other populations with neurologic communication disorders.

Demonstrate Your Value: Engage with interested parties and advocate for the Value of Multilingual Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) to improve patient outcomes.  ASHA’s new library of demonstrating your value PDFs includes several topics that show how our services enhance care coordination, reduce costs, and improve clinical outcomes.  Contact [email protected] to suggest a topic or provide feedback.

NOMS Data Snapshots and Interactive Reports: Did you know that adults with aphasia continue to make progress when provided SLP treatment, even at the chronic phase of recovery?  View and share this and other Data Snapshots that highlight findings from National Outcomes Measurement System (NOMS) SLP data.  Explore Interactive Reports for an in-depth look at national SLP outcomes data.  Use these *free* member tools to learn, advocate, educate, and showcase how SLP services improve the outcomes of individuals with neurologic communication disorders.

Aphasia Access Updates

Upcoming Meetings and Conferences

Free Web-Chat with ASHA's Special Interest Group 15 (SIG 15): "Healthcare Issues and Health Disparities Faced by Aging/Older Individuals who Identify as LGBTQ+"
Organized and moderated by Whitney Postman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 6:00 p.m. CDT
https://asha.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_
rxx0edC4RJC0vbtzWuNTiw#/registration

SINR (Saugatuck Institute for Neuropsychological Rehabilitation) Conference 2025
June 3–6, 2025
Saugatuck, MI
Space is limited to 60 attendees.  Registration is $550 (includes lunches, welcome dinner, jazz concert, and a boat cruise into Lake Michigan).  Early Career Scholarship Opportunity available that covers registration and $1500 for travel expenses.
https://si-nr.org/sinr-2025/

Member Accomplishments

Member Publications:

Alameer, R. (2024). From Neuromemory to Metamemory. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention. 13. 57-83. 10.35629/7722-13125783.

Houldin E, Babbitt EM, Hurwitz R, Baliki MN, & Cherney LR. (2025) Language and Attention Networks Have Distinct Roles in Language Improvement Following an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program. Stroke. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.124.047683.

Bahia MM, Carpenter J, & Cherney LR. (2025). Barriers and Facilitators in Using Surface Electromyography in Swallowing Management: An Implementation Science Study. Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 34(1), 44-69. doi: 10.1044/2024_AJSLP-24-00215.

Kinsey LE & Cherney LR. (2024). Measuring Real-World Talk Time and Locations of People With Aphasia Using Wearable Technology. Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 33(6S), 3247-3262. doi: 10.1044/2024_AJSLP-23-00373.

Kodani, Y., Nakamura, H., Nagami, S., Hashimoto, M., & Cherney, L. R. (2024). Psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Communication Confidence Rating Scale for Aphasia: a reliability and validity study of chronic phase people with aphasia. Aphasiology, 1–19. Doi: 10.1080/02687038.2024.2441210

Lee JB, Kinsey LE, & Cherney LR. (2024). Typing Versus Handwriting: A Preliminary Investigation of Modality Effects in the Writing Output of People With Aphasia. Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 33(6S), 3422-3430. doi: 10.1044/2024_AJSLP-23-00344.

Petroi-Bock, D. (2025). Motor speech, swallowing, and cognitive considerations in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis case report: Evidence-based practice and clinical implications. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups. Advance Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_PERSP-24-00009

Rembrandt, H. N., & Riley, E. A. (2025). Evidence of physiological changes associated with single-session pre-frontal tDCS: a pilot study. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 19, 1549248. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1549248

Spencer, K.A., Britton, D., Eddy, B., Papathanasiou, I., Summers, D. (2024). Behavioral management of velopharyngeal impairment in dysarthria: A systematic review. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 1-19, https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_AJSLP-24-00287

G. Wallace (Editor). 2025. Cultural Sensitivity and Responsiveness in Neurorehabilitation: A Personalized Approach for Speech-Language Pathologists. Plural Publishing: San Diego. This book discusses personalization of neurorehabilitation care for people with neurogenic communication, cognitive and swallowing disorders.  The book includes 40 chapters with over 100 contributors, an Epilogue by people with neurogenic disorders, and videotaped vignettes with transcripts and suggestions for use by classroom instructors and SLP neuro-rehabilitation specialists.