Leora R. Cherney, PhD, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS, FACRM is the Scientific Chair of Think and Speak at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago) and Professor of both Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences & Disorders at Northwestern University. She has 40 years of clinical and research experience in the area of adult neurologic communication disorders. She is the founder and director of SRAlab’s Center for Aphasia Research and Treatment which offers an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP) and weekly aphasia community groups.
Dr. Cherney’s innovative, cutting-edge research has explored factors to enhance aphasia treatment outcomes for behavioral, pharmacological, and neuromodulatory interventions. Her research includes quantitative and qualitative studies, single-subject research, and randomized clinical trials, and measures outcomes relative to both impairment and participation levels. Her continuous record as Principal Investigator on federal, private, and industry-sponsored research grants includes R01s from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. She has also received a record seven field-initiated grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Dr. Cherney has authored over 100 journal publications and five books. She has received numerous prestigious awards including: Honors of both the Illinois and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; Honors of the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences; the ACRM and National Stroke Association Excellence in Post-Acute Stroke award; and the ACRM Women in Rehabilitation Science Award. She regularly presents at workshops and conferences nationally and internationally.