Leora R. Cherney, PhD, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS

Dr. Cherney's career working with adults with aphasia and neurogenic communication disorders spans more than 35 years. Clinically, she founded and currently directs Shirley Ryan AbilityLab's specialized Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia program. She also is responsible for the weekly aphasia community conversation groups and classes. Dr. Cherney has a continuous record as Principal Investigator on federal, private, and industry-sponsored research grants focusing on novel treatments and evaluating their efficacy. Topics of her research include: using state-of-the-art software with a digital therapist given face-to-face and over the internet; evaluating the addition of a pharmacologic agent, L-dopa, to behavioral language therapy; and examining the effects of cortical stimulation (epidural cortical stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation) combined with speech-language therapy for persons with aphasia. Additionally, she is examining treatment variables (e.g. cuing, feedback) that affect the acquisition, maintenance, and generalization of skills and how acquisition can be optimized and forgetting minimized by manipulating the time distribution of treatment. Dr. Cherney has published four books, and presents her work nationally and internationally.