Communication Sciences and Disorders Program Awards

Below are both student and faculty winners of IHP awards distributed during graduation ceremonies as well as awards bestowed upon faculty from external organizations like the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Students

Julie Atwood Award for Excellence

The award was established in 1997 in honor of Julie Atwood, MEd, CCC-SLP, former Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Speech-Language Pathology Department, and Professor at the Institute since the inception of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. The award is given to a graduating student who possesses a strong base of academic knowledge, applies theory to delivering clinical service in an exemplary manner, and demonstrates the highest values and ethics, the ability to apply research findings to clinical practice, and the potential for professional excellence and leadership.

2023 - Olivia Giles
2022 - Annika Julia Ferma Canta
2021 - Alyssa Julie Torchon
2020 – Elise Gallegos
2019 – Alyssa Savery
2018 – Andrew Mancini
2017 – Juliet A. Ochura
2016 – Ashley Flora Kippins
2015 – Zachary Morris Smith
2014 – Emilie J. Irving
2013 – Kathleen Carroll O'Halloran
2012 – Amy Joy Maguire
2011 – Katharine L. Gilroy
2010 – Anna Hutt Fredman
2009 – Alina Michelle Carter
2008 – Stacie Erin Robarts
2007 – Bonnie Gail Halvorson
2006 – Meghan Elizabeth O’Brien
2005 – Celeste Maria Montgomery
2004 – Elizabeth Speyer
2003 – Melissa Anne Vecchio
2002 – Alyssa Renee Hotte
2001 – Jill Ann Colleran
2000 – Patti Renee Ducoff
1999 – Jason Loris Smith
1998 – Karen Lynn Tavilla
1997 – Sharyn Lori Goralnick

Kenneth N. Stevens Student Research Award

First awarded in 2004, this award, named after the long-time MGH Institute of Health Professions faculty member and internationally known researcher Kenneth N. Stevens, honors a graduating student who has demonstrated superior performance in conducting research that produces new knowledge about typical or disordered human communication.

2023 - Aditi Parikh
2022 - Laura E. Nagy
2021 - Kiattipoom Nantanukul
​​2020 – Stephanie Gaglini
​2019 – Liane Thornhill
2018 – Shalom Kim
2017 – Annette Sophie Mitko
2016 – James C. Borders
2015 – Katherine Lindsey Marks
2014 – Micah E. Smith
2013 – Elizabeth S. Heller
2012 – Jessica Chiew Jia Chiann
2011 – Amanda Mae Worek
2010 – Carla M. Tierney
2009 – Asako Masaki Wehner
2008 – Katharine Mary Radville
2007 – Lauryn Zipse
2006 – Heather Lynn Kubert
2005 – Annike Imbrie
2005 – Sharon Kuo
2004 – Melissa DiPerri

Pamela E. Hook Award for Literacy

This award honors a graduating Certificate of Advanced Study in Literacy student or a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology student who has shown dedication, curiosity, and exceptional performance working with individuals who have disorders of written language.

2023 – Lori Marie Yurgelun
2022 – Alexandra Marie Armstrong
2021 – Marie Ripa
2020 – Courtney Abigail Perrigo

2019 – Jennifer Lynn Lindstrom
2018 – No award given
2017 – Timothy DeLuca

Awards of Special Recognition

First awarded in 2017, these awards honor graduating students who have excelled in a particular area to the extent that CSD faculty members want to acknowledge this meritorious accomplishment.

2023 – Nneka Watson (Clinical Practice)
2023 – Angelique Campo (Leadership in Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion)
2023 – Samara S. Smith (Interprofessional Practice)
2023 – Nan Lu (Interprofessional Practice)
2023 – Ken Zhou (Interprofessional Practice)
2023 – Janie Lee Rist (Research)
2023 – Wendy Weng I. Chay (Research)
2023 – Jennifer F. Fellman (Research)


2022 – Grace Gao (Clinical Practice)
2022 – Megan Dimler-Rivera (Leadership)
2022 – Rhiannon Marjorie Smith (Research)
2022 – Minsy Sun (Research and Clinical Practice)
2022 – Jeremy Wolfberg (Research and Clinical Practice)
 

2021 – Richard Monari (Leadership)
2021 – Rosa Lynne Ortega (Leadership)
2021 – Preeti Rishi (Research)
2021 – Charles J. Nudelman (Research)
2021 – Alessandra Verdi (Research)
2021 – Sydney Hirsch Peskin (Literacy)
2021 – Liane S. Houde (Growth Mindset)
 

2020 – Jocelyn Chokkattu (Leadership)
2020 – Rachel Beth Weintraub (Professionalism)
2020 – Heidi Blackham (Research)
 

2019 – Catherine Clare Serzan (Leadership)
2019 – Samantha Elizabeth Kridgen (Clinical Practice in Voice Disorders)
2019 – Allison Sara Aaron (Community Service)
2019 – Emily Jane Feeley (Research)
2019 – Gwendolyn Anne Meredith (Advocacy and Service)
2019 – Darby E. Smith (Professionalism)
 

2018 – Kristen Elizabeth Soranno (Leadership)
2018 – Robert Kyle Ruggles (Leadership)
2018 – Brendan Joseph Czupryna (Leadership in Research and Collaboration)
2018 – Molly Bowman Allen (Professionalism and Clinical Practice)
 

2017 – Anne Wellington Dixon (Clinical Practice)
2017 – Madeline Eileen Grimm (Interprofessional Collaboration)
2017 – Reem Khodr Mohamad (Community Engagement)

Faculty and Clinical Educators

Award for Excellence in Clinical Supervision

First awarded in 2000, this award honors an external clinical supervisor who has contributed significantly to the graduate student clinical experience by serving as an excellent role model, collaborating with other professionals at the external practicum site, providing opportunities to students that help to shape their ability to become critical thinkers and lifelong learners, and demonstrating evidenced-based practice principles in his/her practice.

2023 – Boston Children’s Hospital Feeding and Swallowing Program
2022 - Melissa Berman
2021 - Melissa Ghiringhelli and Jeana Kaplan
2020 - Suzanne Pennington and Rachel Pittmann
2019 – Stacie Barlow
2018 – Robert Melchionna
2017 – Antigone G. McHugh
2016 – Jessica Garrity
2015 – Patrick Alexis
2014 – Stephen A. MacCormack
2013 – Lynette Holmes
2012 – Charlotte Lunde
2011 – Jessica L. Gosnell
2010 – Melissa Ghiringhelli
2009 – Barbara Worth
2008 – Joyce Goldweitz
2007 – Christine R. Doyle
2006 – Ann M. Waters
2005 – Terie Geary
2004 – Belinda Campbell
2003 – Paige M. Nalipinksi
2002 – Jennifer E. Mackey
2001 – Sharon Weiss-Kapp
2000 – Kathleen C. Carlin

Faculty Award for Excellence

First awarded in 2000, this award honors a distinguished faculty member who presents material in a highly effective manner, fosters an atmosphere of individual inquiry, uses class time efficiently, welcomes discussion and expression of diverse points of view, and excels in teaching his or her course. 

2023 – Amanda O’Brien
2022 – Esther Ayuk

2021 - Indigo Young
2020 - Sofia Vallila Rohter
2019 - Rebecca Santos Inzana
2018 – Jenna Muri-Rosenthal
2017 – Sofia Vallila Rohter
2016 – Rebecca Santos Inzana
2015 – Lauryn Zipse
2014 – Sofia Vallila Rohter
2013 – Meredith Bosley O'Dea
2012 – Lauryn Zipse
2011 – Sarah Ward
2010 – Marjorie L. Nicholas
2009 – John Costello
2008 – Lesley A. Maxwell
2007 – Gregory L. Lof
2006 – John Costello
2005 – Denise Ambrosi
2004 – James Heaton
2003 – Marjorie L. Nicholas
2002 – Sarah J. Ward
2001 – Howard C. Shane
2000 – Glenn W. Bunting

ASHA Honors of the Association

The Honors of the Association recognizes distinguished contribution to the field of speech, language, and hearing and is the highest honor the Association can give.

ASHA Honors of the Association
Howard Shane, PhD, CCC-SLP

Professor Communication Sciences and Disorders

Robert E. Hillman, PhD, CCC-SLP

Adjunct Professor Communication Sciences and Disorders Rehabilitation Sciences

ASHA Fellow of the Association

The ASHA Fellowship recognizes professional or scientific achievement and is given to members who have made outstanding contributions to the professions. The award is one of the highest honors that ASHA can bestow and is retained for life.

ASHA Fellowship
Carmen Vega-Barachowitz, MS, CCC-SLP, FASHA

Assistant Professor Communication Sciences and Disorders

Gregory L. Lof, PhD, CCC-SLP, FASHA

Professor Emeritus Communication Sciences and Disorders

Howard Shane, PhD, CCC-SLP

Professor Communication Sciences and Disorders

jordan wears a blue collared shirt and a tie with red squares

Chief Scientific Advisor Matina Souretis Horner Professor in Rehabilitation Sciences Director of the Speech and Feeding Disorders Lab Office of Provost Communication Sciences and Disorders

Marjorie Nicholas

Chair, Professor Communication Sciences and Disorders School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Robert E. Hillman, PhD, CCC-SLP

Adjunct Professor Communication Sciences and Disorders Rehabilitation Sciences

IDA The Margaret Byrd Rawson Award

The Margaret Byrd Rawson Award recognizes the work of an individual to advance the mission of The International Dyslexia Association (IDA). The Award is given to a member of the IDA whose work embodies the compassion, leadership, commitment to excellence, fervent advocacy for people with dyslexia that was first shown by dyslexia pioneer, Margaret Byrd Rawson.

International Dyslexia Association
Charles Haynes, EdD, CCC-SLP

Professor Emeritus Communication Sciences and Disorders

The Willard R. Zemlin Memorial Lecture in Speech Science Award

The Zemlin Memorial Award is given to a person whose impact on speech science has been profound and groundbreaking.

jordan wears a blue collared shirt and a tie with red squares

Chief Scientific Advisor Matina Souretis Horner Professor in Rehabilitation Sciences Director of the Speech and Feeding Disorders Lab Office of Provost Communication Sciences and Disorders

Robert E. Hillman, PhD, CCC-SLP

Adjunct Professor Communication Sciences and Disorders Rehabilitation Sciences