Tedy’s Team Center of Excellence in Stroke Recovery

Teaming up to improve the lives of people living with strokes.

Our Center is founded on the pillars of community outreach, research and rehabilitation; and bridging the gap between practice and research. With community outreach, we strive to educate the community on the warning signs of stroke - fast action can lead to more lives saved. We research aspects of stroke recovery and the effects of stroke on areas like speech, language and brain activity. In rehabilitation, our clients benefit from the expertise within the MGH IHP's IMPACT clinical centers (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Nursing and Aphasia) to address the highly complex issues of stroke rehabilitation that cannot be solved by one discipline alone.

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Knowing the Signs of Stroke Can Save Lives

Patients who arrive at the emergency room within three hours of their first symptoms often have less disability three months after a stroke than those who received delayed care. But to get help, it is important to understand the signs of stroke. Part of the mission of the Tedy's Team Center is to ensure our community is educated and aware: prepared to recognize a stroke and thus help mitigate the negative effects.

the words BE FAST: balance difficulties, eyesight changes, face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulties, time to call 911

a family of four - mom and dad and teenage son and daughter, walk on a beach with their dog

A Family Shares Their Story

The IHP houses a robust research enterprise, and several of our renowned researchers focus on aspects of stroke recovery and the effects of stroke on areas like speech, language and brain activity. Pursuant to the IHP model of interprofessional collaboration and translational research, under the umbrella of the Tedy's Team Center, researchers from different disciplines are able to work together, share information, and see how their research findings might have a direct impact on the rehabilitation of stroke survivors.

Meet our Researchers

Participate in stroke-related research at the IHP

Tedy’s Team Center of Excellence Research Fellows

Faculty members from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders are implementing pilot studies to advance care in the following projects:

“Identifying the moderating roles of psychosocial, physical activity, and communication factors on fall status after stroke using ecological momentary assessment.” (Megan Schliep) (mentored by PT Professor Dr. Prue Plummer)

Schliep will use ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to collect real-time information several times a day via text message about stroke survivors’ daily activities, including what they are engaged in, where, with whom, and how they are feeling in the moment in regard to mood and ability to concentrate. The survey participants will include people with and without aphasia.

“Scaling up: Piloting a home-practice version of Melodic Intonation Therapy.” (Lauren Zipse)

Zipse will develop and test a home-practice version of an established aphasia treatment called Melodic Intonation Therapy, and test whether home practice can be used successfully to increase treatment dosage. If home practice is effective, it can allow people with aphasia to receive more frequent treatment over a longer period of time than most get following a stroke.

“Activating Life Participation: Tracking outcomes after an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP.)” (Esther Ayuk & Suzanne Pennington) (mentored by CSD Chair Dr. Marjorie Nicholas)

Ayuk and Pennington will design an aphasia-appropriate Behavioral Activation (BA) treatment program to address activity engagement after an ICAP program. Clients who recently completed the Spaulding Rehabilitation – Institute ICAP will be recruited for the project and will be followed for up to a year. Findings will provide insight into the effectiveness of their aphasia-adapted BA treatment program and highlight barriers and facilitators of activity engagement post-ICAP.

four women stand in front of a green staircase — (l-to-r): Assistant Professor Dr. Megan Schliep, CSD Associate Professor Dr. Lauren Zipse, and CSD Instructors Esther Ayuk and Suzanne Pennington.

Our Center utilizes the expertise within already existing MGH Institute of Health Professions IMPACT clinical centers (Aphasia Center, Ionta Physical Therapy Center, Tabor/Connor Occupational Therapy Center, and Ruth Sleeper Nursing Center) to address the highly complex issues of stroke rehabilitation that cannot be solved by one discipline alone. At these clinical centers, graduate students provide clinical care under the supervision of licensed faculty clinicians at no charge to community members. Access to services varies depending on the time of year and students enrolled in a particular program. If you are interested in services, fill out the form below and a member of our Center will be in touch.

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Each year, over 60 stroke survivors participate in pro bono services with approximately 2,300 visits for rehabilitative care provided by clinicians in training under the supervision of faculty from occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and nursing programs.

Our Clients

Gary Wilson

In 2017, Gary Wilson had a stroke that impacted the use of his left arm, his walking, and his ability to perform daily tasks. After time spent at Massachusetts General Hospital and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital’s Outpatient Center in Braintree, he was discharged but knew he required further support to continue his recovery and regain his independence.

Typically, insurance does not cover rehabilitation costs beyond the immediate aftermath of stroke. Needing long-term rehabilitation, Wilson had to seek options outside the traditional healthcare system. That’s when he came to the MGH Institute, receiving services at our Center.

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Gary IPC Team — Wilson poses with his physical therapy care team - Gwen Larsen, an Instructor of Physical Therapy and Education/Community Outreach Coordinator in the Tedy's Team Center of Excellence in Stroke Recovery and Fallon Katz, DPT ’24.

Stephen Parnell

A few years ago, words were his specialty. Married with a son and a daughter, Parnell used to travel around the country giving presentations as managing director of Applied Insights for Hartford Funds. Then, on January 31, 2018, as he prepared for a trip to Maine to give one of those presentations, Parnell had a stroke.

Since those early days, he has regained his ability to talk but still has aphasia, a condition that can happen after a stroke affects the left side of the brain which controls speech and language. To help unlock those words, Parnell has been working with MGH Institute speech pathology graduate students since 2021.

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A man in a red baseball cap sits at a table facing the camera while a woman sits next to him facing the camera — Stephen Parnell (l) worked with HeeEun Jeon during a session at the MGH Institute’s Sanders IMPACT Practice Center in the fall of 2024

Ana Aguilar

Ana Aguilar had two strokes in 2018. At first, she was in the Intensive Care Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, unable to move and talk. She couldn’t make a fist with her hand, struggled to sit up without tipping over, and couldn’t walk. But with her family’s support and that of her inpatient physical therapy team at MGH, she slowly began to regain some of these abilities.

After her physical therapy services ended at MGH, her doctors recommended she continue treatment. For the past five years, Aguilar has been a regular client, working with Doctor of Physical Therapy students overseen by faculty.

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