Speech-Language Pathology Chair Named ASHA Fellow

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has named Dr. Mikael D.Z. Kimelman as a 2014 Fellow—one of the highest forms of recognition bestowed by the organization. Less than 1,500 of ASHA’s approximately 170,000 members have garnered this prestigious Fellowship, which honors professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the discipline of communication sciences and disorders.

Kimelman is the founding chair and associate professor of the Department of Speech-Language Pathology in the Rangos School of Health Sciences.

“When I look at the list of colleagues who also have been named as ASHA Fellows—both past and present—I am truly humbled to be considered worthy of this honor,” said Kimelman. “The administrative support and opportunities I have been given here at Duquesne, the good work of my faculty and staff colleagues and the excellent students who have matriculated through our program have contributed significantly to my earning this prestigious distinction.”

The 2014 Fellows, including Kimelman, will be formally recognized at a special awards ceremony on Friday, Nov. 21, as part of the ASHA Convention in Orlando, Fla.

Nearly 20 years ago, Kimelman founded and launched the nation’s first five-year, guaranteed-seat graduate program in speech-language pathology at Duquesne. The department and faculty are recognized as national leaders in the academic discipline and profession of speech-language pathology. In addition, the department operates the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, which works with clients of all ages in the specialty areas of aphasia, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, childhood language disorders, autism, childhood apraxia of speech, hearing, stuttering and voice problems.

Kimelman is interested in understanding how people with auditory comprehension problems following brain damage process and comprehend the language they hear. He currently teaches courses on motor speech disorders and an introductory class on communication sciences and disorders. Kimelman is member of and has held a range of service and leadership roles in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, and the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders.