UBC - Key Persons
Alexis Black received her PhD in Linguistics and Cognitive Science from the University of British Columbia in 2018. She subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Richard Aslin at Haskins Laboratories before joining the School of Audiology and Speech Sciences as Assistant Professor in January 2020. She researches how linguistic forms and concepts emerge from early learning processes and perceptual biases, using both behavioural (e.g., eyetracking) and neuroimaging (EEG and fNIRS) techniques.
Job Titles:
- Computer Systems Specialist and Facilities Manager
Job Titles:
- Research Grant Facilitation Officer
Job Titles:
- Program Administrator, Speech - Language Pathology
- Program Administrator, Speech - Language Pathology, University of Victoria Island Medical Program
Bailey supports the Speech-Language Pathology program at the Victoria site, maintaining the learning spaces and supporting students, Faculty, and staff. Additionally, Bailey assists the Health Professional Programs manager and oversees the administrative space.
Job Titles:
- Health Professional Programs Manager, University of Victoria Island Medical Program
Job Titles:
- Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education
- Clinical Practicum Coordinator, Sessional Instructor
Biography
After graduating from the School of Audiology and Speech Sciences in 2006, Cheryl began her career as a Speech-Language Pathologist in Calgary, working with stroke clients at the Fanning Neuro Rehabilitation Unit and remained there for eight years. Here she developed strong clinical skills in the areas of aphasia, apraxia of speech, dysarthria, cognitive-communication disorders and dysphagia. She is a certified clinician in Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT), SPEAK OUT!® and trained in Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia (SCA™).
For two years, Cheryl worked with school-age children at a private school for students diagnosed with a Learning Disability (Grades 2-12). It was here that she discovered the importance of collaborating with teachers regarding how to support students with phonological awareness and literacy needs. She also had the privilege of co-teaching with classroom teachers focusing on narrative language skills and social skills.
Cheryl has a lot of experience in acute care settings, working in the area of clinical dysphagia assessment and management. She worked causally at Foothills Medical Centre and Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary, and also worked within the Fraser Health Authority for 14 months, providing causal coverage at Peach Arch Hospital, Langley Memorial Hospital, Delta Hospital and Burnaby Hospital.
A passion for student mentorship and education was ignited when Cheryl supervised Speech-Language Pathology students from various graduate programs in Canada. Giving back to the profession by mentoring students was one of the highlights of her career. In 2012, Cheryl received the Clinical Educator of the Year award from the U of A Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine.
Since starting as a Clinical Practicum Coordinator in 2017, Cheryl has connected with many Clinical Educators and Clinical Faculty all over BC, either in-person or virtually. Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with UBC's supportive clinical community is one of the best parts of her job.
Cheryl moved back to the West Coast in 2016 and now resides in Nanaimo on beautiful Vancouver Island with her husband, daughter, son, and Miniature Australian Shepherd. When she is not commuting via ferry or float place to UBC, she enjoys exploring new hiking trails, camping, trying new restaurants all over the Island, and spending time with her family.
Job Titles:
- Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education
- Clinical Instructor, Audiology
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor in the School of Audiology and Speech
Dr. Anthony (Tony) Herdman is an Associate Professor in the School of Audiology and Speech Sciences at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He is also an Affiliate Investigator at the BC Children's Hospital Research Institute and a member of the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health.
Dr. Herdman's research program explores the brain dynamics underlying auditory and visual perception, audiovisual integration, attention, and language, using behavioral and electrophysiological measures such as electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG). Additionally, his work incorporates artificial intelligence to classify brain signals and generative AI to simulate these signals.
A key area of his research involves refining neuroimaging techniques to advance EEG and MEG methodologies. For instance, Dr. Herdman and his colleagues developed a method that improves accuracy of identifying neural network connectivity across the whole brain. Dr. Herdman also developed an open-source software, called SimMEEG, that simulates brain network activity for validating and improving such neuroimaging (EEG/MEG) techniques and analysis pipelines.
Another major focus of his research is studying auditory evoked responses to test hearing in adults and infants, particularly in collaboration with the BC Early Hearing Program (BCEHP). His ongoing research with BCEHP aims to improve hearing diagnostic approaches, ensuring early identification and interventions that enrich infant language development.
Dr. Herdman actively participates in service initiatives within UBC and works collaboratively with colleagues to support the university community. He is also highly engaged in community outreach, particularly through the BC Early Hearing Program (BCEHP) and Alberta Health Services (AHS), which provide province-wide hearing screening, diagnostic testing, and early intervention for infants with varying degrees of hearing ability.
Beyond his professional service, he is dedicated to public outreach and science education. He is the creator of "Brain Camp for Kids", an initiative designed to introduce children to the wonders of neuroscience through interactive and hands-on activities. This program fosters curiosity about brain function, sensory perception, and cognitive development, engaging young minds in scientific exploration.
Dr. Herdman's research, teaching, and service efforts collectively advance the fields of audiology, speech sciences, and neuroimaging, while also supporting the broader goal of enhancing hearing health and education within the community.
Herdman, A.T. (2021) SimMEEG software for simulating event-related MEG and EEG data with underlying functional connectivity. Journal of Neuroscience Methods. Volume 350, 109017 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.109017
Herdman, A.T. (2011). Neuroimaging evidence for top-down maturation of selective auditory attention. Brain Topography, Special Issue. 24(3-4):271-278.
Ross, B., Herdman, A. T., and Pantev, C. (2005) Right hemispheric laterality of human 40-Hz auditory steady state responses. Cerebral Cortex, 15(12): 2029-2039.
Dr. Doug Sladen earned his bachelor's ('92) and master's ('94) degrees from Western Washington University. He then worked as an audiologist for several years before returning to complete doctoral studies. He completed his Ph.D. in Hearing and Speech Sciences at Vanderbilt University in 2006 where he stayed as a Research Associate until 2008. Following his time at Vanderbilt, Dr. Sladen was an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Austin (2008 to 2011), Director of the Cochlear Implant Program, Mayo Clinic (2011 to 2017) and Associate Professor at Western Washington University (2017 to 2024).
Dr. Sladen's early work was centered on pediatric audiology and he has a special interest in advocating for children who are deaf and hard of hearing. In 2022/2023 he worked alongside an advocacy group in Washington state where they successfully lobbied for legislation requiring insurance companies pay for hearing aids for adults and children.
Dr. Sladen's research is centered on cochlear implantation among children and adults. Specifically, Dr. Sladen has published and presented on cochlear implant outcomes related to speech perception, localization, and overall health-related quality of life. Most recently he has been using a virtual reality (VR) test environment to examine outcomes among children and adults with single-sided deafness who have cochlear implants.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor
- Associate Professor of Audiology
Dr. Navid Shahnaz is currently an Associate Professor of Audiology in the School of Audiology & Speech Sciences at the University of British Columbia (UBC), where he has been a faculty member since July 2002. He has been a Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC) certified member since November 1995. He was a member of the national (CASLPA) Audiology Examination Committee between 2002 and 2008, and a member of the CASLPA Board of Governors (2011-2014), where he was the representative of the Canadian Council of University Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders. His main area of research interest includes multi-frequency tympanometry, Wideband Acoustic Immittance, otoacoustic emission, and acoustic reflex studies in adults, children, and infants. His new research interests also focus on the assessment of the balance systems using vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, and the development of test batteries for assessment of the silent (hidden) hearing loss.
Dr. Shahnaz's main areas of research interest include multi-frequency tympanometry, Wide Band Energy Reflectance, otoacoustic emission, and acoustic reflex studies in adults as well as newborns. He is also interested in effect of personal listening devices (iPods) on hearing. Other areas of research interests are extended high frequency thresholds estimation in different ethnic groups and cochlear dead region.
Job Titles:
- Speech - Language Pathologist
- Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education
- Clinical Lecturer
Eavan Sinden is a Speech-Language Pathologist, trained in the University College Cork, Ireland, in addition to having a Master's degree in Clinical Education from the University of Edinburgh.
Eavan's clinical work has primarily been in the area of adult rehabilitation, most recently working at the Aphasia Institute in Toronto. Her experience has focused on developing programs and resources for people with aphasia within the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia (LPAA) model. She is trained in Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia (SCA™) and is the author of the "Your Life: Looking Back, Moving Forward", a communicatively accessible resource, created to facilitate people with aphasia rediscover their identity through storytelling.
Eavan has completed research in the area of clinical education, more specifically examining how clinical educators teach Speech-Language Pathology students around aphasia and its management during clinical placements. She hopes to continue to investigate further research opportunities in this area.
Mason, G. (2016, June). Multisyllabic word production in school-aged children with and without protracted phonological development. Presentation at the conference of the International Clinical Phonetics and Linguistics Association, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Program Assistant
- Senior Clinical Program and Finance Assistant
- Senior Clinical Program Assistant
Small, J. & Marcynuk, M. (2017). Invited by the Institute for Continuing Care Education and Research (ICCER, University of Alberta and Alberta Health Services) to give a one-day symposium entitled "Communication Tools to Enhance Care". This symposium had one on-site location at the University of Alberta (N=90), and over 30 real-time video-conferenced sites throughout Alberta (including rural areas), as well as sites in Ontario and New Brunswick (N=200+). Attendees represented a broad spectrum of health care professionals/workers, administrators, and academics. February 23, 2017.
Small, J.A. Spaced Retrieval: A User-friendly Cognitive Rehabilitation Strategy for Persons with Dementia. Workshop presented at the 24 th Scientific Meeting of the Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry, Vancouver, B.C., September 30, 2015.
Small, J.A. Verbal and nonverbal indicators of quality of communication between care staff and residents in ethnoculturally and linguistically diverse long-term care settings. Invited presentation at a workshop entitled "Ethnic diversity and dementia: Cultural, social, and linguistic aspects" hosted by the Centre for Dementia Research (CEDER) at Linköping University, Sweden, May, 2014.
Job Titles:
- Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education
- Assistant Professor of Teaching
Dr. Katharine (Kate) Davies completed her M.Sc. and PhD in Speech-Language Pathology at the School of Audiology and Speech Sciences, UBC. She has been a registered Speech-Language Pathologist since 2018. She has clinical experience in rehabilitation, acute care, mental health, long-term care, and private practice settings. Kate joined the School as Assistant Professor of Teaching in 2024 and has taught or guest lectured on various topics since 2020. She spends her free time biking, swimming, or paddling with her husband and two children.
Katharine (Kate) Davies, Ph.D., is a registered speech-language pathologist and Assistant Professor of Teaching at the School of Audiology and Speech Sciences. Before completing her Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia, Kate completed a B.A. in International Relations, M.A. in Linguistics, and a M.Sc. in Speech-Language Pathology.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Coordinator
- Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education
Lisa Luft attended UBC as an undergraduate, and received her Master's degree from Western Washington University in Bellingham WA in 1996. She has worked most of her career with adults, across varied in-patient acute sites, rehabilitation centres, and out-patient clinics. She has held positions in three of the health authorities in the Lower Mainland and now works primarily for Vancouver Coastal Health. In these varied settings, Lisa has specialized in medical speech pathology, and worked with adults with acquired and traumatic brain injuries, neurodegenerative diseases, and dysphagia. She is a certified SPEAK OUT ™ provider.
Lisa is passionate about client-centred care, offered within strong and supportive interdisciplinary teams. She is excited to be a new member of the clinical education team at UBC. Aside from work, she enjoys playing tennis, taking art classes, and spending time with her family and pets.
Job Titles:
- Senior Education Program and Administrative Assistant ( on Leave )
Marcelo provides support to the Manager of Administration, Program Director, and Executive Assistant to the Director. This includes assisting with program scheduling, instructor appointments, and financial processes. He also works closely with the Graduate Student Programs Manager to facilitate the School's admissions activities.
Job Titles:
- Lead Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education
- Teaching and Academic Coordinator Lead for Clinical Education
Marcia has been at the SASS since August 2015, and has been the Lead, Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education Team since March 2017.
As a UBC graduate, she has 20 years of clinical experience in adult neurogenic communication and swallowing disorders and 15 years as a Clinical Educator at Vancouver General Hospital and G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre. She also has school district and private practice experience. She was an Adjunct Professor for the School of Social Work and the former College of Health Disciplines, and for many years co-taught the undergraduate course, Interprofessional Health Care Team Development.
Marcia's current teaching interests are professionalism for student clinicians and interprofessional care competencies in communication. Marcia's role as ACCE Lead is dedicated to facilitating healthy clinical learning within the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology programs, and contributing to curriculum and policies that prepare students for the real world of clinical practice.
Job Titles:
- Indigenous Student Community Learning Experience Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Member of the Emeriti and Previous Faculty Team
- Associate Professor & Interim Director
Job Titles:
- Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education
- Clinical Coordinator & Clinical Associate Professor
Job Titles:
- Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education
- Audiology Instructor
Biography
Sasha graduated from UBC's School of Audiology and Speech Sciences in 2000, after which she worked at St Paul's Hospital, BCCH, and WorkSafeBC, where she continues to work today. Sasha is also involved with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) where she is making contributions on standards related to Occupational Hearing Loss. Sasha has been an Instructor and academic coordinator of clinical education at the School of Audiology and Speech Sciences since 2016.
In her spare time, Sasha can be found running in North Vancouver's trails, or camping in the mountains.
Marinova-Todd, S.H. (2012). "Corplum is a core from a plum": The advantages of bilingual children in the analysis of word meanings from verbal context. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 15 (1), 117-127. DOI: 10.1017/S136672891000043X
Tami Howe, PhD, SLP (C), completed her doctorate and postdoctorate at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia and her Master's of Health Science degree in Speech Pathology at the University of Toronto. Tami was on faculty in the Department of Communication Disorders at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand before coming to UBC.
Prior to commencing her doctoral studies, Tami worked for several years as a speech-language pathologist with adults and children in Canada and New Zealand. Tami's research focuses on how adults with aphasia and their family members live with the communication disorder, with the ultimate goal of finding ways to enhance their quality of life.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant to the Director
Valter Ciocca completed his undergraduate studies in Experimental Psychology at the University of Padua (Italy). He subsequently went to McGill University, where he completed his Ph.D. in the Department of Psychology under the guidance of Albert Bregman, with a thesis on the application of auditory scene analysis principles to speech perception. He then continued his research training with Chris Darwin at the University of Sussex, where he investigated the effects of auditory grouping on pitch perception. In 1992, he joined the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at Hong Kong University, where he applied his knowledge of auditory perception and speech science to the study of Cantonese speech and of lexical tones. At Hong Kong University he extended his research to the study of populations of listeners and speakers with communication disorders (individuals with cerebral palsy and hearing impairments, including cochlear implant users), as well as adults with normal communication abilities and typically developing children. He joined the School of Audiology and Speech Sciences at UBC in 2007 as the School's Director, a role he continued in until 2017.
Dr. Ciocca's research has so far focused on three main themes within the field of speech and hearing sciences: auditory scene analysis, speech perception and production, and pitch perception and production.
His current projects include:
1. The perception of the illusory continuation of interrupted sounds through louder noise and through short gaps of silence. This phenomenon is usually referred to as "temporal induction" or "auditory continuity". Within this project he is investigating the perception of auditory continuity by listeners with normal hearing and by cochlear implant users.
Wong, A., Ciocca, V. and Yung, S. (2009). The perception of lexical tone contrasts in Cantonese children with and without Specific Language Impairment (SLI). Journal of Speech, language, and Hearing Research, 52, 1493-1509.
Job Titles:
- Graduate Student Programs Manager