Elissa Larkin Conlon, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist & Research Clinician, Center for Aphasia Research & Treatment, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Elissa Larkin Conlon, M.S., CCC-SLP is a bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist and research clinician in the Center for Aphasia Research and Treatment at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (SRAlab) in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to her clinical and research work, Elissa is passionate about innovating to make communication environments in healthcare settings more accessible for all patients. Elissa is a certified trainer in Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia™ and received the inaugural 2019 Kabiller Humanitarian Prize in part for her work to train colleagues in supportive communication principles and techniques. Elissa applied the Kabiller Prize funding to develop and implement a communication partner training program for SRAlab nursing staff working with patients with high communication needs. Elissa believes all healthcare providers should be educated and empowered to adjust to the communication needs of their patients in order to provide equitable and excellent care for all.