Communication Equity and Outcomes Lab (CEO)
Advancing equity in communication outcomes for adults with neurological disorders
About us
The Communication Equity and Outcomes Lab (CEO) was established to research outcomes of adult neurological communication disorders and the factors contributing to inequities in service provision and outcome disparities among population groups.
CEO Lab projects emphasize:
- Outcomes associated with neurologically based disorders of communication.
- Economic issues associated with neurologically-based disorders of communication disorders; specifically the costs and cost-effectiveness of SLP interventions.
- Health-related disparities that occur among those with neurological disorders associated with poor access to care and poor availability of care.
- Aphasia telepractice to improve availability and access to treatment for rural dwelling persons with aphasia.
The CEO Lab collaborates with: Speech-Language Pathologists, Neurologists, Occupational Therapists, Health Economists and Health Services Researchers.
Our team
Charles Ellis, Jr CCC-SLP, F-ASHA
Karen W Hegland Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Recent publications and presentations
Publications
To view all lab publications, please visit Dr. Charles Ellis’s professional profile.
Presentations
Ellis, C. & Jacobs, M. (September, 2024). Identifying Predictors of Young Stroke: A Machine Learning Approach. University of Colorado School of Public Health. Aurora, CO.
Storkel, H., Ellis, C., Minga, J. Robinson, C., & Schurman, J. (April, 2024). Getting Started with Federal Funding for Your Research. Panel presentation at the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing Convention, Raleigh, NC.
Storkel, H., Ellis, C., Minga, J. Robinson, C., & Schurman, J. (April, 2024). Transform Your Career: Opportunities in Communication Disorders Research. Panel presentation at the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing Convention, Raleigh, NC.
Ellis, C. (October, 2023). The interrelationship between the social determinants of health and aphasia 0utcomes. C-STAR Lecture Series. Online. https://cstar.sc.edu/lecture-series/
Ellis, C. (September, 2023). The social determinants and rehabilitation outcomes: The impact on aphasia. MGH Research in Rehabilitation Sciences Seminar. Online
Ellis, C. (April, 2023). Aphasia disparities: Who, what when, where and why do they exist? Presentation at the Pennsylvania Speech Language Hearing Association National Conference. Online.
Ellis, C. (February, 2023). Developing pathways to equity in aphasia outcomes. Lynda Campbell Lecture Series. Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO.
Ellis, C. (September, 2022). The bridge between health disparities in the US and diversity issues in SLP: Opportunities to Address. Presentation to the Penn State Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders BRIDGE Program.
Ellis, C. (September, 2022). Aphasia in America: Economics, equity and access. Presentation at the 39th Van Riper Lectures Series. Western Michigan University. Online. https://wmich.edu/speech-audiology/about/van-riper-lectures
Ellis, C. (September, 2022). Exploring factors that contribute to lack of equity in service provision and outcome disparities. Presentation at 16th Annual Eleanor M. Saffran Conference On Cognitive Neuroscience & Rehabilitation of Communication Disorders. Philadelphia, PA.
Sheffield, S.W. & Ellis, C. (July, 2022). Over-the-counter hearing aids: Sound quality and racial disparities in hearing impairment, testing, and device use—A demand-income paradigm. American Auditory Society. Podcast. https://eaudiology.audiology.org/products/over-the-counter-hearing-aids-sound-quality-and-racial-disparities-in-hearing-impairment-testing-and-device-use-a-demand-income-paradigm
Ellis, C. (June, 2022). Achieving equity in aphasia research and clinical outcomes. Presentation at International Aphasia Rehabilitation Conference. Philadelphia, PA. https://www.aphasiaaccess.org/iarc-agenda/
Ellis, C. (May, 2022). Establishing diversity, equity and inclusion in aphasia management and research. Keynote Response to Anne H. Charity Hudley, Ph.D. “Inclusion in the Language Sciences: It’s Theoretical til its Personal”, Wrightsville Beach, NC. https://web.cvent.com/event/c5edf791-b5d1-412a-9349-800031a7c012/websitePage:d9c1bd74-a889-4d2d-89bb-a2d1901c8855
Ellis, C. (May, 2022). Disparities in aphasia outcomes. Alzheimer’s Disease Association Racial Disparities in Cognition Series. Podcast. https://training.alz.org/products/4363/diversity-and-disparities-pia-society-for-behavioral-and-cognitive-neurology-sbcn-racial-disparities-in-disorders-of-cognition
Ellis, C. (April, 2022). Equity at the center of implementation science. Presentation at Implementation Science IS For All: A CSD Practice-Research Exchange. Online presentation. https://www.enrole.com/mghihp/jsp/session.jsp?sessionId=ISFA-2022-02&courseId=ISFA&categoryId=ROOT
Ellis, C. (February, 2022). Health disparities and health equity in speech-language pathology focus: Aphasia. Presentation at G. Paul Moore Symposium, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. https://slhs.phhp.ufl.edu/current-students/moore-symposium/
Ellis, C. (November, 2021). Health disparities and health equity in the rehabilitation sciences: The case of aphasia. Presentation to MGH College of health Professions. Online presentation.
Ellis, C. (November, 2021). Bias: Should we be concerned in VA speech-language pathology/audiology?. Presentation of Veterans Health Affairs Speech Language Pathology Mentoring Program. Online presentation.
Ellis, C. (October, 2021). Health disparities and health equity in speech-language pathology: What are we missing? 2021 Dan Ashmead Lecture, Diversity Lecture Series,
Vanderbilt University Hearing and Speech Sciences. https://vumc.box.com/s/0zfrmslt7xqrae0lffoolyhga8t2fchb.
Ellis, C. (October, 2021). Lessons learned from aphasia telepractice: The impact of social determinants of health and other factors. University of Connecticut Speech Language Hearing Sciences Colloquium. Online presentation.
Ellis, C. (April, 2021). Health disparities in aphasia. Aphasia Access Leadership Summit. Online presentation.
Ellis, C. (January, 2021). Health disparities and health equity: Implications for aphasia and other neurogenic communication disorders. Spring 2021 Equity Justice and Inclusion Speaker Series, University of Pittsburgh. https://pitt.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=a54c25aa-3198-46b0-85c6-acb70134feeb
Resources
National Aphasia Association
The Mission of the National Aphasia Association is to promote public awareness and understanding of aphasia, to promote research that aims to improve the lives of people with aphasia, and to provide support to all persons with aphasia and their caregivers.
American Speech Language Hearing Association
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 223,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology support personnel; and students.
National Black Association of Speech Language and Hearing
NBASLH focuses on communication and communication disorders and differences within and across socially, culturally, and linguistically diverse populations, with an emphasis on those populations who are underserved.
Brain Friends Podcasts
The Brain Friends podcast is a space for neuro nerds and stroke survivors to talk about all things aphasia, language recovery, and community. Hosted by Dr. D. Seles, a neuroscientist and speech-language pathologist, and Angie C., 2x stroke survivor and aphasia advocate. Listen, laugh, and learn with these two stakeholders determined to make a difference in aphasia advocacy.
Video resources
ASHA Stream is a video collection of resources related to communication disorders.
Life, Language, & Lyrics with Laina
In this lecture, Dr. Ellis speaks about brain injury in African Americans and other topics during Brain Injury Awareness Month.
News
Award
Lab Receives ASHA Editors award for second consecutive year
The CEO Lab received the 2024 Editor’s Award from the editor-in-chief and editors of Perspectives of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Special Interest Groups, an online peer reviewed journal. The team’s paper, “Social Networks and Communication Impairment: Racial Differences Among Stroke Survivors” was co-authored by Dr. Molly Jacobs.
faculty Award
Dr. Ellis receives UF PHHP Alumni Award
Dr. Charles Ellis Jr, CEO Lab director received the 2023 UF College of Public Health and Health Professions Outstanding Alumni Award for Professional Achievement and Service.
faculty Award
Dr. Ellis receives UGA Alumni Award
Dr. Charles Ellis Jr., CEO Lab director received the 2024 UGA Mary Frances Early College Education Lifetime Achievement Research Award.
student Award
Undergraduate Student Wins Research Award
Trish-Ann Parkinson won 3rd place in the Undergraduate Research Presentation Category at the 2024 PHHP Research Day. Her presentation “Project B.L.A.C.K. Inclusiveness and Engagement with Cultural Diversity Among Black UF Students” was funded by an award from UF Research to Dr. Charles Ellis, PhD. Ms. Parkinson will graduate with a BHS in Communication Sciences and Disorders Spring 2024 and begin the MS program in Communication Sciences & Disorders at UF Fall 2024.
award
Lab Receives ASHA Editors Award
The CEO Lab received the 2023 Editor’s Award from the editor-in-chief and editors of Perspectives of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Special Interest Groups, an online peer reviewed journal. The team’s paper, “Disparities in Health Care Utilization Among Deaf and Hard of Hearing Adults.“
Scholarship
Elizabeth Evans Wins ASHA Foundation Scholarship
Elizabeth Evans, MS, a doctoral student in the Rehabilitation Science Program in the College Public Health and Health Professions was the recipient of a 2024 New Century Scholars Doctoral Scholarship. the $10,000 ASHFoundation scholarship supports promising doctoral candidates who will play a key role in communication sciences and disorders programs across the country.
Honor Society
Elizabeth Evans inducted into Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society
Elizabeth Evans, MS, a doctoral student in the Rehabilitation Science Program in the College Public Health and Health Professions was inducted into the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. The Bouchet Graduate Honor Society, is named after Edward Alexander Bouchet, the first African American to earn a doctorate degree (Ph.D. in Physics, Yale University, 1876). The honor society was established to recognize outstanding scholarly achievement and promote diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate
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