Ann Kummer steps down after 36 years leading Speech-Language Pathology
Ann Kummer, PhD, CCC-SLP, stepped down as senior director of the Division of Speech-Language Pathology, effective September 1, after leading the division for 36 years.
Kummer joined the division in 1976 as a speech pathologist, at a time when it had just three pathologists. She was named director in 1981 and senior director in 2005. She is also professor of Clinical Pediatrics and professor of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.
Under her leadership, the Division of Speech-Language Pathology has grown to be the largest and one of the most respected pediatric speech-language pathology programs in the United States, with a clinical staff of about 130.
What sets the division apart is not just its size, Kummer explains, but the fact that it has evolved from a staff of generalists to a staff of specialists. All of the division’s speech pathologists have expertise in a particular practice area so that “every child who comes to us will be seen by a specialist in their disorder.”
Kummer’s own clinical practice focuses on cleft palate, craniofacial anomalies and velopharyngeal dysfunction. Others in the division specialize in autism, alternative/augmentative communication, brain injury, hearing loss and deafness, early language and literacy disorders, feeding and swallowing disorders, fluency disorders, psychiatric/language disorders and more.
Becky Reder, senior director, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, began working with Kummer when both were in their 20s. “It’s always been clear that Ann set her sights on excellence and worked non-stop to achieve it,” Reder says. “The passion that drove her was to be one of the best speech pathologists in the world in craniofacial anomalies and to lead a division to provide the best speech services to as many children as she and her division could possibly serve.”
A broader reach
Kummer also has made significant contributions through teaching, research and writing. She lectures nationally and internationally and teaches graduate courses in craniofacial anomalies at the University of Cincinnati, University of Kentucky, Miami University, St. Mary’s College (Indiana) and California State University, Santa Monica.
Her textbook, Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies: The Effects on Speech and Resonance, published in 2001, is in its 3rd edition. She’s currently working on the 4th edition. She has written numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and is one of the authors of a text on business practices for speech-language pathologists.
She is the co-developer of the Simplified Nasometric Assessment Procedures (SNAP) test and author of the SNAP-R that is incorporated with the Nasometer equipment. She holds a patent on the nasoscope, which is marketed as the Oral & Nasal Listener.
With Reder, she developed workflow software that won the 1995 International Beacon Award through IBM/Lotus. Derivative software is marketed by ChartLinks for use in rehabilitation facilities.
Kummer has received numerous local, state and national honors, including induction into the National Academy of Inventors, Cincinnati Chapter (2010); the Elwood Chaney Outstanding Clinician Award (Ohio Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2012); the Annie Glenn National Leadership Award (Ohio School Speech Pathology Educational Audiology Coalition, 2014); and the Media Outreach Champion award (American Speech-Language- Hearing Association, 2014). She will receive the Honors of the Association award, ASHA’s highest honor, in November.
Looking back over her 41 years at Cincinnati Children’s, Kummer says, “I’m most proud of developing a program that’s so well respected and that allowed us to attract stellar staff, who are experts in their field. I’m also proud of the textbook, which gave me the opportunity to travel all over the world to educate people. It’s been very rewarding to work in this field – a real treat.”
Kummer will remain active at Cincinnati Children’s. She plans to focus on teaching and writing and will continue to see patients part-time.
Candice Ganz, EdD, CCC-SLP, will succeed Kummer as clinical director of Speech-Language Pathology. She most recently served as associate director of the Institute on Development and Disability at Oregon Health and Science University. Her special interests include congenital brain anomalies, Down syndrome and assistive technology.
