We are delighted to announce that Dr. Nidhi Mahendra has been appointed as the new Speech and Language Pathology (SLP) Co-Chief of the clinical department of Speech and Audiology of Duke University Hospital (DUH), and Co-Chief of the Division of Communication Sciences in the Duke Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, effective October 1, 2024. She will participate in a shared leadership structure with Dr. Sherri Smith, who provides institutional leadership for Audiology.
Dr. Mahendra was a tenured Professor in the Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences at San José State University and is a renowned expert in speech-language pathology. She has a distinguished academic and professional career spanning over two decades. Dr. Mahendra received her Ph.D. in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences from the University of Arizona, and her master’s (in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology) and bachelor’s degrees (in Speech and Hearing Sciences) from the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), respectively. She has been a faculty member in the California State University system since 2005, first at CSU East Bay and then at San José State University since 2016. She is a California-licensed and nationally certified speech-language pathologist who has worked with diverse populations in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and community clinics.
Dr. Mahendra’s clinical and research interests include Dementia and Aphasia, Healthy Aging, Health Equity in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology service delivery, and Palliative Care. At SJSU, she founded and directed the Spartan Aphasia Research Clinic (SPARC), a community-based program providing evidence-based intervention and support services to persons with aphasia and their families. She served as Associate Director and core faculty member of the interdisciplinary Center for Healthy Aging in Multicultural Populations (CHAMP), a research and outreach initiative promoting health and well-being among older adults from diverse backgrounds. She recently co-founded the Healthy Development Community Clinic, a community-nested, interprofessional clinic providing speech pathology, audiology, mental health and wellness services to an underserved community in San Jose.
Dr. Mahendra has an impressive record of scholarly productivity and external funding. She has published over 65 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings, and has presented her work at national and international venues, including at the National Institutes of Health. She is the incoming Vice President for Science and Research on the Board of Directors of the American Speech Language Hearing Association. She has received numerous awards and grants from the United States Department of Health Services, the California Department of Health Services, the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Speech Language Hearing Association and multiple private foundations including the El Camino Hospital and Healthcare District, the Gary and Mary West Foundation, The California Wellness Foundation, and the Masonic Homes of California.
In her new roles, Dr. Mahendra will oversee the academic, clinical, and administrative aspects of speech-language pathology, working closely with faculty, staff, students, and community partners to advance the mission and vision of the HNS&CS department and health system. She will continue to teach, mentor, and conduct research in her areas of expertise. We are confident that Dr. Mahendra will bring her passion, dedication, and innovation to this position and lead the division to new heights of excellence and impact.
Please join us in congratulating her on this new role and welcoming her to the Duke Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences and the DUH Speech and Audiology leadership team.
We would also like to recognize and thank Dr. Sherri Smith for her tremendous support and interim leadership of the SLP team over the past several months, and to the many senior members of the Speech and Audiology team who contributed to the continued delivery of excellent care during a time of reflection and transition.