Cheria Jannell Hay, M.S., CCC-SLP is a licensed medical speech-language pathologist with over 20 years of clinical experience across acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient settings. She holds a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the Medical University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of South Carolina.
Cheria has extensive expertise in the assessment and treatment of adults with traumatic brain injury, stroke, dysphagia, voice and motor speech disorders, Parkinson’s disease (including certification in LSVT LOUD®), aphasia, and cognitive-communication impairments. She also specializes in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders, and incorporates respiratory muscle strength training (RMST) as part of a comprehensive dysphagia management approach.
Most recently, Cheria served as a Clinical Professor in the College of Health and Sciences at North Carolina Central University, where she mentored graduate students and supported their clinical training. Her academic role deepened her passion for clinical teaching, community outreach, group therapy models, and applied clinical research.
Cheria’s treatment philosophy centers on empowering individuals and their families through education, recognizing its essential role in recovery, quality of life, and the aging process.
She has previously served as a board member for the Triangle Aphasia Project and remains actively involved in advocacy and education within the field.
A proud native of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Cheria is a descendant of the Gullah-Geechee people. She is deeply committed to preserving and sharing the rich cultural heritage of her community.