Distinguished ProfessorMaggie-Lee Huckabee

Dist. Prof Maggie-Lee Huckabee practiced as a clinical speech language pathologist for 18 years before the frustration of never knowing ‘the answers’ led her to an academic career. She is the Founder of the University of Canterbury Rose Centre for Stroke Recovery and Research and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychology, Speech and Hearing in Christchurch, New Zealand. She still hasn’t found ‘The Answers’ but is trying, with research interests focusing on the complexities of behaviorally-driven neural adaptation and biomechanical change leading to swallowing recovery following neurological injury. In her 25-year academic career, Prof Huckabee has co-authored three books, one in its 3rd edition, 15 book chapters and has published 130 peer reviewed scientific papers. A recent research programme has resulted in a regional reduction in pneumonia rates from 27 to 10%, with a subsequent savings in health care costs for the health system of over $1.4 million in one year. For this research, she was awarded one of the top research medals from the University of Canterbury – The Innovation Medal, was a finalist for the NZ Women of Influence Award in Science and Innovation and nominated for New Zealander of the Year in the Innovation category. Prof Huckabee is committed to translational science to move research discoveries into routine clinical practice. As such, she is the recent founder of Swallowing Technologies Ltd, a commercial enterprise to translate laboratory developed technology to clinical care. She is well known as a clinical teacher and is an invited speaker by health systems worldwide to provide clinical training, particularly in rehabilitation practices.