Nov 25, 2025
- Kathy Chapman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, received the highest honor from the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association for her outstanding contributions to research, teaching, and service.
- Her NIH-funded research has improved understanding of speech and surgical outcomes for children with cleft palate.
Kathy Chapman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Utah, was recognized with the Honors of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) at the association’s annual meeting this past spring. This prestigious award is the highest honor bestowed by the ACPA and acknowledges individuals who have made exceptional contributions to cleft and craniofacial care through research, teaching, and service.
A longtime leader in the field, Chapman’s career has focused on speech and language development in children with cleft lip and palate and other craniofacial conditions. Her research, funded by the NIH, has advanced understanding of treatment outcomes across multiple aspects of cleft care. She is the principal investigator for a longitudinal multidisciplinary study of speech and surgical outcomes in the US which enrolled over 1,200 children from 16 children’s hospitals. This is the largest study children with cleft palate in the US and the first Cleft Outcomes Registry/Research NETwork (CORNET).
In addition to her research, Chapman she has mentored countless students and clinician-researchers over her career. She has been an active member of the ACPA for many years, helping to shape the association’s mission to improve interdisciplinary care and patient outcomes through research. Her recognition with the ACPA Honors reflects a career marked by excellence, collaboration, and a deep commitment to improving the lives of children and families affected by cleft and craniofacial conditions.
