Celebrating 50 years of Speech and Language Therapy at The University of Manchester

Description

A special event marking 50 years of innovation, influence, teaching and professional development in speech and language therapy was held on Wednesday 10th June 2026 at The Christie.

 

Speech and language therapists work in partnership with individuals experiencing speech, language and communication needs, as well as eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. Since its foundation in 1975, The University of Manchester’s Speech and Language Therapy programme has played a key role in shaping the profession regionally, nationally and internationally.

 

Bringing together past and present

The celebration brought together current staff and students alongside alumni, guest lecturers, practice educators and colleagues from Audiology who have contributed to the programme over the years.

Attendees heard from a range of speakers reflecting the breadth and legacy of the programme, including:

• Dr Catherine Adams (née Duxbury), retired Clinical Senior Lecturer

• Rachel Starkey, Clinical Placement Lead

• Dr Sean Pert, Senior Clinical Lecturer and Past Chair of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)

• Carly Hartshorn, Clinical Lecturer

• Dr Alexandra Sturrock, Clinical Lecturer

• Molly Smithies, current Year 3 student

• Dr Krystina Stanwy, Director of Professional Development at RCSLT

   

Honouring the programme’s origins

Cathy Adams, alumna and retired Clinical Senior Lecturer, reflected on her experiences during the early years of the programme and paid tribute to its founders. Pioneers such as Betty Byers Brown, Elspeth McCartney, Jenny Warner and Barbara Kellett were recognised for their central role in establishing the honours degree and influencing the development of the profession.

 

Growth, diversity and student experience

Rachel Starkey provided an overview of the current programme, highlighting key developments in recent years. Student numbers have grown from around 20 in the 1970s to approximately 60 per year today, alongside a welcome increase in student diversity.

Molly Smithies offered a contemporary student perspective, sharing insights into life on the programme and studying at Manchester in 2026.

 

Global influence and professional leadership

The event was also attended by Kamini Gadhok MBE, former Chief Executive Officer of RCSLT and a 1983 alumna of the programme. Kamini continues to represent the speech and language therapy profession internationally, including at the World Health Organization, in her role as President Elect of the International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders (IALP).

 

Looking ahead

Staff, students and alumni associated with The University of Manchester continue to lead the speech and language therapy profession through research, the development of assessments, evidence-based interventions, and advocacy for service users.

As the programme celebrates this significant milestone, it looks ahead to building on its legacy over the next 50 years.

 

This article was written by Dr Sean Pert. 

 

Minor edits and proof-reading for this article we completed by Microsoft Co-Pilot.