3 Questions with Dr Li-rong Lilly Cheng, PhD, CCC-SLP

SALTS and the Society for Audiology Professionals (SAPS) had the honour of hosting esteemed speech & language pathologist (SLP), Dr. Li-rong Lilly Cheng.

We sat down to ask her three questions about her experiences as an SLP.

SALTS: Hi Dr Cheng! You've had an amazing career as a clinician, researcher, educator and consultant. What are three things you love most about our profession?

Dr Cheng: The first is, human communication provides such challenges for me every single day.

The second is, we are making a difference in the lives of so many, from a baby all the way to 120. We must continue to be stimulated by that.

And number three, the fact that I am multicultural, multilingual, makes me a very happy person.

SALTS: Our profession is one of the 'giving professions', which can often lead to us feeling fatigued and burnt out. So what keeps you going?

Dr Cheng: We give a lot. The more we give, the more we get. We need to think, rather than just giving, we need to replenish ourselves with new ideas, curiosity, and always understand that you are the changemaker.

SALTS: What do you hope for the future of speech pathology in Asia?

Dr Cheng: In Asia, I hope our speech pathologists and audiologists, those who work with people with communication challenges, will understand that this is a calling for all of us. And in the future, we hope to improve human communication for our understanding of how we get to where we are today, and it is important that our mission is human communication as a human rights issue.

SALTS: Bonus Question! What are you most excited about with regards to having the APSSLH conference in Singapore?

Dr Cheng: I am most excited to have the conference in Singapore because of Singapore. You need to know who you are. You are the fusion, a place where many cultures and many peoples get together. Work it out so that you have a mosaic that is the most beautiful. I think Singapore is so unique in that way, and I hope everybody will come and see Singapore.

*****

Dr. Li-Rong Lilly Cheng, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a renowned speech-language pathologist and expert in multicultural communication. A professor at San Diego State University (SDSU), she directed the Chinese Cultural Center and Confucius Institute. She has led major professional organizations including the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)’s Multicultural Issues Board as well as the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP). She currently sits on the Advisory Board for APSSLH.

Widely honored for her advocacy and research, Dr. Cheng has received ASHA Honors, the Multicultural Affairs Award, and numerous humanitarian and academic awards. She has consulted for Sesame Street and Tiffany & Co., and remains a prominent voice in global conversations on language, culture, and education.