Munroe-Meyer Institute
UNMC_Acronym_Vert_sm_4c
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Susan Fager, PhD, CCC-SLP

Scottish Rite Associate Professor
Director, MMI Department of Speech-Language Pathology
Speech-Language Pathologist

402-559-0426

Susan Fager, PhD, CCC-SLP

Susan Fager, PhD, CCC-SLP is the Scottish Rite Associate Professor and Director of the Speech-Language Pathology Department at the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute. Prior to joining MMI, she served as Director of the Communication Center of Excellence in the Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals.

Fager has clinical and research background in Augmentative and Alternative Communication, and Motor Speech Disorders. Her current research focuses on the development and clinical evaluation of new and emerging alternative access methods to AAC as well as the development of apps to support training and clinical decision-making for AAC and assistive technology practitioners. She has established clinical and research relationships with individuals who use AAC and their families, academic partners, and AAC and assistive technology industry partners to address AAC topics across the lifespan.

Fager has published numerous papers and book chapters and presented nationally and internationally on AAC. She has received collaborative funding through the National Institutes of Health; National Science Foundation; National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research; and the American Speech-Language Hearing Foundation to support her research in AAC.

  • PhD: Human Sciences with a specialization in Communication Disorders - University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2008.
  • MS: Speech-Language Pathology - University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1997.
  • BS: Speech-Language Pathology - University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1995.

Specialty Certifications

  • American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Certificate of Clinical Competence.
  • Nebraska state licensed speech-language pathologist.

Fager provides patient care services at the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute Department of Speech-Language Pathology.

Clinic Location: Munroe-Meyer Institute

Google Scholar Profile

  • Light, J., Fager, S. K., Gormley, J., Hyatt, G. W., & Jakobs, E. (2025). Dismantling societal barriers that limit people who need or use AAC: lived experiences, key research findings, and future directions. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2508490
  • Koester, H., Koch Fager, S., Gormley, J., Jakobs, E., Johnsen, K., & Brumberg, J. (2025). Supporting effective alternative access for individuals with physical disabilities: state of the science, emerging technologies, and future research directions. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2499676
  • Murtaugh B, Morrissey AM, Fager S, Knight HE, Rushing J, & Weaver J. (2024). Music, occupational, physical, and speech therapy interventions for patients in disorders of consciousness: An umbrella review. NeuroRehabilitation, 54, 109-127. DOI:10.3233/NRE-230149.
  • Murtaugh B, Fager S, Sorenson T. (2024). Emergence from disorders of consciousness: Optimizing self-agency through communication. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Clinics, 35(1), 175-191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmr.2023.07.002.
  • Koester HH, Fager SK, Sorenson T, Jakob, E. (2023). Designing an app for alternative access assessments: Using interviews to uncover and define user needs. Assistive Technology. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400435.2023.2213749. 

  • UNMC PM&R Didactic- Translational Research in PM&R, Qualitative and Small N Research in Clinical Practice, Fall 2021.

  • UNMC PM&R Didactic- Translational Research in PM&R, Qualitative and Small N Research in Clinical Practice, Fall 2020.

  • UNMC PM&R Didactic- Translational Research in PM&R Part 2, UNMC, Fall 2019.

  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication.
  • Assistive Technology.
  • Motor Speech Disorders.
  • American Speech Language and Hearing Association’s Fellowship of the Association, 2021.
  • daVinci Award in Communication/Educational Aid for Supplemented Speech Recognition, Jakobs, Hosom & Fager, 2011.
  • American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
  • International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication.
Speech-Language Pathology Department

University of Nebraska Medical Center
Munroe-Meyer Institute
985450 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5450

Clinic Appointments

Child using hand at mouth to form sounds in speech-language therapy session, Adobe Stock.
Department Services

Explore programs and services available through MMI's Department of Speech-Language Pathology.