I first met Steve in March 2013 in Seattle at the annual Dysphagia Research Society (DRS) meeting. I had recently been elected President of the National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders. Over the next few years we emailed back and forth a few times. What jumped out at me was his energy, passion, enthusiasm, advocacy, and champion of all things dysphagia. I admit, I was a bit in awe of him… past President of DRS, Yale, respected clinician and researcher, and the commander of his own life. We didn’t spend much time together, but speaking for myself and others in the foundation, he will be missed.
— Ed Steger
Following is an announcement from DRS on his untimely passing…
The Society would like to extend its deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and close friends of Dr. Steven Leder who passed away on Monday May 16, 2016. His contributions to the field of dysphagia were numerous and remarkable. We are grateful for his thought-provoking discussions which encouraged us all to think critically about dysphagia practice.
A memorial fund has been established to support his ongoing research collaborations with both the speech-language pathologists and the residents at Yale. Donations can be made to the Yale School of Medicine, Steven B. Leder Memorial Fund. Checks should be sent to 800 Howard Ave., 4th Floor, Room 422. Donations are tax-deductible; individuals who donate will receive a tax deduction letter.
Steven B. Leder, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Professor, Dept. of Surgery, Section of Otolaryngology, received his doctorate in speech-language pathology from the University of Connecticut in 1983. Dr. Leder was the research speech-language pathologist on the first single-channel cochlear implant project in the nation at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, West Haven, CT, from 1983-1986. He worked at Yale-New Haven Hospital before accepting an academic appointment at Yale University School of Medicine in 1991. Dr. Leder published extensively in the areas of dysphagia diagnostics and rehabilitation, head and neck cancer, voice restoration with tracheoesophageal prostheses, and tracheotomy and ventilator dependency.