[American Speech-Language-Hearing Association](https://www.asha.org)

April 15, 2026 (Nomination deadline for Frank R. Kleffner Lifetime Clinical Career Award)

No monetary award; recipient receives a commemorative art object and recognition plaque.

Recognizes individuals with at least 20 years of outstanding contributions to clinical excellence in communication sciences and disorders.

--- ## Description The Frank R. Kleffner Lifetime Clinical Career Award honors individuals who have made exemplary, sustained contributions to the field of communication sciences and disorders for at least 20 years. The award recognizes significant achievements in clinical service, supervision, administration, clinical research, or activities that have notably advanced the quality of clinical care in audiology and/or speech-language pathology. The award is given in memory of Frank R. Kleffner, a leader and past president of the ASHFoundation and ASHA, whose legacy is celebrated through this recognition of transformative clinical impact. --- ## Due Dates - April 15, 2026: Nomination deadline for Frank R. Kleffner Lifetime Clinical Career Award --- ## Funding Amount - This is an honorary award. Recipients receive a commemorative art object with a recognition plaque. - No direct monetary prize or research funding is provided. --- ## Eligibility - Nominees may be based anywhere in the world. - Must have demonstrated outstanding contributions to clinical practice in communication sciences and disorders for a minimum of 20 years. - Contributions should have significantly affected recipients of service, and must have altered or accelerated the quality of clinical care in audiology and/or speech-language pathology. - Nominees do not need to be members of a professional association but should exemplify the ideals of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and its advocacy for effective human communication. --- ## Application Process - Nominations must be submitted online using the Nomination and Summary Form. - Required materials: - **Nomination and Summary Form** (online): Includes contact information for nominee and nominator, and a brief summary statement (three sentences or fewer) highlighting the nominee’s achievements. - **Nomination Document** (one PDF, max 15 pages, single-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins): - **Nomination Narrative** (max 5 pages): - Education and Career Summary (including academic/professional honors) - Specific Contributions and Significance (detailed description of clinical impact) - **Case for Support** (max 10 pages): At least three letters of recommendation from professionals in the field and, if appropriate, from service recipients or their families. - **Nominee’s vita** (optional; not counted in the 15-page limit, but recommended) - All sections must be compiled into a single PDF and uploaded during the nomination process. - Absence of any required information will result in disqualification. --- ## Additional Information - The award is presented annually. - Past recipients have included leading clinicians, researchers, and educators whose work has had a transformative impact on the field. - See the [recipients page](https://www.ashfoundation.org/apply/frank-kleffner-lifetime-clinical-career-award-recipients/) for examples of previous honorees and their contributions. --- ## External Links - [Award Program Page](https://www.ashfoundation.org/apply/frank-kleffner-lifetime-clinical-career-award) - [ASHFoundation Main Page](https://www.ashfoundation.org) - [Past Recipients](https://www.ashfoundation.org/apply/frank-kleffner-lifetime-clinical-career-award-recipients/) - [Funder Homepage](https://www.asha.org) --- ## Contact Information | Type | Details | |--------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | Phone | 800-638-8255 | | Contact Page | [ASHA Contact Form](https://www.asha.org/contact) | ---

Frank R. Kleffner Lifetime Clinical Career Award

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