Dr. Howard Shane is the Director of the Center for Communication Enhancement at Boston Children’s Hospital. Known internationally for his work in creating communication procedures and technology applications for persons with complex communication disorders, Dr. Shane joined Boston Children’s Hospital as an Associate Scientist in Otolaryngology back in 1977. He designed a communication device for children with cerebral palsy in 1969 and has been doing this line of work ever since.

As Director of the Center for Communication Enhancement, Dr. Shane oversees the clinical and research operations of six programs housed within the Center, which is dedicated to providing evaluation, consultative, and therapeutic services to patients who experience difficulties associated with communication. Under his leadership, Dr. Shane has been responsible for taking each of the six programs and turning them into multi-faceted, extensive services that are changing the lives of countless families. Additionally, under his direction, faculty from these programs are teaching the next generation of clinicians and frequently contributing to research literature.