Professor | Special Officer
M.Sc | B.Sc
Roopa Nagarajan is a distinguished academician, researcher, and leader in the field of Speech Pathology and Audiology with over four decades of professional experience. Currently, she holds the position of Special Officer ( Administration) at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University) [SRIHER (DU)], while also serving as a Professor at the Faculty of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, a role she has held since 1998.
Before her current role, Roopa Nagarajan served as Registrar of SRIHER (DU) from February 2023 to February 2025, and as Registrar In-Charge from August 2022 to February 2023. Her administrative roles include serving as Academic Officer from August 2017 to February 2023 where her primary responsibilities included coordinating the university’s PhD program, and the support the development and revision of curricula to be approved by the university’s statutory bodies such as the BOS and Academic Council. She was earlier Chairperson of the Department of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences (1998–2018), and has numerous leadership positions focused on advancing educational and clinical service delivery in the field
Roopa Nagarajan’s leadership in professional associations is notable. She has served as President of the Indian Speech and Hearing Association (ISHA) during 2008–2009 and President of the Indian Society of Cleft Lip and Palate & Craniofacial Anomalies in 2010–2011. She is currently Patron of the Indian Society of Cleft Lip and Palate & Craniofacial Anomalies. She contributed significantly as organizing secretary for the World Cleft Congress held in Chennai in 2017, underscoring her global influence.
Her academic journey is marked by strong educational foundations: she holds a Master of Science (M.S.) in Speech Pathology and Audiology from the University of Hawaii, USA (1985), and both a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing from the University of Mysore, India (1980 and 1978, respectively). Additionally, she is a certified instructor of the renowned “Dangerous Decibels” program, reflecting her commitment to public awareness of hearing conservation.
Throughout her career, Roopa has played an instrumental role in shaping education, research, and clinical services in Speech and Hearing sciences in India She joined SRIHER in 1998 and spearheaded the establishment of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in Speech Pathology and Audiology, creating strong academic pipelines in these fields. She played a key role in developing the Newborn Hearing Screening Program, the Karthikeyan Child Development Centre, Vidya Sudha (an early intervention center for children with special needs), and the cochlear implant program at the University. In 2023, she was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her services to SRIHER at the Founder’s day.
Her role on various academic and professional advisory boards, including former Expert Committee member of the Rehabilitation Council of India, and is currently International Advisor for Circle of Cleft Professionals ,Transforming Cleft Canada and serves on the advisory board member of Dr. Sri Chandrashekar Institute of Speech and Hearing in Bangalore, highlights her international impact in the field.
Roopa has published over 32 research papers in areas work spanning newborn hearing screening, cleft lip and palate management, tele-audiology, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children and community based rehabilitation. Her research consistently influences clinical practice and policy development in India and internationally. Roopa has over 200 professional presentations at national and international conferences, including 5 keynote addresses at major international forums. In 2023 she received the “Circle of Cleft Professionals award” for the best paper the 14th international Congress of Cleft Lip Palate and Craniofacial anomalies
Roopa has led several high-impact funded projects, most notably a Community based comprehensive cleft care Project, which focuses individuals with cleft lip and palate in rural communities. Her role as lead PI and now as advisor in the in this multi-phase project, funded by Transforming cleft, Canada, with grants totaling over 4.5 crores has been internationally recognized . Roopa Nagarajan was also the Director of the Smile Train Speech Training Initiative (SRUSTI) at Sri Ramachandra University, a a pioneering program dedicated to capacity building in cleft lip and palate speech services across India.
Her other projects reflect a strong focus on tele-audiology, aimed at bridging gaps in hearing healthcare delivery across rural and remote areas in India. She was co-investigator on pioneering telemedicine approaches for identifying middle ear disorders and managing pediatric hearing screening through satellite connectivity and tele-diagnostic auditory brainstem response (ABR). Her studies on tele-audiology’s effectiveness have been published in prestigious journals, advancing the field’s adoption of technology-driven solutions.
Her contributions to neurodevelopmental research include longitudinal studies on speech-language development in preterm children, supported by ICMR grants, further contributing to understanding the developmental trajectories of vulnerable populations.
Roopa’s professional excellence is recognized through several honors and awards. These include the Bharath Award at the Indian Speech and Hearing Association Conference (2018), the Braithwaite Oration Award by the Indian Society of Cleft Lip Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies (2016), and the Dr. Rathna Oration Award at the 39th Indian Speech and Hearing Association Conference (2007). Early in her career, she was awarded the prestigious East-West Center Open Grant Award by the University of Hawaii (1983–1985).
Roopa Nagarajan remains a proactive leader, educator, and researcher, continuously striving to improve the quality of education, service delivery, and research in Speech Pathology and Audiology. Her career embodies a of blend of academic excellence, innovative research, public service, and international collaboration, making a lasting impact on healthcare and academic landscapes in India and beyond.
MS (Audiology and Speech Language Pathology) University of Hawaii USA 1985
M.Sc (Speech and Hearing) University of Mysore, India 1980
B.Sc (Speech and Hearing) University of Mysore, India 1978
Funding source Transforming Cleft, Canada.
Ongoing since 2005 ( 8 phases)
Project has completed 20 years of service to over 750 individuals with cleft from three rural communities in Tamil Nadu.
Grant amount over 4,5 crores.
Roopa Nagarajan, , Abera B , Azunna C , Getnet N , Mlombwa D , Osario C , Prasad M , Daftari N, Brewster H , Sweeney T “Parent/Caregiver Engagement Solutions to Extend Comprehensive Cleft Care(CCC) in Low and Middle Income Countries During the Pandemic and Beyond” Circle of Clef Professionals award at Cleft 2022 , Edinburgh 2022
Akilan Rajendran, Vidya Ramkumar, Roopa Nagarajan “Utility of mobile phone based video otoscope in a community based Programme for individuals with cleft lip and palate” Best Poster award at 15thINDOCLEFTCON, Chandigarh 2016.
Jeba Renita, Subramaniyan B, Syed Altaf Hussain, Roopa Nagarajan ”Biofeedback therapy using video nasoendoscopy in individuals with repaired cleft & palate following VPI correction (Preliminary report)”, Best Poster award at 15th INDOCLEFTCON, Chandigarh 2016.
Roopa Nagarajan, Subramaniyan B, Savitha V .H “Development & validation of resource material on principles of speech therapy for individuals with cleft lip palate” Best paper award at 15th INDOCLEFTCON, Chandigarh 2016.
Roopa Nagarajan, Vidya Ramkumar, Vanaja C.S, James W. Hall “Tele-auditory brainstem response for diagnostic testing screening program” Best paper award at Sound Hearing 2015, Delhi 2015.
Roopa Nagarajan, Vidya Ramkumar, Subramaniyan B “Development and implementation of E technology for management of projects for persons with communication disorders in rural areas(Empower)” Best paper (Runner up) award at Sound Hearing 2015, Delhi 2015.
Febi Dhas, Roopa Nagarajan, Subramaniyan B, Vidya Ramkumar “Implementation of E-technology formanagement of projects for persons with communication disorders in rural areas” Best paper award at TELEMEDICON 2014, Bhopal2014.
Aishwarya Nallamuthu, Heramba Ganapathy, Roopa Nagarajan, Prakash Kandaswamy “NewbornHearing Screening Program: One year review “Dr. Muktesh award for the best paper in Audiology” ” at45th ISHACON, Chennai 2013.
Jayashree Seethapathy, Heramba Ganapathy, Aishwarya Nallamauthu, Roopa Nagarajan, PraveshSampath “Association between high risk factors and initial screening results in newborn hearingscreening” “SVV Dayalan Sameul award for the best paper in Audiology” at 45thISHACON, Chennai 2013.
Roopa Nagarajan, Subramaniyan B, Vidya Ramkumar, Pravesh C Sampat “E-technology for themanagement of projects for Individuals with communication disorders in rural areas (EMPOWER)””Best Paper Award” at TELEMEDICON 2012, Coimbatore2012.
Roopa Nagarajan, Vidya Ramkumar, Ramya Kapooria “Use of Multi frequency multicomponenttympanometry in the audiological profiling of Indian families with history of otosclerosis an exploratorystudy” “Dr. Dayalan Samuel award for best paper in audiology” at ISHACON 43, Kolkata India 2012
Roopa Nagarajan, Heramba Ganapathy, Vidya Ramkumar, Sharadha Neelakantan and Jayashree”Newborn hearing screening program in a tertiary care hospital – A 5 year review”. BestPoster award ISAM, Bhubaneswar 2010.
Roopa Nagarajan, Karthick Chandran, Delcy Janet, Sunitha, Karthu, Shruthi Ravi, Iera Kaul) “Development of Speech services in Thiruvannamalai: What do community workers know about cleftlip and palate?” Dr. Ragunathan Memorial Award for the best poster in Speech Pathology at 40thISHACON Calicut 2007.
S. Karthu, Roopa Nagarajan, Vidya Ramkumar “A Profile of attributes of Tinnitus among individualswith Tinnitus”, Dr. N.R. Choudhery Memorial Award for best poster in Audiology at 38th ISHACON Ahmedabad 2006.