Suzanne Spink is a specialist speech and language therapist in neurosurgery and oncology at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, where she has led SLT support for neurosurgical patients since 2004. With 30 years of experience across major neurosurgical centres, she has played a key role in shaping SLT involvement in awake craniotomy in the UK.
Suzanne is a member of the European Low Grade Glioma Network and contributes to an international research group focused on language assessment in awake surgery. She regularly participates in European awake surgery forums alongside SLTs, neuropsychologists, linguists and neurosurgeons to help align practice and share emerging evidence.
Nationally, Suzanne has contributed to advancing professional understanding of the SLT role in awake craniotomy, informing service development, clinical training and collaborative working. She continues to champion education and exposure for students and newly qualified therapists, supporting opportunities to observe theatre procedures and deepen knowledge of language mapping.
