Dr. Margarita Kilili-Lesta | Health Professions | Best Researcher Award

European University Cyprus | Cyprus

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🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Margarita Kilili-Lesta's academic journey began at The Grammar School in Nicosia, where she laid the foundation for her lifelong dedication to health sciences. Her pursuit of higher education took her from Cyprus College to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, where she double-majored in Communicative Disorders and Psychology with academic distinction, supported by a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship. She advanced her specialization with a Master’s degree in Communicative Disorders: Speech-Language Pathology at San Diego State University, excelling in bilingual research and clinical application. Her scholarly path culminated in a Ph.D. in Public Health from European University Cyprus, where she undertook a nationally recognized study on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children.

🧑‍🏫 Professional Endeavors

With over two decades of professional experience across the U.S. and Cyprus, Dr. Kilili-Lesta has worked in both academic and clinical capacities. From being a Speech-Language Pathologist in San Diego to teaching Speech-Language Therapy at EUC, she has been a dynamic contributor in multiple roles—educator, clinical supervisor, researcher, and public health advocate. Her contributions at institutions like the Ministry of Education, Sport, and Youth and AKTIdA Autism Support Centre underscore her commitment to inclusive education and community care.

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus

Dr. Kilili-Lesta’s research bridges the critical intersection of speech-language pathology, public health, and autism. Her doctoral work led to the development of a parent-report tool for identifying minimally verbal children with ASD—a pioneering initiative for Cyprus. Her scholarly output includes studies on gesture-based early prediction, language development in ASD, and the efficacy of augmentative communication systems. Additionally, she has actively explored the benefits of telepractice, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, transforming therapy delivery and education.

🏅 Accolades and Recognition

Her excellence has been recognized through numerous awards and scholarships, including the Phi Beta Delta Scholarship, SDSU Memorial Scholarships, and the CASP Fulbright Grant. She has also served in leadership roles, such as Secretary of the Special Education Committee of Nicosia District, representing speech-language pathologists at the ministry level.

🌐 Impact and Influence

Dr. Kilili-Lesta’s influence spans multiple sectors: she trains future therapists, guides families of children with autism, and shapes national screening and intervention tools. Through her affiliation with international associations like ASHA and IALP, and her contribution to the iCommunicate Research Center, her work resonates globally. Her initiatives in telepractice and digital learning have set new standards for accessibility in therapy and education.

🧬 Legacy and Future Contributions

With a growing list of high-impact publications and ongoing collaboration in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, Dr. Kilili-Lesta is paving the way for enhanced diagnostic accuracy and evidence-based interventions in ASD. Her future endeavors aim to further refine early screening tools, develop inclusive therapy protocols, and promote culturally relevant research methodologies. Her legacy is not only one of academic rigor but also of compassionate service to marginalized populations.

Publications

• 📄 The Childhood Prevalence, Gender Ratio, and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Cyprus Using School Report: A Cross-Sectional Study
  Authors: Margarita Kilili-Lesta, Konstantinos Giannakou, Louiza Voniati
  Journal: Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  Year: 2025

• 📄 Early Development Score as a Prognostic Factor in Nonverbal/Minimally Verbal Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Matched Case-Control Study in Cyprus
  Authors: Margarita Kilili-Lesta, Konstantinos Giannakou, Louiza Voniati
  Journal: Autism & Developmental Language Impairments
  Year: 2024

• 📄 The Communication Patterns Between Speech–Language Therapists and Parents/Guardians of Children with Developmental Language Disorders in Private Speech–Language Therapy in Cyprus
  Authors: Louiza Voniati, Spyros Armostis, Margarita Kilili-Lesta, Dionysios Tafiadis, Konstantinos Giannakou
  Journal: Languages
  Year: 2023

• 📄 Early Gesture as a Predictor of Later Language Outcome for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Systematic Literature Review
  Authors: Margarita Kilili-Lesta, Louiza Voniati, Konstantinos Giannakou
  Journal: Current Developmental Disorders Reports
  Year: 2022

• 📄 Speech-Language Therapy Clinical Services, Student Education, and Practical Training in the Time of COVID-19: The Rise of Telepractice, Telesupervision, and Distance Learning in Cyprus
  Author: Margarita Kilili-Lesta
  Journal: Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups
  Year: 2021