Expert Presenters

Katie Allen, PhD, CCC-SLP, worked on the medical side of speech-language pathology (mostly in hospitals) before returning to get a PhD at the University of Nevada, Reno. Allen's research has focused on swallowing, voice, and motor speech disorders. Studies have included novel uses of biofeedback to improve outcomes, pharyngeal manometry, and the impact of high flow oxygenation systems on swallowing. Allen is co-owner of Summit Voice and Swallowing, located in Northern Nevada,; an affiliate of ASHA SIG 3 (Voice and Upper Airway Disorders) and SIG 13 (Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders), and a member of the Dysphagia Research Society. Allen recently attended the Summer Vocology Institute.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• ASHA SIG 13 affiliate
• Member of Dysphagia Research Society

Ed M. Bice, MEd, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist currently working as a Clinical Consultant for IOPI Medical. He has experience in various settings, including acute care, outpatient, home health, and skilled nursing. He has held various leadership positions such as a Regional Manager, Vice President of Clinical Services, and Chief Operating Officer. Ed has been a guest on national and international dysphagia podcasts, written blogs concerning dysphagia and dysphagia-related topics for Dysphagia Café, and published in peer-reviewed journals. As adjunct faculty, he teaches the swallowing course at the University of Maryland. Ed has been an invited speaker for university, state, and national conventions on various topics.

Financial Disclosures:

• Full-time salaried employee of IOPI Medical, LLC

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Giselle D. Carnaby, MPH, PhD, is Professor and Program Director in the Department of Health Sciences and Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA). She directs the Swallowing Research Laboratory and specializes in research epidemiology and biostatistics. Her research focus lies in the rehabilitation of swallowing disorders following Stroke and Head/Neck Cancer. Carnaby has published over 100 peer-reviewed publications and has been funded as PI on both NIH and American Cancer Society grants. She is a lifetime Research Scholar for the American Cancer Society. She holds both Fellow and Honors of ASHA.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation
• Employed by UTHSCSA
• Co-Founder of Florida Dysphagia Institute

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Kendrea L. Garand, PhD, CScD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CBIS, CCRE, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at the University of South Alabama. She is Coordinator for the PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders program and is the Founder and Principal Investigator of the Swallowing Disorders Initiative Research Laborarty. Her clinical and research interests surround swallowing function in healthy aging and in patients with motor neuron disease and sleep-related disorders. Her work has been supported by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, ASHFoundation, and University of South Alabama. Her peer-reviewed contributions can be found in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, Dysphagia, Muscle and Nerve, and Sleep and Breathing. Her dysphagia-related services include Editor for SIG 13 Perspectives and Vice Chairperson of the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders. She enjoys all things related to swallowing – both as a learner and as teacher!

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• ASHA member

Kellyn Hall, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a clinician, researcher, teacher, and author with over 30 years of experience working in a variety of medical settings. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at North Carolina Central University, where she teaches dysphagia and other medical speech-language pathology courses.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation
• Salary for employment at North Carolina Central University 

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• Member of ASHA, NBASLH, and the Dysphagia Research Society

Leslie W. Johnson, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at North Carolina Central University. Her research interest is in medical speech-language pathology, specifically related to adult neurogenics and the influences of cultural background. She has done research and clinical work with a variety of populations, including individuals with traumatic brain injury, stroke, dysphagia, artificial airway, and head and neck cancer.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation
• Salary for employment at North Carolina Central University 

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• ASHA member
• Emeritus member of the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina's Board of Directors

Gintas Krisciunas, MPH, MA, is a Research Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center. Gintas’ research focuses on clinical outcomes, with a particular focus on head and neck cancer treatment morbidity. His interdisciplinary research involves testing behavioral treatments for radiation-induced dysphagia, designing outcome measurement instruments, and creating/testing novel medical technologies related to surgical margin guidance and endoscopy. He has served as a PI, Co-I, or project manager on a number of NIH, PCORI, industry, and internally funded clinical research projects and serves as a member of the Boston University Medical Center IRB.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation
• Salary for employment from Boston University
• Ownership interest in Langmore FEES, LLC

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Susan E. Langmore, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, is Professor, Otolaryngology, Boston University School of Medicine. She recently moved back to San Francisco, where she limits her work to research, lecturing, teaching FEES courses, and contributing to several professional boards. She draws on many years of clinical practice and teaching as well her research accomplishments. Dr. Langmore is best known for developing the FEES procedure and for her work in aspiration pneumonia. Recently, she completed a clinical trial for treatment of dysphagia in head/neck cancer patients. She has been awarded both Fellow of ASHA and Honors of the Association.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Bonnie Martin-Harris, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, is the Alice Gabrielle Twight Professor in the Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs in the School of Communication, at Northwestern University. Her research interests include swallowing impairment, assessment, and treatment approaches for patients with head and neck cancer, neurologic, and pulmonary diseases. Martin-Harris’ research is funded by the NIH, Bracco Diagnostics, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Mark and Evelyn Trammell Foundation. She is a recipient of ASHA Honors of the Association award.

Financial Disclosures:

• Salary from Northwestern University and Veteran's Affair
• Royalties from Northern Speech Services and MUSC Foundation for Research Development
• Grants from NIH, Veteran's Affair, and Bracco Diagnostics

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• ASHA member
• Dysphagia Research Society member

Luis F. Riquelme, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, is an Associate Professor at NY Medical College and Director of the Center for Swallowing & SLP at NYP Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. Riquelme has authored articles on dysphagia, multiculturalism, and quality improvement. He has served on boards and committees, including as Chair of the American Board of Swallowing & Swallowing Disorders, Chair of the NYS Licensure Board, and Past President of NYSSLHA. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of IDDSI. He has presented locally and internationally. 

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• Board Member of International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI)

Renée Speyer, PhD, was appointed as Professor at the University of Oslo (UiO, Norway) in 2017 in recognition of her expertise in the illness trajectory of dysphagia. After graduating as a Dutch speech pathologist, she earned master's degrees in speech and language pathology, health professions education, and epidemiology. Currently, she is undertaking research projects both nationally and internationally involving clinimetrics, instrument development, and developing evidence-based interventions in allied health. As an epidemiologist, she has a strong interest in evaluating the validity and reliability of assessments and testing the efficacy of interventions. Speyer is a frequently invited speaker at international conferences and has published over 100 scientific internationally peer-reviewed articles. Since 2009, she has been an elected board member of the European Society for Swallowing Disorders (ESSD).

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• Board member of the European Society for Swallowing Disorders (ESSD)

Catriona M. Steele, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a professor and clinician scientist working in the area of swallowing and swallowing disorders. She has a background as a medical speech-language pathologist, and is Director of the Swallowing Rehabilitation Research Laboratory (www.steeleswallowinglab.ca) at the KITE Research Institute, the research arm of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – University Health Network. Dr. Steele is a Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Toronto.

Financial Disclosures:

• Salary from University Health Network, Toronto
• Grant funding from National Institutes of Health
• Financial compensation from ASHA for this and other presentations

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative board member
• Developer of the ASPEKT and ASPEKT-C Methods of Videofluoroscopy Analysis

Debra M. Suiter, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, is Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and Director of the Voice and Swallow Clinic at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Her research and clinical interests focus on the assessment of adults with swallowing disorders. She has co-authored two textbooks—Assessing and Treating Dysphagia: A Lifespan Perspective and The Yale Swallow Protocol: An Evidence-Based Approach to Decision Making—and numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts. Dr. Suiter is a board certified specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders and an ASHA Fellow.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation
• Royalties from Thieme Medical Publishers

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Rinki Varindani Desai, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS, CDP, is a medical speech-language pathologist, certified brain injury specialist, and dementia practitioner, specializing in the management of swallowing disorders in adults. She is currently the adult outpatient lead and a clinical instuctor in the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery in Jackson. She serves as Associate Coordinator of ASHA SIG 13, Co-Chair of the Dysphagia Research Society's COVID-19 Task Force, and is on ASHA's Scientific and Professional Education Board. She is the founder of the Medical SLP Forum Faceook group, co-founder of the Swallowing Training and Education Portal website, and co-creator of the Dysphagia Therapy mobile app. A winner of multiple ASHA ACE awards and alumni of ASHA's Leadership Development and Faculty Development Programs, Rinki has practiced for over a decade in acute, sub-acute, outpatient, and long-term health care settings across India and the United States. She has presented nationally and internationally and published on topics related to adult dysphagia. She enjoys reading, writing, traveling, cooking, and doing what she can to help advance the profession by paying it forward.

Financial Disclosures:

• Full-time salaried employee at University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• Associate Coordinator for ASHA SIG 13
• Member of ASHA Scientific and Professional Education Board
• Co-chair of Dysphagia Research Society's COVID-19 Task Force
• Co-founder of Swallowing Training and Education Portal

Alicia K. Vose, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Florida and Brooks Rehabilitation and has ~10 years of clinical experience specializing in dysphagia management in the acute care/ICU setting. She completed her PhD in Rehabilitation Science at University of Florida, where she investigated the role of kinematic biofeedback in dysphagia management and physiological mechanisms underlying normal and disordered airway protection. In her postdoctoral training, Dr. Vose maintains a strong commitment to clinical research and focuses on the development of rehabilitation strategies for impairments in swallowing and respiration. Currently, she is investigating the effects of acute intermittent hypoxia and respiratory strength training to enhance breathing and swallowing in individuals with neurologic injury as well as the effects of diaphragm stimulation on respiratory neural drive and function.

Financial Disclosures:

• Salary from the University of Florida

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None