Guests: Catriona Steele, PhD, CCC-SLP, S-LP(C), Reg. CASLPO, F-ESSD, ASHA Honors, and John Ashford, PhD, CCC-SLP

Hosted by: Mary Beth Hines, MS, CCC-SLP, RYT® 200, and Christina Liem, MS, CCC-SLP

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/dysphagia-with

Join host Mary Beth Hines and co-host Christina Liem in this special episode of the 'Keys for SLPs Learning from Legends' series, celebrating ASHA's 100th anniversary. This episode features interviews with renowned professionals, Dr. John Ashford and Dr. Catriona Steele. They share their incredible journeys in the field of speech-language pathology, the evolution of treatments for swallowing disorders, and groundbreaking research. Learn about the significant advances in dysphagia assessment, the pivotal role of instrumental tools, and the importance of standardized protocols. Discover fascinating insights into the future of the field, including the impacts of oral hygiene on overall health and the need for better education for upcoming SLPs. Perfect for both seasoned professionals and those new to the field, this episode is packed with invaluable knowledge and advice.

Episode Timeline:

00:00 Introduction and Disclosures

00:54 Meet the Guests: Dr. John Ashford and Dr. Catriona Steele

03:25 Fun Facts About Our Guests

07:05 Journey into Speech-Language Pathology

14:34 Evolution of Swallowing Disorder Treatments

21:30 Pivotal Research in Dysphagia

28:40 Pivotal Publications in Dysphagia Research

31:49 The Role of Aspiration in Pneumonia

33:23 Oral Hygiene and Systemic Health

37:32 Future Research Directions in Dysphagia

51:06 Significant Changes in Dysphagia Assessment

58:14 Advice for Aspiring Speech-Language Pathologists

01:02:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

About the Guests:

Catriona M. Steele is a clinician scientist working on swallowing and swallowing disorders. She has a background as a medical speech-language pathologist. She 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 and holds a Canada Research Chair in Swallowing and Food Oral Processing. Professor Steele holds research funding from the National Institutes of Health (USA) and maintains several active industry partnerships. A full list of her publications can be accessed at https://www.orcid.org/0000-0002-4294-6561. She was a founding member of the Board of Directors for the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (www.iddsi.org) and served on their board from 2012 to 2023. Catriona recently served as the 2024-2025 President of the Dysphagia Research Society.

John R. Ashford, Ph.D., is Education Director and co-owner of SA Swallowing Services, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. He is a Navy Veteran, a retired Medical Speech-Language Pathologist for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and previously served as a tenured Associate Professor at Tennessee State University, adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and guest professor at Dar Al-Hekma University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He has been published and a member of ASHA for 58 years. Professional interests include understanding factors associated with pneumonia development in patients with dysphagia, and educating and training providers of FEES services.