Three head and neck cancer specialists from coast-to-coast share insights that may challenge some traditional dysphagia management approaches. Dr. Carly Barbon (MD Anderson), Dr. Mario Landera (University of Miami), and Dr. Heather Starmer (Stanford) discuss why functional goals are important with this population, the critical importance of shared decision-making, and how quality of life factors like depression and mental health should weigh in for clinical decisions. Through powerful patient stories and practical advice, these expert clinicians reveal what it really means to be a "battle buddy" for head and neck cancer patients. 

Thanks to financial sponsorship from BRACCO Diagnostics, Inc, access to the post-test and reporting for ASHA CEUs is offered at no cost to our learners for a limited time. More Info: https://www.swallowthegap.com/hncpod2025 (Oct 25, 2025 - Dec 31, 2025 only)

Live Webinar:

Interested in a deep dive into HNC? Join us for a six hour, advanced-level course, The Head and Neck Cancer Speech-Language Pathology Clinic​, on January 31, 2026. Details: https://www.swallowthegap.com/hncwebinar

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The BOLUS framework helps clinicians move beyond the idea that aspiration always translates to pneumonia by encouraging a critical, multi-factor approach to dysphagia care. Designed for use before, during, and after patient encounters, the framework supports more comprehensive assessment, treatment planning, and interdisciplinary communication.

In this episode, Dr. Phyllis Palmer and Aaron Padilla explore the clinical application of the BOLUS framework. Together, we discuss how clinicians can think critically about the many factors influencing dysphagia management, anticipate challenges before meeting the patient, and apply practical strategies to strengthen interdisciplinary communication and provide more individualized treatment.

This episode is eligible for 0.1 ASHA CEUs through Nov. 30, 2025. No partial CE credit is provided. Fee waived thanks for a donation from Bracco Diagnostics

Learn More: https://www.swallowthegap.com/boluspodcast

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We bring attention to a widespread challenge in clinical care: decisions and recommendation that don’t follow the patient. Whether it’s missing imaging, undocumented rationale, or unclear explanations, these breakdowns in continuity disrupt care, bias clinical judgment, and strip patients of informed choice.

Explore what happens when information isn’t transferred in a usable, human-centered way—and how clinicians can bridge the gaps with clearer communication, defensible rationale, and simple tools that empower both patients and providers.

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This episode explores the concepts of patient centric care and research—does intervention matter if your patient doesn’t care about it? With insights from decades of clinical practice and research, the guests share strategies for therapy that actually fits real lives.

Guests:

Dr. Giselle Carnaby, MPH, PhD, CCC-SLP, F-ASHA

Dr. Michael Crary, PhD, F-ASHA

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With our dedication to our patients, we've gained a deeper understanding of the complexity of swallowing and dysphagia. How can we use these insights to advance SLP education and our own professional growth?

Guest: Nicole Wiksten, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S

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What does pre-stroke neurological health have to do with swallowing prognosis, post stroke?

In this episode, Dr. Janina Wilmskoetter, Assistant Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, discusses her recent publication, Cerebral Small Vessel Disease is an Independent Determinant of Dysphagia After Acute Stroke. Join us for insights into clinical implications for patients with dysphagia!

For questions, reach out to Dr. Wilmskoetter at [email protected], and access the article via https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213158224001517

Episode Sponsor: Bracco Diagnostics, the manufacturer of Varibar barium sulfate products. The only FDA-approved products for the Modified Barium Swallow Study Learn more at https://bracco.com or https://varibarmbs.com

Upcoming Live Webinar (2/23/25):

Don’t forget to check out Swallowing Cinema, a long-standing MBS case study event at ASHA, now hosted by Gap Education Access at https://gap.learnworlds.com/course/cinema1

 https://www.swallowthegap.com/livecourses

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Dr. Catriona Steele, president of the Dysphagia Research Society, discusses her journey in dysphagia research, including motivation from her pre-PhD days, and focuses on systematic reviews. She highlights the need for rigorous and transparent methodologies in evaluating research quality, introduces the FRONTIERS framework, and underscores the importance of continual learning and questioning in the field.

Episode Resources from Dr. Steele:
PRISMA guideline: Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. G., & Group, P. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. Annals of Internal Medicine, 151(4), 264-269, W264. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-151-4-200908180-00135

Prospero: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/

Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/

Cochrane Collaboration: https://www.cochrane.org/

EQUATOR Network: https://www.equator-network.org

Covidence: https://www.covidence.org/

Rayyan: https://www.rayyan.ai/

Clinical Trials dot gov: https://clinicaltrials.gov

Frontiers Framework: https://www.frontiersframework.com

Episode Sponsorship:
The TIMS Medical team is excited to announce that ASPEKT-C will be included in upcoming releases of TIMS MVP in 2025, following close collaboration with The Swallowing Rehabilitation Research Laboratory.  

The team at TIMS (www.tims.com) is honored to support the implementation of ASPEKT-C which assists clinicians in identifying the underlying mechanisms of impaired swallowing safety and efficiency. Additionally, the ASPEKT-C Method also enables clinicians to compare swallowing parameters to reference values in healthy individuals, offering valuable insights for improved care.

To learn more about ASPEKT-C, visit The Swallowing Rehabilitation Research Lab website. For updates on upcoming TIMS MVP releases, follow TIMS Medical on social media or sign up for email notifications at www.tims.com.

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What happens when you get 6 speech pathologists with 150 years of collective experience stuck together in a room?

You’ll have to listen to find out!

Join Julie Blair, Laurie Sterling, Dr. Deb Suiter, Dr. Barbara Messing, Jo Puntil, and Dr. Tim Stockdale (that’s 1, 2, 3, 4 ASHA fellows!) in a special edition episode, as we enjoy a laid-back evening conversation at the 2024 ASHA Convention in Seattle, Washington.

Reflections include Swallowing Cinema, patient choice, and growing through vulnerability.

Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by the Milton J Dance Endowment – a sponsor dedicated to support of head and neck cancer patients   and swallowing disorders in all populations.

Background photo credit: Daniel Schwen (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Seattle_4.jpg)

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Believe it or not, there is extensive variability in how dysphagia is defined. Listen in as Drs. Giselle Carnaby, Debra Suiter, and Martin Brodsky discuss challenges and importance of defining dysphagia. The discussion highlights variability in how dysphagia is understood and defined across research, clinical practice, and healthcare systems. This gap has implications for patient care, reimbursement, and professional credibility. While acknowledging the complexity of the task, the speakers emphasize the progress made, the importance of raising awareness, and some steps needed to create a more cohesive approach to dysphagia research and treatment.

Episode Sponsor: Phagenesis -Non-surgical, neurostimulation therapy
to restore swallowing control https://www.phagenesis.com/

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Join us for an insightful discussion with Jaclyn Pederson, CEO of Feeding Matters, as we discuss the critical gaps in education for pediatric feeding disorders. Jaclyn sheds light on the challenges faced by clinicians, who often lack the specialized training needed to manage complex feeding issues in children. Drawing on her background in nonprofit leadership and healthcare innovation, she shares a strategic approach to advocating for improved education and research in this area. This episode calls for meaningful action to enhance education and resources, ensuring better support for those affected by pediatric feeding disorders around the world.

Episode Resources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38801459/

https://youtu.be/oVZWdpu71Wc?si=Tz4QK1xzDQErAH4V

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