Ianessa Humbert

Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Ianessa Humbert, Ph.D. is a highly sought-after speaker with expertise in swallowing and swallowing disorders. With over 100 speaking invitations around the world, the most common feedback from attendees continues to be “This is the first time a course has really forced me to think about what I’m doing”. Dr. Humbert’s teaching philosophy requires attendees to, first, question everything they think they know before learning can begin. Dr. Humbert’s innovative training style extends to non-traditional learning formats. She is the co-creator of a popular podcast named Down the Hatch and she has co-founded online learning tools including STEP (Swallowing Training and Education Portal), lovingly known as Swallowing Netflix, and Swallowology. Dr. Humbert has demonstrated her gift for creating images that depict the dynamism of swallowing via her Swallowing Pocket Guide and Swallowing Neuro Anatomy and Physiology Shorts or SNAPS (on STEP). Financial disclosures: Ianessa Humbert is a co-owner of Swallowology LLC and Elemint LLC. She is a co-founder of STEP and is co-hosting the STEP Swallowing Symposium 2020. Non-Financial: Ianessa Humbert is the co-creator of the Down the Hatch podcast.

Rinki Varindani Desai

M.S., CCC-SLP, CBIS, CDP

Rinki Varindani Desai, M.S.,CCC-SLP, CBIS, CDP is an ASHA-certified medical speech-language pathologist, certified brain injury specialist and certified dementia practitioner; specializing in the assessment and treatment of cognitive-linguistic and swallowing disorders in adults. Rinki is the co-founder of the Swallowing Training and Education Portal, founder of the Medical SLP Forum and co-creator of the Dysphagia Therapy mobile app. She currently serves as Associate Coordinator of ASHA’s Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders Special Interest Group (SIG 13) and as Co-Chair of the Dysphagia Research Society's COVID-19 Task Force. She is also a part of the ASHA APM Committee, DRS 2021 Program Planning Committee, MSHA Healthcare and Teleheath Committees and on the Board of Directors for Burgundy and White, a non-profit for patients with head and neck cancer. A recipient of seven ASHA ACE awards, Rinki was one among 30 clinicians in the world selected for ASHA’s Leadership Development Program in 2017 and for ASHA’s Faculty Development Institute in 2019. She has practiced for a decade in acute, sub-acute and long-term care medical settings in the United States. Rinki is currently the adult outpatient lead SLP and a clinical instructor in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head Neck Surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. She has presented nationally and internationally on topics related to adult dysphagia. She enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and doing what she can to help advance the profession by paying it forward. Financial disclosures: Rinki Varindani Desai is the co-founder of the Swallowing Training and Education Portal and co-host of the STEP Swallowing Symposium 2020. She receives a salary from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Non-Financial disclosures: Rinki volunteers with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association as Associate Coordinator of SIG 13 and with the Dysphagia Research Society. She is the founder of the Medical SLP Forum and the co-creator of the Dysphagia Therapy mobile app.

Rebecca C. Levy

M.S., CCC-SLP

Rebecca C. Levy, M.S.,CCC-SLP has experience in a wide range of settings including long term acute care, skilled nursing, mobile instrumental testing units, and special education since obtaining her Master’s degree in 2006 from University of Louisiana in Lafayette. She has successfully mentored students and clinical fellows throughout her career. Rebecca has successfully lead therapy departments in skilled nursing facilities as the Director of Rehab for over 5 years. Rebecca served as a Clinical Program Consultant for ACP conducting seminars and developing clinical programs for Dysphagia Rehab with integrating surface EMG and Electrical Stimulation technologies. She is an invited speaker and has been a featured guest on episodes of Swallow Your Pride Podcast. Her primary area of expertise and interest is dysphagia assessment and treatment with a continual focus on improving quality of life of patients. Financial disclosures: Rebecca C. Levy is a co-owner of Swallowology LLC and co-host of STEP Symposium. She is also an employee of HCR ManorCare Non-Financial: Rebecca is a member of ASHA SIG 13 and ASHA SIG 15.

Alicia K. Vose

Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Alicia K. Vose, Ph.D., 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 The 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 where she 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: Alicia Vose receives a salary from the University of Florida.   She will receive an honorarium from Elemint, LLC for speaking at the STEP symposium. No non-financial disclosures.

Clare Burns

PhD, BSpPath, CPSP

Dr. Clare Burns is an Advanced Speech Pathologist and Clinician Research Fellow, Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital, Queensland, Australia and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at The University of Queensland. She has over 20 years of clinical experience and conducts research in speech pathology and technology enabled health care. She has developed, evaluated and implemented a range of telepractice services incorporating speech pathology (specifically swallowing and head and neck cancer services), multidisciplinary care, and broader allied health services. Clare co-authored Speech Pathology Australia’s Position Statement on Telepractice and the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for Teleoncology. She is an Affiliate of The University of Queensland’s Centre for Research in Telerehabilitation and Centre for Research Excellence in Telehealth. Financial disclosures: Salary from Queensland Health; Grant funding from National Health and Medical Research Council; Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation; Queensland Health and Speech Pathology Australia; Speaker fee received from Speech Pathology Australia. Non-financial disclosures: Professional membership of Speech Pathology Australia, Dysphagia Research Society, American Speech and Hearing Association (International affiliate), Australian Telehealth Association.

Dan Weinstein

M.S., CCC-SLP, BCS-S

Dan Weinstein is a Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders and the Chief of Audiology & Speech Pathology at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA. He received a masters degree in speech and language pathology from Teachers College, Columbia University, and completed his clinical fellowship at The George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC. Prior to joining the VA, he was the Speech Pathology Supervisor at UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco, CA. Dan is an advocate for best practice and patient-centered care. Financial disclosures: Dan Weinstein will receive an honorarium from Elemint, LLC for speaking at the STEP symposium.No non-financial disclosures.

Ed Bice

M.ED., CCC-SLP

Ed Bice is a speech pathologist currently working as a Clinical Consultant for IOPI Medical. Ed’s experience includes a variety of 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. In addition, he formerly worked for a company specializing in surface electromyography for biofeedback in swallowing therapy, developing educational materials, and product enhancements. Ed has been a guest on various dysphagia related podcasts and blogs. Financial disclosures: Ed Bice receives a salary on behalf of IOPI medical.   He will receive an honorarium from Elemint, LLC for speaking at the STEP symposium. No Non-financial disclosures.

R. Jordan Hazelwood

Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CCRE

R. Jordan Hazelwood, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CCRE is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. Before completing her Ph.D. in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC, she worked as a speech-language pathologist specializing in the assessment and rehabilitation of adults with swallowing disorders and traumatic brain injury. Dr. Hazelwood teaches Dysphagia, Voice & Resonance Disorders, and Neuroanatomy & Physiology to graduate and undergraduate students. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders, serves as the Professional Development Manager for ASHA’s Special Interest Group in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (SIG 13), and has earned fellowships in Clinical Research Ethics and Interprofessional Education. Dr. Hazelwood has presented work on physiologic assessment of dysphagia locally, nationally, and internationally. Her research focuses on the training and education of clinicians and students in dysphagia management while considering the impact of standardization procedures, physiologic dysfunction, and quality of life on health outcomes. Financial disclosures: R. Jordan Hazelwood receives a salary from Appalachian State University.  She received a grant from Appalachian State Office of Recreation. She will receive an honorarium from Elemint, LLC for speaking at the STEP symposium. Non-Financial disclosures: Jordan is a member of NSSLHA, Dysphagia Research Society, and  a member and Professional Development Manager of ASHA SIG 13.