Our Team

Our Team 2024-10-01T15:35:26-05:00

Swallowing Cross-Systems Collaborative

Kate Davidson, MS, CCC-SLP

Lab Assistant Director

Highest Degree: M.S.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Adult Pharyngeal High-Resolution Manometry

Education:

  • Medical University of South Carolina (M.S.)
  • Columbia College  (B.A.)

Mejrima (Mary) Cosic

Research Projects Manager

Rebecca Smith, M.S., CCC-SLP, CNT, CLC, BCS-S

Clinical Research Associate

Highest Degree: M.S.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Adult dysphagia, infant feeding and swallowing, pediatric feeding disorders, clinical education, and translational science

Education:

  • Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (Ph.D. Candidate)
  • Stephen F. Austin State University (M.S.)
  • Texas Christian University (B.A.)

Kahla Graham, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S

Clinical Research Associate

Highest Degree: M.S.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Aerodigestive Disorders, Adult Dysphagia, Scientific Communication using Digital Platforms

Education:

  • Northwestern University (Ph.D. Candidate)
  • Rush University (M.S.)
  • University of Illinois (B.S.)

Liz Platt, MA, CCC-SLP

Lab Personnel

Highest Degree: M.A.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Adult Dysphagia and Aerodigestive Disorders, Adult and Pediatric Voice and Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion/Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction

Education:

  • Northwestern University (BS, MA)

Abigail (Abby) Nellis, SLPD, CCC-SLP

Lab Personnel

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Adult Dysphagia, Healthcare Operations and Quality Improvement

Education:

  • Northwestern University (SLPD)
  • University of Wisconsin, Whitewater (B.S., M.S.)

Alex Clain, PhD

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Highest Degree: Ph.D.

Speciality: Statistics, Measurement, and Machine Learning

Education: 

  • Northwestern University (Ph.D.)
  • Northwestern University (M.S.)
  • Union College, Schenectady (B.S.)

Ankita Bhutada, PhD

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Highest Degree: Ph.D.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Speciality: Aerodigestive Disorders, Adult Dysphagia

Education: 

  • University of South Alabama (Ph.D.)

Heather McGhee, PhD, CCC-SLP

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Highest Degree: Ph.D.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Pediatric Dysphagia, Pediatric Aerodigestive Disorders, Craniofacial Disorders

Education:

  • Medical University of South Carolina (Ph.D.)
  • Florida State University (M.S.)
  • University of Georgia (B.S.)

Zoe Kiemel, MS, CF-SLP

Doctoral Student

Highest Degree: M.S.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology-Clinical Fellow, Certified Lactation Counselor

Speciality: Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders

Education: 

  • Vanderbilt University (M.S.)
  • Texas Christian University (B.S.)

Student Volunteers

Kendal Daul

Graduate Volunteer

Major: Speech, Language, and Learning

Year: Second-year Master’s Student

Interests: Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing

Stephanie Bekas

Graduate Volunteer

Major: Speech, Language, and Learning

Year: Second-year Master’s Student

Interests: Infant and Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing

Meagan Hathaway

Graduate Volunteer

Major: Speech, Language, and Learning

Year: Second-year Master’s Student

Interests: Swallowing, Voice Disorders, and Medical Speech-Language Pathology

Keav Zolkowski

Graduate Volunteer

Major: Speech, Language, and Learning

Year: Second-year Master’s Student

Interests: Swallowing and Medical Speech-Language Pathology

Grace Murphy 

Graduate Volunteer

Major: Speech, Language, and Learning

Year: Second-year Master’s Student

Interests: Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing

Taylor Steele

Graduate Volunteer

Major: Speech, Language, and Learning

Year: Second-year Master’s Student

Interests: Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing and Adult Voice and Swallowing

Kayleigh Hester

Graduate Volunteer

Major: Speech, Language, and Learning

Year: Second-year Master’s Student

Interests: Swallowing and Medical Speech-Language Pathology

Sophia Gambill

Undergraduate Volunteer

Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders

Year: Senior

Interests: Medical Speech-Language Pathology

Nadia van den Berg

Undergraduate Volunteer

Major: Human Communication Sciences

Year: Junior

Interests: Medical Speech-Language Pathology and Pediatrics

Internal Collaborators

Sandeep Samant, MD

Professor, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery

Highest Degree:   M.D.

Clinical Certification: Otolaryngology

Specialty: Head & Neck Oncology

Education: All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (M.B.B.S)

Residency: All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Fellowship: University of Miami, Head and Neck Cancer and Microvascular Surgery

Bharat Mittal, MD

Chair, Radiation Oncology

Title: Clinical-Research Collaborator, Professor

Highest Degree: M.D.

Clinical Certification:  Radiation Oncology

Specialty:    

Education:

  • Christian Medical College (M.B.B.S)
  • Meerut University India (BS.c.)

Residency: Northwestern University, Radiation Oncology

Fellowship: Washington University, Radiation Oncology

Jim Elliot, PhD

Professor, Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences

Ying Wu, PhD

Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

John Rogers, PhD

Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

Jungwha (Julia) Lee, PhD, MPH

Professor, Preventative Medicine (Biostatistics)

Sharon R. Rosenberg, MD

Professor, Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care)

Highest Degree:   M.D.

Clinical Certification: Pulmonary and Internal Medicine

Specialty: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Education: University of Michigan (2002)

Residency: University of Michigan Health System (2005)

Fellowship: Northwestern University, McGaw Medical Center (Northwestern Memorial Hospital) (2009)

John E. Pandolfino, MD

Chief, Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Highest Degree:   M.D.

Clinical Certification: Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

Specialty: Gastroenterology

Education: Loyola University, Stritch School of Medicine (1993)

Residency: Northwestern University, McGaw Medical Center (Northwestern Memorial Hospital), (1996)

Fellowship: Northwestern University, McGaw Medical Center (Northwestern Memorial Hospital), Gastroenterology (2001)

Rade Tomic, MD

Medical Director, Lung Transplant Program

Highest Degree:   M.D.

Clinical Certification: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

Specialty: Lung Transplant Pulmonology

Education: University of Zagreb, School of Medicine

Residency: University of Illinois- Michale Reese Hospital

Fellowship: Emory University

Ambalavanan Arunachalam, MD

Professor, Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care)

Highest Degree:   M.D.

Clinical Certification: Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Internal Medicine

Specialty: Lung Transplant and Pulmonary Hypertension

Education: Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (2010)

Residency: Mount Auburn Hospital  (2015)

Fellowships: Cleveland Clinic Foundation (2018) and Tufts Medical Center (2020)

Kristin Larsen, MA, CCC-SLP

Clinical-Research Collaborator, Clinical Assistant Director

Highest Degree: M.A.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Adult Dysphagia

Education:

  • Northwestern University (M.A.)
  • Northwestern University (B.S.)

Sharon Veis, MA, CCC-SLP

Clinical-Research Collaborator, Lecturer

Highest Degree: M.A.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Neonatal and Adult Dysphagia

Education:

  • Northwestern University (M.A.)
  • Northwestern University (B.S.)

Carolyn (CC) Lisowski, SLPD, CCC-SLP

Clinical-Research Collaborator, Lecturer

Highest Degree: Doctor of Speech Language Pathology

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Dysphagia & Acquired Neurogenic Communication Disorders

Education:

  • Northwestern University (M.S. & SLPD)
  • Stanford University (B.A.)

Jonelyn Langenstein, MM, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S

Clinical-Research Collaborator, Lecturer

Highest Degree: M.S.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Voice and Swallowing

Education:

  • San Francisco State University (M.S.)
  • New England Conservatory (M.M.)
  • Whitworth University (B.A.)

Sarah Irvine, MS, CCC-SLP

Clinical-Research Collaborator, Lecturer

Highest Degree: M.S.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Adult Dysphagia and Acquired Communication Disorders

Education:

  • Rush University (M.S.)
  • Miami University, Ohio (B.S.)

Shauna Czarnik, MS, CCC-SLP

Clinical-Research Collaborator, Lecturer

Highest Degree: M.S.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Dysphagia and acquired neurogenic disorders

Education:

  • Northwestern University (M.S.)
  • University of Illinois (B.S.)

Abby Bowman, MS, CCC-SLP

Clinical-Research Collaborator, Lecturer

Highest Degree: M.S.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Adult Dysphagia

Education:

  • Northwestern University (M.S.)
  • Miami University, Ohio (B.S.)

External Collaborators

Heather S. Bonilha, PhD, CCC-SLP

Research Collaborator

Highest Degree: Ph.D.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Swallowing and Voice Imaging

Education:

  • University of South Carolina (Ph.D.)
  • University of Central Florida (M.A.)
  • University of Central Florida (B.A.)

Fellowship: University of South Carolina

Ashli O’Rourke, MD

Research Collaborator

Highest Degree: M.D.

Clinical Certification:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Laryngology

Specialty: Pharyngeal High-Resolution Manometry

Education:

  • Florida State University (B.S.)
  • Florida State University (M.S.)
  • Medical College of Georgia (M.D.)

Fellowship: Medical College of Georgia Laryngology, Voice and Swallowing

Shuai (Steve) Xu, MD

Research Collaborator

Highest Degree:   M.D.

Clinical Certification: Dermatology

Specialty: Bio-Integrated Electronics

Education: Harvard Medical School (2014)

Residency: Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Medicine (2015)

Fellowship: Northwestern University, Materials Science and Engineering (2017)

David McFarland, PhD

Research Collaborator

Institution: University of Montreal

Highest Degree: Ph.D.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Respiratory Physiology

Education:

  • Purdue University (Ph.D.)
  • California State University (M.A.)
  • California State University (B.A.)

Maureen Lefton-Greif, PhD

Research Collaborator

Institution: John’s Hopkins University

Highest Degree: Ph.D.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Pediatric Dysphagia

Education:

  • Temple University (Ph.D.)
  • Case Western Reserve University (M.A.)
  • Brooklyn College of the City of University of New York (B.A.)

Kate Hutcheson, PhD

Research Collaborator

Highest Degree: PhD

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Clinical research in head and neck cancer

Education:

  • Baylor University (B.S., M.S.)
  • The University of Texas School of Public Health (Ph.D)

William G. Pearson, Jr., PhD

Research Collaborator

Institution: Augusta University

Highest Degree: Ph.D.

Specialty: Oropharyngeal Morphometric Analysis

Education:

  • University of Georgia (B.S.)
  • Boston University School of Medicine (Ph.D.)

Cagla Kantarcigil, PhD

Research Collaborator

Institution: Ohio State Uniersity

Highest Degree: PhD

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Adult Dysphagia, Effectiveness of remote management of swallowing disorders

Education:

  • Purdue University (PhD)

Brittany Krekeler, PhD, CCC-SLP

Research Collaborator

Institution: University of Cincinnati

Highest Degree: Ph.D.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Adult Dysphagia, Rehabilitation, Motor Learning, Benign Dysphagia

Education:

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison(MS, Ph.D.)
  • Miami University (BS)
  • North Carolina State University (NCSU)

Fellowship Training: Northwestern University

Kendrea L. (Focht) Garand, PhD, CScD, CCC-SLP, CBIS, BCS-S

Research Collaborator

Institution: University of South Alabama

Highest Degree: Ph.D.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Dysphagia in neuromuscular disease

Education:

  • Medical University of South Carolina (Ph.D.)
  • University of Pittsburgh (CScD)
  • Purdue University (MS)
  • North Carolina State University (NCSU)

Fellowship Training: Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Janina Wilmskoetter, PhD

Research Collaborator

Highest Degree: PhD

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Neuroanatomical Correlates of Post-stroke Dysphagia and Aphasia

Education:

  • Medical University of South Carolina (Ph.D.)
  • University of Bielefeld, Germany (B.A, M.A.)

Jordan Hazelwood, MEd, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CBIS

Research Collaborator

Highest Degree: Ph.D.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Adult Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders

Education:

  • Medical University of South Carolina (Ph.D.)
  • University of Georgia (M.Ed.)
  • University of Illinois (B.S.)

Julie Blair, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S

Research Collaborator

Highest Degree: M.S.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Voice and Swallowing in Head and Neck Cancer

Education:

  • University of North Carolina at Greensboro (M.S.)
  • University of North Carolina at Greensboro (B.S.)

Carolyn K Barnes, M.S., CCC-SLP

Research Collaborator

Highest Degree: M.S.

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty: Pediatric feeding & swallowing

Education:

  • Medical University of South Carolina (Ph.D. Candidate)

  • The University of Alabama (M.S.)

  • Auburn University (B.S.)

Mariana Mendes Bahia, PhD, CCC-SLP

Research Collaborator

Highest Degree: PhD

Clinical Certification: Speech-Language Pathology

Specialty:  Swallowing Disorders, Adult Neurogenic Dysphagia, Voice Disorders

Education:

  • Syracuse University (PhD)
  • University of Campinas (BS & MS)

Rabab Rangwala, PhD, CCC-SLP

Research Collaborator

Highest Degree: Ph.D.

Clinical Certification: Speech Language Pathology

Specialty: Dysphagia and Respiratory-Swallow Coordination in Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease

Education: 

  • Northwestern University (Ph.D.)
  • University of Texas, Dallas (M.S.)
  • Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbai, India (B.S.)