Abstract

Learning Objectives: 1. Describe swallowing impairment profiles in individuals following Cardiothoracic surgery. 2. Recall demographic, surgical and intubation-related risk factors for development of postoperative swallowing impairment in individuals undergoing Cardiothoracic surgery. 3. Describe the impact of dysphagia on health-related outcomes.

Biography

Dr. Emily Plowman is an Associate Professor at the University of Florida in the Departments of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and Neurology. She established and directs the Aerodigestive Research Core (ARC). The mission of the ARC laboratory is to improve the detection and clinical management of upper aerodigestive tract disorders associated with speech, swallow, and breathing function through patient-centric research. Her current research foci include: 1) increasing the understanding of governing mechanisms of normal and disordered aerodigestive tract functions (speech, swallowing, breathing, airway clearance); 2) validation of accurate and pragmatic clinical screening tools to enable earlier clinical detection of disordered function; and 3) development and evaluation of novel therapeutic interventions. Dr. Plowman is an internationally recognized expert in the field of dysphagia who was recently recognized by the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders for her work in this area. She has over 60 publications and book chapters, given over 300 lectures worldwide, and obtained over 21 grants to complete innovative research. Dr. Plowman holds current funding from the NINDS, NICHD, NIDCD, ALS Association, and Clinical and Translational Science Institute and has held consecutive NIH funding since commencing her academic career in 2009. Dr. Plowman serves as the UF Clinical Director for the Center for Respiratory Research and Rehabilitation and is on the Executive Committee for the Northeast ALS Consortium. She is committed to improving clinical education and has developed a series of educational platforms to improve competencies of practicing Speech Language Pathologists. Dr. Plowman currently teaches graduate level courses in swallowing disorders, research methodology, and medical speech language pathology. She continues to offer clinical services at the UF Health Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases and is spearheading a series of quality improvement projects in the UF Health cardiac intensive care unit and Lung Transplantation programs with cardiothoracic and nursing colleagues.

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