Conference Faculty

Cancer Care: Enhancing Communication, Swallowing, and Quality of Life

August 7–19, 2019 | Online Conference for SLPs

​Lisa M. Clossey, MS, CCC-SLP, is the inpatient speech coordinator at Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC). She evaluates and treats geriatric populations within the acute care arena as well as focuses on neuro-rehabilitation within an outpatient setting.

Financial Disclosures:

• Inpatient speech coordinator at Greater Baltimore Medical Center 
• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• No nonfinancial relationships to disclose

Andrea M. Coppens, PhD, is a pediatric neuropsychologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital and a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University in Columbus. She works as a full-time clinician in the Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology. Her clinical specialty is within the section of Hematology/Oncology, with a focus in neuro-oncology. Her broad clinical and research interests are in assessing the neurocognitive outcomes of children treated for brain tumors.

Financial Disclosures:

• Pediatric neuropsychologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital
• Clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University
• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• No nonfinancial relationships to disclose

Kate Hutcheson, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an associate professor in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Section of Speech Pathology and Audiology, with dual appointment in the Division of Radiation Oncology, at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She serves as Deputy Director of the Clinical Research Program in Head and Neck Surgery. Hutcheson is a certified speech-language pathologist, a Board-Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders, and holds a doctorate in epidemiology. She maintains an active clinical practice and research program. She has authored more than 120 journal articles with funding support from the National Institutes of Health, Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, the MD Anderson Institutional Research Grant Award program, and the CPRIT UT Health Innovation Training Program. She is an accomplished clinician and educator who lectures nationally and internationally on radiation-associated dysphagia and head and neck cancer rehabilitation. Her mission is to optimize functional outcomes and quality of life in head and neck cancer survivorship through practice-oriented clinical research.

Financial Disclosures:

• Associate professor at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Presentation royalties from MedBridge
• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• No nonfinancial relationships to disclose

Jennifer P. Lundine, PhD, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS, is an assistant professor in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science at The Ohio State University and a research scientist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. She has over a decade of experience working as a speech-language pathologist on a pediatric rehabilitation unit. Her clinical, teaching, and research interests include cognitive-communication disorders associated with complex pediatric medical conditions, such as acquired brain injury (ABI). Specifically, her research focuses on improving gaps in access to and utilization of services designed to support children and adolescents with ABI and identifying specific approaches that would improve assessment and treatment practices following pediatric ABI.

Financial Disclosures (apply to both conference sessions):

• Assistant professor at The Ohio State University
• Research scientist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
• Travel reimbursement from ASHA for 2016 Lessons for Success
• Financial compensation from ASHA for these and past presentations

Nonfinancial Disclosures (apply to both conference sessions):

• No nonfinancial relationships to disclose

Susan Maltser, DO, is the director of cancer rehabilitation and oversees the comprehensive Cancer Rehabilitation program for Northwell Health. She is a practicing physiatrist and an assistant professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Zucker School of Medicine. Maltser is a graduate of the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Rusk Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center. She is a fellow of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and National Cancer Rehabilitation Physician Consortium.

Financial Disclosures:

• Director of Cancer Rehabilitation at Northwell Health
• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• No nonfinancial relationships to disclose

Barbara Pisano Messing, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, is the director of the Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Center, Johns Hopkins Head & Neck Surgery, and Johns Hopkins Voice Center located at GBMC in Baltimore, Maryland. She is a practicing medical speech-language pathologist with more than 30 years of experience. She is recognized as a clinical specialist in head and neck rehabilitation and a Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders. She lectures nationally and internationally on dysphagia, esophageal disorders, head and neck cancer clinical pathways, and outcomes in head and neck cancer. Her clinical and research interests are in the area of head and neck cancer rehabilitation, dysphagia, and voice disorders. She is an ASHA Fellow and a PhD candidate at the University of Queensland, focusing on her research on dysphagia in head and neck cancer patients.   

Financial Disclosures (apply to all three conference sessions)

• Director of the Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Center, Johns Hopkins Head & Neck Surgery, and Johns Hopkins Voice Center at Greater Baltimore Medical Center
• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures (apply to all three conference sessions):

• No nonfinancial relationships to disclose

Jaimie Payne, MS, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. She earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Communication Science and Disorders at Florida State University. She specializes in the functional rehabilitation of speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing disorders in oncology patients, specifically brain tumors. She is a collaborator on a multi-institutional systematic review on aphasia therapy for patients with brain tumors that has been accepted for national presentation. Payne is also a collaborator on multiple research protocols investigating the standardization of intraoperative language mapping during awake craniotomy. She is the first author on a book chapter outlining rehabilitation of speech and swallowing in patients with skull-based tumors. She has received three ASHA Awards for Continuing Education (ACE) and has been an invited speaker at several regional and national conferences. Additionally, she serves as the medical strand chair for the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual convention programming committee. 

Financial Disclosures:

• Speech-language pathologist at UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• No nonfinancial relationships to disclose

Christine E. Porsche, MS, CCC-SLP, CLT, received her bachelor's and master of science degrees from Baylor University. She is a speech-language pathologist and certified lymphedema therapist at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Porsche helped to develop the first therapy program worldwide in the evaluation and treatment of patients with head and neck lymphedema and currently helps lead the program, targeting patients suffering from lymphedema and myofascial dysfunction following head and neck cancer treatment. She is a collaborator in an institutional review, researching the role of myofascial release in patients suffering from late radiation associated dysphagia. She has been an invited speaker at several regional and national conferences.

Financial Disclosures:

• Speech-language pathologist/certified lymphedema therapist at MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• ASHA member

Katie Roza, MD, majored in English literature at Amherst College in Massachusetts, researched early deaf education as a Fulbright Scholar in Italy, and graduated from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. She completed her internal medicine residency at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania, and is currently a fellow in geriatrics and palliative medicine at Mount Sinai. She has given various presentations on the needs of patients who are deaf/hard of hearing and health care professionals. She is a former member of the Amherst College Women’s Chorus and Coro Polifonici Senesi (Polyphonic Choir of Siena).  

Financial Disclosures:

• Physician Fellow in Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital
• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• No nonfinancial relationships to disclose

​Keri Ryniak, RD, CSO, LDN, CNSD, is a board certified oncology dietitian, having worked in the field of oncology for 15 years. She is a graduate of Penn State University and attended her dietetic internship through Sodexho while being placed at Johns Hopkins Hospital. After employment at Johns Hopkins Hospital, she came to Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) as their first oncology dietitian. Ryniak enjoys all aspects of oncology nutrition from prevention through treatment. She is active with educating community members about healthy nutrition and cancer prevention. At GBMC, she loves working side-by-side with speech-language pathologists to provide patient care.   

Financial Disclosures:

• Oncology dietitian at Greater Baltimore Medical Center
• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• No nonfinancial relationships to disclose

Heather M. Starmer, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, is the director of Head and Neck Speech and Swallowing Rehabilitation at the Stanford Cancer Center and an assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders, with expertise in head and neck cancer rehabilitation. Starmer received her master’s degree at the University of Pittsburgh and developed a love for oncology care during her early training at the Pittsburgh VA. Her clinical research interests include investigation of functional outcomes after head and neck cancer care, developing strategies to enhance patient adherence to treatment recommendations, and the use of emerging technologies to improve the patient care experience. Starmer has more than 35 peer-reviewed research publications and has authored six book chapters on topics related to dysphagia and head and neck cancer. She regularly presents at the local, national, and international levels.  

Financial Disclosures (apply to both conference sessions):

• Director of Head and Neck Speech and Swallowing Rehabilitation and Clinical Assistant Professor, Stanford Cancer Center, Stanford University
• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures (apply to both conference sessions):

• No nonfinancial relationships to disclose

Aneesha Virani, PhD, CCC-SLP, graduated with her doctorate in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the Louisiana State University in 2012. Her interests include the diagnosis and management of voice, airway, and swallowing disorders, particularly in the head and neck cancer patient population. She currently serves as the Clinical Coordinator of Rehabilitation Services for Audiology and Speech Pathology (Inpatient and Outpatient) at Northside Hospital’s Atlanta, Cherokee, and Forsyth campuses. She developed the head and neck cancer program at Northside Hospital, which provides speech and swallowing services to patients diagnosed with head and neck cancers across the survivorship timeline. She has also led the development of other programs relevant to the care of patients with speech and swallowing impairments in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Virani serves on the Coordinating Committee for ASHA SIG 13 as the editor of Perspectives on Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders. She presents at various national and international conferences.

Financial Disclosures:

• Clinical coordinator of rehabilitation services at Northside Hospital
• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• ASHA SIG 13 Perspectives editor