Let's do better! Using data to optimize care for individuals with laryngectomy

This talk will synthesize data from three reserach studies from a PhD thesis that aim to identify the care pathway for patients with laryngectomy in two institutions in NY State. It will discuss methodology, data collection, data analysis, results and potential application of these data to optimize care for this complex clinical population.

Laurie J. Wennerholm, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S (PhD candidate), is a clinical specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders with 25 years devoted to medical speech pathology. Over the years, she has gained extensive experience in evaluating and treating speech-language, voice and swallowing impairments in acutely ill patients, head and neck cancer patients as well as neurologically impaired individuals. Laurie completed her Master’s Degree at St. John’s University with academic distinction. She received Specialty Certification in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders in 2006 and maintains her specialty recognition through leadership and scholarship. Laurie also serves as an adjunct professor at New York University and she teaches the Dysphagia course at this institution. She has mentored and supervised many students completing clinical internships in medical speech pathology in facilities where she has worked. Currently, she is employed at NYU Langone Health. Her focus is in evaluation and treatment of speech-voice and swallowing impairments in patients with head and neck cancers. Laurie is also responsible for program building within the department of speech-language pathology. She is highly skilled in tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis assessment, placement and troubleshooting for patients who have undergone total laryngectomy for treatment of laryngeal cancer. Laurie is enthusiastic and passionate about her work and about eventually contributing to the body of literature that exists in dysphagia in the head and neck population. She is enrolled in a PhD program where her research focus aims to improve the care pathway for patients with laryngectomy. Her goal is to continue her clinical work and eventually conduct relevant clinical research and outcomes studies. Her focus has always been the provision of evidenced-based optimal care for the patient to maximize his/her/their quality of life.