Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Co-Treatments with an OT, Psychologist, and an SLP

Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, serves as the Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor with James Madison University. Additionally, she is the acclaimed host of “First Bite: Fed, Fun, Functional” a weekly Speech Therapy Podcast that addresses “all thangs” Pediatric Speech Therapy, and is presented by SpeechTherapyPD.com. Michelle authored, "Chasing the Swallow: Truth, Science, and Hope for Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders". She is an accomplished lecturer; traveling across the nation delivering courses on best practices for the evaluation and treatment of the medically complex infant, toddlers, and children with respect to their pediatric oropharyngeal dysphagia, pediatric feeding disorder, as well as language acquisition within the framework of Early Intervention. She has served as the Treasurer for the Council of State Association Presidents (CSAP), is a Past President of the South Carolina Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (SCSHA), a graduate of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Leadership Development Program (ASHA LDP), a recipient of the Pediatric Feeding Disorder Awareness Champion from Feeding Matters, a recipient of the Louis M. DiCarlo Award for Outstanding Clinical Achievement from the SCSHA, a recipient of the State Clinical Achievement Award from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Foundation, recognized as an ASHA Innovator in 2023, and ten-time recipient of ASHA’s ACE Award for continuing education.

Elizabeth (Beth) Halpin is an occupational therapist with 17 years of experience. She has spent the majority of her career (16 years) working in the pediatric setting. Elizabeth has worked in a variety of pediatric settings including, inpatient acute care, NICU, outpatient, school-based and home care. Elizabeth is currently the Primary Feeding Therapist and a founding member of an intensive feeding program in a major metropolitan children’s hospital in Columbus Ohio. Elizabeth has a specialty certification in Feeding, Eating and Swallowing from the American Occupational Therapy Association. Elizabeth has been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented on feeding at both a State and National Level.

Rob Dempster is a pediatric psychologist whose research and practice focuses on children with feeding challenges. He works with patients ranging from birth to 18 years of age, using a variety of treatment modalities and settings including outpatient, inpatient, and an intensive treatment program. He has published multiple articles related on topics such as the experiences of parental anxiety related to feeding in children with congenital heart disease, inpatient interdisciplinary management of complex feeding disorders, and the cost-effectiveness of intensive interdisciplinary treatment for feeding disorders. He has spoken nationally on these topics at the American Academy of Pediatrics, North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, and the Society of Pediatric Psychology national conferences. Dr. Dempster is passionate about treating feeding challenges collaboratively and bringing together people from multiple disciplines to enhance the lives of children with feeding challenges and their families.