I heard you.

Yes, you. You who reached out on Instagram. Who gave feedback after the PFMG. Who e-mailed. Who met me at a conference. Who wants MORE. Wants... Better. Better for your patients and you.

Well, this is it. This is exactly what you need.

This team of 5 pediatric feeding SLPs have put together an epic 12-week course filled to the max & it's going to blow your mind.

Stay Tuned for Fall 2024 Cohort!

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What's included in the Advanced PFMG?

Be a Better Clinician Than Me. 

I'm not kidding. When talking to the other mentors of this group during creation, I (Bri) said that and meant it. 

I want you to complete this course & feel confident in not just how to assess and treat even the most complex patients, but also how to continue to be an active participant in your future learning. This is what the APFMG is all about!

Course Outline

Each module is a SUPER deep dive into the topics listed. It is WAY too much to include in a brief description, but this is not basic level information for each topic. This is extensively researched nitty gritty information.

Fall 2024 Dates Coming This Summer

Send Me a Reminder!

Module 1

Assessment & Multidisciplinary Diagnostics

Pre-Recorded Module: 2 hours 14 minutes

  • Diagnostics completed by speech-language pathologist: 87 minutes
    • When to NOT pick up a patient
  • Diagnostics completed by other disciplines and their relevance to PFDs: 47 minutes 
    • E.g. delayed emptying test, electroencephalogram)

Handouts

  • Pros/Cons and Reason for Referral for FEES vs. VFSS
  • Assessment of Common Associated Diagnoses
  • Mealtime Journal/Log

Module 2

Oral Dysphagia & Interventions

Pre-Recorded Module: 2 hours 43 minutes

  • Diagnoses: 28 minutes
  • Tongue Tie and Other Tethered Oral Tissues: 30 minutes
  • Interventions: Oral Motor Exercises vs. Functionally-Based OMEs: 90 minutes
    • Advancing mastication skills
    • Lingual lateralization
    • ROM, strength, endurance, & coordination
    • Sensory Modifications
  • Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy: 15 minutes
  • Case Studies Discussed on Live Call

Handouts

  • Oral Skill Progression
  • Troubleshooting Straw/Open Cup for Caregivers
  • Specialty Bottle Types

Module 3

Pharyngeal and Esophageal Dysphagia & Interventions

Pre-Recorded Module 1: 1 hour 46 minutes

  • Aspiration & Oral Care: 35 minutes
  • Interventions: 45 minutes
    • Thickeners
    • Sensory Modification of Bolus
    • Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
    • Systematic Weaning
    • NPO
  • Pharyngeal Case Studies: 8 minutes
  • Esophageal Disorders - What is our role?: 18 minutes
    • Case Studies included

Handouts: 

  • Oral Care for Birth to 6+ years
  • Systematic Weaning Protocol & Tips for Implementing

Module 4

Tube Weaning

Pre-Recorded Module: 51 minutes

  • What is the feeding therapist's role in tube weaning?: 10 minutes
    • Signs of Readiness
  • Deep Dive into the Research on Methods for Weaning: 20 minutes 
    • Behavioral, Biomedical, Family/Child-Led
    • Intensive Weaning Programs
    • Combination
  • Special Considerations: 6 minutes
    • Taking a Break
    • When a Complete Wean Isn't Feasible
  • Case Studies: 15 minutes

Handouts:

  • Signs of Readiness
  • Methods for Weaning (with supporting research)

Module 5

Complex Medical Diagnoses

Pre-Recorded Module: 1 hour 58 minutes

  • Neurology Review: 12 minutes
  • Complex Neuro Diagnoses: 45 minutes
  • Regressive Diseases: 25 minutes
  • Rare Genetic Syndromes and Other Diagnoses: 10 minutes
  • Difficult Conversations & Considerations: 5 minutes
  • Case studies of various ages/diagnoses: 21 minutes

Handouts:

  • Neurological Diagnoses Intervention Considerations

Module 6

Trauma Informed Care in PFDs

Pre-Recorded Module: 57 minutes

  • Why is This Important: 24 minutes
  •  What is Trauma-Informed Care: 14 minutes
  • Strategies to Implement: 14 minutes
  • Resources to Learn More: 5 minutes
  • Case examples throughout

Handouts: 

  • Six Key Principles
  • Resources to learn more

Module 7

Cleft & Craniofacial Diagnoses

Pre-recorded Module: 2 Hours

  • Speaker Introduction, Disclosures, and Course Outline: 5 minutes
  • The role of the Speech-Language Pathologist on the Cleft and Craniofacial Team: 30 minutes
  • Pre-surgical Infant Orthopedics and Feeding Impact: 10 minutes
  • Feeding Considerations and Interventions for a child with cleft lip and palate: 60 minutes
    • Pierre Robin Sequence: Surgery Discussion and Feeding Considerations
    • Genetic Syndromes with associated craniofacial conditions: Feeding Considerations
  • Case Studies: 15 minutes

Handouts

  • Surgical Procedures & Timeline
  • Cleft Bottle Systems

Module 8

Oncology, Acute, & Palliative Care

Pre-Recorded Module: 3 hours 23 minutes

  • Oncology in Pediatrics and Feeding/Swallowing Implications: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Acute Care: 1 hour 26 minutes minutes
    • Trach & Vent
    • Speaking Valves
  • Palliative Care Considerations: 47 minutes
    • Pleasure Feeds/Risk Feeding
    • Quality of Life Considerations

Handouts:

  • Childhood Cancer Reference Sheet
  • MBSS/VFSS and FEES Guide

Module 9

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Pre-Recorded Module: 2 hours 06 minutes

  • Feeding therapist's role in the NICU: 1 hour 5 minutes
    • Assessment & Intervention 
    • Volume vs. Cue-Based Feeding
  • NICU Follow-Up Post Discharge: 18 minutes
  • Networking in NICU & Post Discharge: 18 minutes
  • Case Studies: 25 minutes

Handouts:

  • Sensory System Development
  • Evaluation Considerations
  • Resources

Module 10

Breast/Chestfeeding and Lactation

Pre-Recorded Module: 1 hour 55 minutes

  • Assessment and Lactation: 1 hour 20 minutes
    • How to support caregiver and infant dyad
  • Common Concerns & Interventions: 25 minutes
  • Case Studies: 10 minutes

Handouts:

  • Benefits of Breastmilk for Infant and Caregiver

  • Readiness Cues for Feeding

  • Breast/Chestfeeding Calculations

  • Breast/Chestfeeding Positions and Potential Benefits

  • Breast/Chestfeeding Common Concerns & Recommended Interventions

Module 11

Neurodiversity & Cultural Considerations

Pre-Recorded Module: 1.5 hours

  • Neurodiversity Affirming Care: 20 minutes
  • Cultural Competence: 18.5 minutes
  • Autism & PFD: 26 minutes
  • ARFID: 15 minutes
  • Case Examples: 10 minutes

Handouts:

  • Neurodiversity Affirming Care Principles & Resources
  • Cultural Competence: Practices and Resources
  • Autism & PFD: Common Characteristics
  • ARFID: What is it & What is our role?

Module 12

Goal Writing & When to Discharge

Pre-Recorded Module: 38 minutes

  • Goal Writing: 31 minutes
    • SMART-C Goals
    • Neurodiversity Affirming Goals
    • Quick Tips
    • Goal Examples
  • When to Discharge: 7 minutes
    • ASHA Standards and Ethics

Handouts:

  • SMART-C Goals
  • Goal Writing Quick Tips
    • Neurodiversity Affirming Goal Considerations

Module 13

 Evidence-Based Practice & Continued Active Learning

Pre-Recorded Module: 2 hours 23 minutes

  • EBP - is it actually a triangle?
  • How to implement EBP
  • What happens when part of EBP is missing?
  • How to be an active learner moving forward
  • Navigating and interpreting research

Handouts:

  • Resource for implementing Evidence-Based Practice

Meet the Mentors

Brianna Miluk, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC

Bri is a speech language pathologist who works in pediatric home health and outpatient. Her caseload primarily consists of infants and medically-complex children with feeding and swallowing disorders. She is owner of Pediatric Feeding Therapy, LLC which strives to provide evidence-based, high quality continuing education to professionals. Bri also manages the instagram @pediatricfeedingslp and is co-host of the podcast The Feeding Pod. She is co-founder and president of the non-profit Pediatric Feeding Disorders Foundation. Bri enjoys providing mentorship and support to professionals and families on PFDs.

Dr. Katherine Sanchez, PhD, CPSP

Dr. Katherine Sanchez is a speech pathologist who co-owns a private practice, Protea Therapy, in Melbourne, Australia, where she works with children aged 0-6. She obtained her PhD looking at oral motor development in children born before 30 weeks of gestational age; and has also published research on communication and feeding in children with cleft palate, children with cerebral palsy, and dysregulated infants. Dr. Sanchez has a particular interest in supporting very young children with complex medical histories.

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

Rebecca Smith is a clinical educator at Appalachian State University in the Beaver College of Health Sciences Interprofessional Clinic. She works in outpatient and acute care settings through ASU and teaches their pediatric dysphagia course in the graduate program. Rebecca is pursuing her Ph.D. in Health Sciences with an anticipated completion date of May 2024. Over the last five years, she has specialized in evaluating and treating infant feeding and swallowing in the neonatal intensive care unit and assessing adult dysphagia in medical and surgical intensive care units. She is a certified neonatal therapist and certified lactation counselor. 

Rebecca has served on various local, state, and national committees. She served on the executive medical committee for Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Special Interest Group 13, Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders Professional Development Committee, Dysphagia Research Society’s Website, Communications, and Public Relations Committee, and Dysphagia Research Society’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. She has presented on numerous occasions through state associations and ASHA on neonatal intensive care and clinical supervision.

Kristin Szymanek, MA, CCC-SLP

Kristin Szymanek, MA, CCC-SLP, is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she completed both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She has 10 years of clinical experience as a speech-language pathologist, with over 8 years devoted to the pediatric oncology/hematology population. Kristin serves as the Director of Rehabilitation at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where she also provides acute, inpatient, and outpatient services to infants, children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Her research interests include rehabilitation for  patients with posterior fossa syndrome and the comprehensive management of feeding and swallowing disorders in childhood cancer patients and survivors. Kristin strives to make evidence-based information related to childhood cancer easily accessible to speech-language pathologists and applicable to their clinical practice.

Meg Lico, MS, CCC-SLP

Meg Lico is the Cleft & Craniofacial Team Speech-Language Pathologist at the Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery at NYU Langone Health in New York, NY. She earned her Bachelors of Arts degree in Public Health at the University of South Carolina with a special focus in pediatric health promotion, education, and behavior. She earned her Masters of Science Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Columbia University in New York City, and it was there that Meg developed a specialized interest in working with the cleft palate and craniofacial population. Meg completed her clinical fellowship at a children’s hospital in outpatient pediatrics and developed a rich experience working with children including, but not limited to, those diagnosed with cleft palate/craniofacial disorders, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, autism, and seizure disorders. In her free time, Meg also enjoys exploring the city and going to the beach. She loves a good iced coffee and has a passion for tasty plant-based food.

Additional Course Information