Swallowing Disorders Expert Witnesses

Swallowing disorders expert witnesses and consultants listed here may be able to form expert opinions, draft expert witness reports, provide expert witness testimony at deposition and/or trial as or serve as consulting (non-testifying) experts on swallowing disorders. The swallowing disorders expert witness listings on this page are typically from fields/areas of expertise such as: Allergy & Immunology, Bariatric Surgery, General Surgery, Geriatrics, Otolaryngology, and Speech-Language Pathology.

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Elizabeth M McKinney

Forensic Speech Pathologist and Expert Witness

Forensic SLP Consulting Services, LLC

Melbourne, Florida
Speech-Language Pathology, Geriatrics - Dysphagia, Choking, Aspiration Pneumonia, Weight Loss, Dehydration, Malnutriiton, Dementia, Stroke/ CVA, TBI, Developmental Disabilities, Cognitive Impairments, Communication Disorders, Parkinson's Disease, SLP, Neurogenic Disorders, Swallowing Disorders
As a forensic speech-language pathologist with 18 years of experience, I specialize in legal consulting and expert witnessing services for both plaintiff and defense medical malpractice and nursing home neglect cases nationwide. My expertise is in cases involving dysphagia, choking, aspiration, weight loss, dehydration, malnutrition, developmental disabilities, dementia, and neurogenic disorders such as stroke, TBI, and Parkinson’s disease. As a graduate of the University of Florida, I received my BA in communication sciences and disorders and gerontology in 2006, and a MA in speech-language pathology in 2008. I hold additional certifications in dysphagia management and Parkinson's Disease and am a Certified Dementia Provider (CDP). With a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), I am qualified to opine on legal cases nationwide. I’m committed to evidence-based practices and maintaining the standard of care in speech-langua...
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Steven Siegal, MD, FACS

Bariatric and General Surgeon with GI Expertise

General Surgery Institute

Fort Myers, Florida
General Surgery, Bariatric Surgery - Endoscopy, Hernia, Gastrointestinal, Solid Organ, Postoperative Care, Colonoscopy, Colon, Weight Loss, Acid reflux, Hiatal Hernia, Upper GI, Swallowing Disorders, Robotic Surgery, Wound Care, Stomach Surgery, Hiatal Hernia, Bariatric Surgery, Endoscopic Sleeve, Gastric Bypass, Bowel Injury
Dr. Siegal is a board-certified fellow of the American College of Surgeons with specialty training in minimally invasive bariatric, robotic, and endoscopic surgery. He graduated from the University of Miami in 2008, then received his medical degree from the University of Florida in 2013. Dr. Siegal then pursued his general surgery residency at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, OR where he published many peer-reviewed research papers focused on hernia surgery, esophageal cancer, and reflux disease. He then completed a fellowship in advanced robotic gastrointestinal, endoscopic and bariatric surgery at Penn State University where he focused on advanced surgical endoscopy including Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty and the TORe procedure. Dr. Siegal is an Adjunct Professor Nova Southeastern University and was a previous Instructor of Surgery at Penn State University. In addition to being a Founding Member of the American Foregut Society, Dr. Siegal carries the follo...
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Karen M Sheffler, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S

Speech-Language Pathologist / Dysphagia & Choking

SwallowStudy & Associates, LLC; SwallowStudy.com

Boston, Massachusetts
Speech-Language Pathology, Geriatrics - swallowing, swallowing disorders, dysphagia, oral, pharyngeal, esophageal, oropharyngeal dysphagia, vocal cords, vocal folds, larynx, aspiration, aspiration pneumonia, aspiration precautions, safety, stroke, choke, choking, asphyxiation, hypoxia, anoxia
I am a medical Speech-Language Pathologist and a Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders/Dysphagia (BCS-S). I achieved this BCS-S specialty certification in 2012. I have been a certified, licensed and practicing SLP since 1996, with licensure in Massachusetts from 1998 to current. I have enjoyed working as a dysphagia expert witness in litigation since 2016. I have reviewed over 60 cases, equally covering defendants and plaintiffs. I started SwallowStudy & Associates, LLC in January 2024 and now have an associate who is also a board certified specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders: George Barnes, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S. Please see his listing as well. We both take cases nationally. I have worked with the adult and geriatric populations, specializing in dysphagia evaluation and management in long-term care, rehabilitation centers, and acute care with inpatients and outpatients. I have also been invited to nursing conferences to speak for nursing and ...
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Thomas W Stark, MD

Navy trained Otolaryngologist w/ >40 Yrs REAL WRLD

Thomas Stark Medical Consulting

Santa Fe, New Mexico
Otolaryngology, Allergy & Immunology - Thyroid surgery, Facial nerve injury, Sinus surgery, Voice disorders, Hearing loss, Noise exposure, Vertigo, Sleep apnea, Allergy immunotherapy, Anaphylaxis, Insurance denials, Antibiotic overuse, Swallowing disorders, Cancer of the mouth and throat
I was Valedictorian of my high school, and graduated Cum Laude from the University of Texas at Austin, earning Phi Beta Kappa. I was in the top 10 % of my medical school class. I benefited from extrordinary training at Bethesda Navy Hospital which was tha main East Caost Navy referral hospital. I was in the operating room at least twice a week, doing surgery "for free" on active duty military, their dependents (including children from newborn until late teens) and retirees. I have been in practice long enough to see numerous advances that make diagnoses and treatment more efeective and safe. But learning in the days before CT scans and MRIs honed my skills. However, I am definitely not stuck in the past. I incorporate the latest in modern technology both in my clinic and in the operating room. I have another "talent" that I am proud of. I am an excellent public speaker and I know how to phrase topics so that they are understandable to the general population. I was the Texas High S...
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Thomas W Stark, MD

Navy trained Otolaryngologist w/ >40 Yrs REAL WRLD

Thomas Stark Medical Consulting

Texas
Otolaryngology, Allergy & Immunology - Thyroid surgery, Facial nerve injury, Sinus surgery, Voice disorders, Hearing loss, Noise exposure, Vertigo, Sleep apnea, Allergy immunotherapy, Anaphylaxis, Insurance denials, Antibiotic overuse, Swallowing disorders, Cancer of the mouth and throat
I was Valedictorian of my high school, and graduated Cum Laude from the University of Texas at Austin, earning Phi Beta Kappa. I was in the top 10 % of my medical school class. I benefited from extrordinary training at Bethesda Navy Hospital which was tha main East Caost Navy referral hospital. I was in the operating room at least twice a week, doing surgery "for free" on active duty military, their dependents (including children from newborn until late teens) and retirees. I have been in practice long enough to see numerous advances that make diagnoses and treatment more efeective and safe. But learning in the days before CT scans and MRIs honed my skills. However, I am definitely not stuck in the past. I incorporate the latest in modern technology both in my clinic and in the operating room. I have another "talent" that I am proud of. I am an excellent public speaker and I know how to phrase topics so that they are understandable to the general population. I was the Texas High S...
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CASEY LEWIS, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CNT, CLC, NTMTC

THE ONLY BOARD-CERTIFIED SWALLOW STUDY COMPANY TX

TEXSCOPE LLC

KAUFMAN, Texas
Speech-Language Pathology - SWALLOWING, SWALLOWING DISORDERS, INFANT, NICU, ICU, ASPIRATION, VOCAL FOLDS, SWALLOW STUDY, FEES, HYPOXIA, ANOXIA, CHOKE, STROKE, INTUBATION, DYSPHAGIA, ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA, ASPHYIXATION, MOTHER/BABY, BREASTFEEDING, BOTTLE FEEDING
Casey Lewis is a medical Speech-Language Pathologist, Board Certified Specialist- Swallowing & Swallowing Disorders, Certified Neonatal Therapist, Certified Lactation Counselor, & Endoscopist. She owns and operates TexScope LLC, a Texas based mobile swallowing diagnostic company that specializes in Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing. TexScope partners with critical access hospitals, acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities and private practices, serving as their swallowing diagnostic expert. She is a respected expert in the field of Speech-Language Pathology and specializes in swallowing disorders across the lifespan. She is an active expert witness and is a sought-out speaker and educator both in the US and across the world. She is the creator of NICU Oral Feeding Algorithm, which aids medical teams in clinically navigating oral feeding decision-making within the NICU space. Casey has been an invited speaker at 14 universitie...
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Kristine Carlson

Speech-Language Pathologist -- ADULT SWALLOWING

Charlottesville, Virginia
Speech-Language Pathology - dysphagia, aphasia, cognitive-linguistic deficits, swallowing, swallowing disorders, stroke, aspiration, aspiration pneumonia, choking, swallow strategies, aspiration precautions, tracheostomy, brain injury, TBI, asphyxia, hospice
Kristine Carlson is an ASHA-certified and Virginia-licensed medical Speech-Language Pathologist currently working in the acute care setting at University of Virginia with over 20 years of experience. Over the course of her career, she has also worked in the skilled nursing, sub-acute, long-term acute care, acute rehab, and outpatient settings with adults 18+ with primary focus on dysphagia, aphasia, cognitive-linguistic disorders, and dysarthria. As an acute care speech-language pathologist in an academic medical center, Kristine conducts comprehensive swallowing evaluations on medically complex patients patients to determine the safety of PO intake while minimizing aspiration risk. She possesses strong clinical decision-making skills with critically ill patients with a myriad of diagnoses including but not limited to lung/heat/lung transplant, stroke, TBI, acute respiratory failure. Her expertise also extends to patients with speech, language, or cognitive deficits. She has wo...