Swallowing Expert Witnesses

Swallowing 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. The swallowing expert witness listings on this page are typically from fields/areas of expertise such as: Geriatrics, Otolaryngology, and Speech-Language Pathology.

Karen M Sheffler, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S 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, strategies, choke, choking, asphyxiation, hypoxia, anoxia, stroke, dementia, neurological, paralysis
I am a medical Speech-Language Pathologist and a Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (BCS-S). I achieved this 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 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 am a 9-time award winner of the ASHA Award for Continuing Education (ACE) in recognition of excellence in continued professional study (as of March 2023). In September 2019, I won the first Hormel Health Labs Health Hero Award: https://www.hormelhealthlabs.com/resources/health-hero-advances-dysphagia-research/. I was elected as a Board member of the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders in November 2022. I am the founder of www.SwallowStudy.com: Dysphagia Resource for Professional...

Michael Loochtan, MD

Dublin, Ohio
Otolaryngology - Ear Nose & Throat, ENT, Laryngology, Larynx, Voice, Vocal Cords, Vocal Cord Paralysis, Hoarseness, Tracheostomy, Sinus Surgery, Airway, Jet Ventilation, Swallowing
Dr. Loochtan is a board-certified otolaryngologist and fellowship-trained laryngologist. He practices general otolaryngology (ear, nose & throat) and laryngology (voice, airway & swallowing) in private practice. Dr. Loochtan has been published in multiple peer-reviewed journals, and currently serves as section chief of otolaryngology at a regional tertiary care hospital in Central Ohio.

Kristine Carlson

Charlottesville, Virginia
Speech-Language Pathology - dysphagia, aphasia, cognitive-linguistic deficits, swallowing, swallowing disorders, stroke, aspiration, aspiration pneumonia, choking, swallow strategies, aspiration precautions
I am an ASHA-certified and Virginia-licensed medical Speech-Language Pathologist currently working in the acute care setting at University of Virginia with 20 years of experience. Over the course of my career, I have also worked in the skilled nursing, sub-acute, long-term acute care, acute rehab, and outpatient settings w/ adults 18+ with primary focus on dysphagia, aphasia, cognitive-linguistic disorders, and dysarthria. Please see my CV for further details about my career.