Webinar Series: Intersectionality of Down Syndrome and PFD
Register for all 4 events (listed below) and save! Or register each individually.
| Base for Series | Discount rate | Savings | |
| MD/PSYCH member | $160 | $145 | $15 |
| MD/PSYCH non-member | $208 | $195 | $13 |
| SLP/PA/OT/RD/NP member | $120 | $105 | $15 |
| SLP/PA/OT/RD/NP non-member | $168 | $155 | $13 |
Registration for all 4 Events:
Physician, Psychologist
Speech-Language Pathologist, Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapist, Registered Dietitians, and Nurse Practitioners
Register for any of the following events individually:
Event 1 - October 20, 2025: Transdisciplinary Down Syndrome Clinics
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm (EST)
Speakers:
Angela Lombardo, MSW; Cori Myjak, MS, CCC-SLP; Meredith Close, MD; Kate Pawlowski, MS ; Carol Wilkinson, MD, PhD; Maria Stanley, MD, FAAP; Mary Marcus, MS, RDN, CSP, CD; Amy Lyle, MSSW, APSW; Jaclyn Bender, MS, OTR/L
Abstract:
Patients with Down Syndrome benefit from care by transdisciplinary teams. Care topics include those related to feeding, oral and pharyngeal dysphagia, obesity as well as gross and fine motor, language, and psychosocial development. Team make up may include physicians, APPs, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, dietitians etc. The domains covered and disciplines represented mirror those of transdisciplinary teams who see patients with chronic pediatric feeding disorder. We as feeding professionals seek to learn about Down Syndrome transdisciplinary team function, logistics, team building and the care provided.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize the facets of feeding challenges associated with Down Syndrome.
- Build and maintain a transdisciplinary team to treat a specific diagnosis.
- Treat feeding challenges in patients with developmental delays including Down Syndrome.
Time-Ordered Agenda:
- 5-Minutes – Introduction
- 40-Minutes-Team Presentations
- 15-Minutes – Question and Answer
References:
Bull MJ, Trotter T, Santoro SL, Christensen C, Grout RW; COUNCIL ON GENETICS; Burke LW, Berry SA, Geleske TA, Holm I, Hopkin RJ, Introne WJ, Lyons MJ, Monteil DC, Scheuerle A, Stoler JM, Vergano SA, Chen E, Hamid R, Downs SM, Grout RW, Cunniff C, Parisi MA, Ralston SJ, Scott JA, Shapira SK, Spire P. Health Supervision for Children and Adolescents With Down Syndrome. Pediatrics. 2022 May 1;149(5):e2022057010. doi: 10.1542/peds.2022-057010. PMID: 35490285.
Santoro SL, Brenner-Miller D, Cottrell C, Bress J, Torres A, Skotko BG. Using a Communication Passport within a Multidisciplinary Genetics Clinic. Pediatr Qual Saf. 2021 Sep 24;6(5):e472. doi: 10.1097/pq9.0000000000000472. PMID: 34589646; PMCID: PMC8476060.
Tsou AY, Bulova P, Capone G, Chicoine B, Gelaro B, Harville TO, Martin BA, McGuire DE, McKelvey KD, Peterson M, Tyler C, Wells M, Whitten MS; Global Down Syndrome Foundation Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome Workgroup. Medical Care of Adults With Down Syndrome: A Clinical Guideline. JAMA. 2020 Oct 20;324(15):1543-1556. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.17024. PMID: 33079159.
Registration:
Physician, Psychologist
Speech-Language Pathologist, Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapist, Registered Dietitians, and Nurse Practitioners
Speaker Bios:
Angela Lombardo, MSW
Angela Lombardo is the program coordinator for the Down Syndrome Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, which offers specialized services for all children with Down syndrome and their families from newborn through age 22. Angela works in close collaboration with medical specialists, community physicians, educators, and Down syndrome organizations. She is also the Family Faculty person for the LEND Program, a fellowship program focused on disability, and coordinates the Linking Hands Program. Linking Hands connects LEND fellows to local families for home visits to learn what family life is like for children with special needs and their families.Cori Myjak, MS, CCC-SLP
Cori received her Bachelor’s in Speech, Language, and Hearing Science from the University of Connecticut. Her undergraduate experiences include research assistantships at the UConn Language and Brain Lab and the UConn Child Labs as well as a minor in Human Development and Family Studies. Cori obtained her Masters of Science in Speech Pathology from Southern Connecticut State University where she also served as the president of the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association chapter.
Cori went on to complete her post-graduate clinical fellowship at Yale New Haven Hospital specializing in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders.
Cori is now a member of Boston Children’s Hospital’s inpatient feeding and swallowing team providing clinical feeding evaluations, Modified Barium Swallow studies, and feeding therapy in an acute care setting. She is also a feeding specialist on the Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia multi-disciplinary outpatient clinic.Meredith Close, MD
Dr. Meredith Close is a board-certified neurodevelopmental disabilities pediatrician in Boston, MA, specializing in developmental and behavioral pediatrics. She graduated from the University of Arizona / College of Education and offers telehealth appointments and sees patients at various locations in Boston and Brookline, MA.Kate Pawlowski, MS
Katherine Pawlowski is the lab director of the Developmental Medicine Clinical Research Laboratories and a clinical research manager in the Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center. At Boston Children’s Hospital, she supervises a team of clinical research assistants and specialists, who support more than ten principal investigators in a number of disciplines, including Genetics, Neurology, Developmental Medicine, and Psychiatry. She is primarily involved with the implementation of clinical research projects that focus on pediatric neurodevelopment, including research projects in Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X Syndrome, and Down syndrome, ranging from interventional clinical trials to longitudinal natural history studies.Carol Wilkinson, MD, PhD
Dr. Carol Wilkinson is a physician-scientist in the Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience in the Division of Developmental Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Wilkinson earned her MD, PhD, and completed her pediatric residency at the University of California, San Francisco. There, her graduate work focused on molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. As a Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician in the Autism Spectrum Center and Developmental Medicine Center at Boston Children’s, she cares for children with a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders and challenges. Through her research and clinical work, her goal is to help children maximize their potential in all aspects of their life.Maria Stanley, MD, FAAP
Maria A. Stanley, MD, FAAP, is a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics in the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She serves as Medical Director of the Waisman Center and as Director of the Waisman Down Syndrome Clinic. She has longstanding clinical interest and experience caring for children with complex developmental, behavioral and feeding issues. She also has been actively involved in educating clinicians regarding best practice care for individuals with Down syndrome through her work with Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group-USA (DSMIG-USA).Mary Marcus, MS, RDN, CSP, CD
Mary Marcus is a registered dietitian nutritionist and board certified in pediatric nutrition. Mary’s expertise is in pediatric nutrition care, with a special interest caring for children from birth to 21 with medically complex health needs and developmental conditions including Down syndrome. Mary has also trained many nutrition trainees, dietetic interns, and healthcare providers on pediatric nutrition. She presents on a variety of pediatric nutrition topics to community and professional groups.Amy Lyle, MSSW, APSW
Amy Lyle, MSSW, APSW is Clinic Coordinator and social worker in the Down Syndrome Clinic at University of Wisconsin- Madison – Waisman Center. Amy has in-depth knowledge of the children’s long-term support service system in Wisconsin that she gained while working in partnership with children and youth with disabilities and their families as a case manager in the Family Support and Children’s Long Term Support Waiver programs. She has been at Waisman Center, Wisconsin’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) for 12 years.Jaclyn Bender, MS, OTR/L
Jaclyn Bender is a certified, licensed occupational therapist, specializing in pediatrics. She works at the Waisman Center in 3 capacities. Jaclyn is a member of interdisciplinary clinics serving children with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other neuromotor conditions, providing consultative evaluations. Secondly, she serves as an occupational therapist in the Waisman Early Childhood Program, promoting inclusion in the classrooms and providing ongoing treatment for children who attend. Lastly, she works on faculty for the Wisconsin LEND program; Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. This is a training program for students and community members to better the service delivery for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities.Continuing Education:
Satisfactory Completion Requirements :Certificates of completion will be awarded after active attendance at the entire presentation, submission of a completed evaluation and submission of a completed assessment of learning. There is no partial credit. A link to the online assessment and evaluation will be provided.
Cancallation Policy:
Cancellations accepted until October 14, 2025. A full refund will be processed back to the original payment method.Professional Conduct and Discrimination Policy
All participants are expected to conduct themselves in professional manor. Please review IAPFS’s Professional Conduct and Discrimination Policy.Complaint Policy
Questions and concerns should be emailed to the Association Office, admin@iapfs.org. Complaints arising during or after an event, can be filed using the post event evaluation form or by contacting the Association office.Accessibility Policy
The Association is committed to providing an outstanding experience for all participants at its events. We strive for full access to the activities of these events and accommodations relating to mobility, hearing, vision or other areas may be provided. We ask that requests for reasonable accommodations at the event be made as early as possible, and well in advance of the event, so we may explore options to best meet the individual’s need or provide a resource/suggestion to help meet the individuals’ requirement.Potential Barriers: Although we strive to make this event as accessible as possible to all members, some barriers may remain due to financial, logistical, facility, vendor or volunteer/staffing limitations.
If the association is unable to provide an accommodation due to one or more of the reasons stated above and the individual feels attendance is no longer an option, the Association will provide a full refund of the event registration fee.
IAPFS is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval ID# 14553. This live event is offered at .1 CEUs, introductory level, OT Service Delivery. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
AMEDCO: View CE Language
Speaker Disclosures:
Angela Lombardo, MSW has no relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Cori Myjak, MS, CCC-SLP has no relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Meredith Close, MD has no relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Kate Pawlowski, MS receives a salary as an employee of Boston Children’s Hospital. She has no other relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Carol Wilkinson, MD, PhD receives a consulting fee for consultation work with Biomarin. She has no other relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Maria Stanley, MD, FAAP has received financial support for research from Inspire. She has no other relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Mary Marcus, MS, RDN, CSP, CD has no relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Amy Lyle, MSSW, APSW has no relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Jaclyn Bender, MS, OTR/L has no relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Event 2 - January 26, 2026: All Hands on Deck: Navigating Dysphagia Management in Children with Down Syndrome with Heart, Teamwork, and Evidence Based Care
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm (EST)
Speakers:
Arwen Jackson, MA CCC-SLP, Jenna Mathews, MOT, OTR/L, BCP, CLC, Abby Eno, RN BSN, Juan Ramos, Health Navigator, Heidi Gawey, MSW, LCSW, Maegan Davis, RD, Emily DeBoer, MD
Abstract:
Swallowing challenges are common in children with Down syndrome (DS), with reports of around 50% of children being diagnosed with dysphagia at the time of a swallow study. These challenges are often compounded by co-occurring medical conditions and additional feeding concerns. This webinar will explore the specific feeding and swallowing differences frequently observed in this population as well as the multi-factorial nature of dysphagia management across developmental stages—from infancy through adolescence. We will delve into both the art and science of dysphagia management, emphasizing an interdisciplinary team approach. Each team member’s role, including speech language pathology, occupational therapy, pulmonology, nursing, nutrition, family navigation, and social work, will be highlighted to demonstrate the importance of teamwork in achieving effective, sustainable management for children with DS and dysphagia. Preliminary research will be shared on the impact of dysphagia on caregiver quality of life, as well as emerging evidence on the trajectory of dysphagia in this population. We will discuss how these findings guide clinical decision-making and supports.
Learning Objectives:
- Analyze and articulate the distinct roles and responsibilities within a multidisciplinary dysphagia team to optimize patient care.
- Explain the key feeding and swallowing challenges prevalent in children with Down syndrome, emphasizing their clinical implications.
- Evaluate and prioritize at least three critical factors to consider when managing dysphagia in children with Down syndrome to enhance patient and family outcomes.
Time-Ordered Agenda:
- 5 minutes: Welcome and Session Overview
- 20 minutes: Characterization of Feeding and Swallowing Challenges in Children with Down Syndrome
- 55 minutes: In-depth Exploration of Clinical Roles and Responsibilities within the Multidisciplinary Dysphagia Management Team
- 10 minutes: Question and Answer
References:
Jackson A, Maybee J, Moran MK, Wolter-Warmerdam K, Hickey F. Clinical Characteristics of Dysphagia in Children with Down Syndrome. Dysphagia. 2016;31(5):663-671. doi:10.1007/s00455-016-9725-7
Stanley MA, Shepherd N, Duvall N, et al. Clinical identification of feeding and swallowing disorders in 0–6 month old infants with Down syndrome. Am J Med Genet Part A. 2019. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.11
Jackson A, DeBoer E, Hamlington KL, Wolter-Warmerdam K, Maybee J. Caregivers of children with Down Syndrome adapt their child’s diet and experience barriers and impacts on quality of life. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2025 Sep;196:112441. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2025.112441. Epub 2025 Jun 21. PMID: 40639047.
Registration:
Physician, Psychologist
Speech-Language Pathologist, Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapist, Registered Dietitians, and Nurse Practitioners
Continuing Education:
Satisfactory Completion Requirements :Certificates of completion will be awarded after active attendance at the entire presentation, submission of a completed evaluation and submission of a completed assessment of learning. There is no partial credit. A link to the online assessment and evaluation will be provided.
Cancallation Policy:
Cancellations accepted until January 19, 2026. A full refund will be processed back to the original payment method.Professional Conduct and Discrimination Policy
All participants are expected to conduct themselves in professional manor. Please review IAPFS’s Professional Conduct and Discrimination Policy.Complaint Policy
Questions and concerns should be emailed to the Association Office, admin@iapfs.org. Complaints arising during or after an event, can be filed using the post event evaluation form or by contacting the Association office.Accessibility Policy
The Association is committed to providing an outstanding experience for all participants at its events. We strive for full access to the activities of these events and accommodations relating to mobility, hearing, vision or other areas may be provided. We ask that requests for reasonable accommodations at the event be made as early as possible, and well in advance of the event, so we may explore options to best meet the individual’s need or provide a resource/suggestion to help meet the individuals’ requirement.Potential Barriers: Although we strive to make this event as accessible as possible to all members, some barriers may remain due to financial, logistical, facility, vendor or volunteer/staffing limitations.
If the association is unable to provide an accommodation due to one or more of the reasons stated above and the individual feels attendance is no longer an option, the Association will provide a full refund of the event registration fee.
IAPFS is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval ID# 11861. This live event is offered at .15 CEUs, introductory level, OT Service Delivery. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.Speaker Disclosures
Arwen Jackson, MA CCC-SLP, has no relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Jenna Matthews, MOT, OTR/L, BCP, CLC, has no relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Abby Eno, RN BSN, has no relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Juan Ramos has no relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Heidi Gawey, MSW LCSW, has no relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Meagan Davis, RD, has no relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Emily DeBoer, MD, has no relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Event 3 - March 18, 2026: : Dual Diagnosis, Double the Challenge: Feeding Strategies for Children with Down Syndrome and Autism
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm (EST)
Speakers:
Noemi Spinazzi, MD, FAAP; Lina Patel, PsyD
Abstract:
In this webinar, Dr. Patel and Dr. Spinazzi will review common feeding challenges in children with Down syndrome (DS) and children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and will then delve into commonly encountered feeding challenges for children with a dual diagnosis of DS+ASD. The presentation will include strategies for understanding root causes of feeding challenges in this unique patient population, tips for identifying those patients at a higher risk for nutritional deficiencies, and behavioral techniques for supporting their progress with feeding.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify common feeding challenges experienced by children with Down syndrome and discuss underlying physiological and developmental factors
- List typical feeding difficulties in children with autism spectrum disorder
- Describe how feeding concerns may present in children with a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder, and analyze how overlapping features may influence assessment and intervention strategies.
- Formulate key clinical questions to assess the unique feeding profile of a child with co-occurring Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder, and identify potential medical complications associated with feeding difficulties in this population
- Discuss strategies to support feeding in children with a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder.
Time-Ordered Agenda:
- 5 minutes – Introductions
- 5 minutes – Overview of Down syndrome and common feeding challenges
- 5 minutes – Overview of autism spectrum disorder and common feeding challenges
- 5 minutes – Reviewing common presentation of Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder, including known medical
co-occurrences - 15 minutes – Reviewing feeding concerns within the Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder population
- 10 minutes – Discussing intervention strategies
- 15 minutes – Question and answer
References:
Hielscher, L., Irvine, K., Ludlow, A. K., Rogers, S., & Mengoni, S. E. (2023). A scoping review of the complementary feeding practices and early eating experiences of children with Down syndrome. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 48(11), 914-930. https://doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsad060
Spinazzi, N.A., Santoro, J.D., Pawlowski, K., Anzueto, G., Howe, Y.J., Patel, L.R., & Baumer, N.T. (2023).
Co-occurring conditions in children with Down syndrome and autism: a retrospective study. Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 15(1), 1-8. https://doi: 10.1186/s11689-023-09478-w
Franceschetti, S., Tofani, M., Mazzafoglia, S., Pizza, F., Capuano, E., Raponi, M., Della Bella, G., &
Cerchiari, A. (2024). Assessment and rehabilitation intervention of feeding and swallowing skills in children with down syndrome using the global intensive feeding therapy (GIFT). Children, 11(7), 847.
Registration:
Physician, Psychologist
Speech-Language Pathologist, Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapist, Registered Dietitians, and Nurse Practitioners
Continuing Education:
IAPFS is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval ID# 11861. This live event is offered at .1 CEUs, introductory level, OT Service Delivery. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
Satisfactory Completion Requirements :
Certificates of completion will be awarded after active attendance at the entire presentation, submission of a completed evaluation and submission of a completed assessment of learning. There is no partial credit. A link to the online assessment and evaluation will be provided.
Cancallation Policy:
Cancellations accepted until March 11, 2026. A full refund will be processed back to the original payment method.Professional Conduct and Discrimination Policy
All participants are expected to conduct themselves in professional manor. Please review IAPFS’s Professional Conduct and Discrimination Policy.Complaint Policy
Questions and concerns should be emailed to the Association Office, admin@iapfs.org. Complaints arising during or after an event, can be filed using the post event evaluation form or by contacting the Association office.Accessibility Policy
The Association is committed to providing an outstanding experience for all participants at its events. We strive for full access to the activities of these events and accommodations relating to mobility, hearing, vision or other areas may be provided. We ask that requests for reasonable accommodations at the event be made as early as possible, and well in advance of the event, so we may explore options to best meet the individual’s need or provide a resource/suggestion to help meet the individuals’ requirement.Potential Barriers: Although we strive to make this event as accessible as possible to all members, some barriers may remain due to financial, logistical, facility, vendor or volunteer/staffing limitations.
If the association is unable to provide an accommodation due to one or more of the reasons stated above and the individual feels attendance is no longer an option, the Association will provide a full refund of the event registration fee.
Speaker Disclosures:
Noemi Spinazzi, MD, FAAP, serves as a consultant on the data safety advisory board for Ionis Pharmaceuticals.
Lina Patel, PsyD, has no relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Event 4 - May 7, 2026: Developmental Feeding Support in Down Syndrome: Leveraging Anticipatory Guidance to Promote Health
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm (EST)
Speakers:
Tessa Kennedy CCC-SLP; Dominica Nichols, PhD, RD, LDN
Abstract:
Abstract: Feeding and swallowing challenges are common in individuals with Down syndrome and can significantly affect growth, nutrition, and health. This session explores how anticipatory guidance—stage-specific, supportive, and proactive counseling—can support safe feeding, prevent complications, and empower families across the lifespan. Practical strategies, from infancy through adulthood, will be shared with emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and family-centered care. Attendees will leave with tools and strategies to shift feeding support from problem management to proactive health promotion.
Recorded Webinars
Involving Families in Feeding Interventions including Cultural Considerations
Originally recorded on February 12, 2025
90-minute recordingSpeaker:
Ryan Davidson, PhD: Attending Psychologist, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, & Nutrition, Associate Program Director, Growth and Nutrition Program Boston Children’s Hospital, Instructor, Harvard Medical School;
Juliet Ochura, CCC-SLP, CLC: Speech-Language Pathologist Feeding and Swallowing Program Division of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement Boston Children’s Hospital;
Rebecca Kramer, PhD: Attending Psychologist, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, & Nutrition, Boston Children’s Hospital, Instructor, Harvard Medical School;
Anna Rouse, LICSW: Social worker for the Growth and Nutrition Program at Boston Children’s HospitalAbstract:
This presentation will discuss accommodation model of feeding difficulties and role of family behaviors in maintaining feeding difficulties, including coercive feeding practices, accommodation, and avoidance. In addition, cultural differences in feeding practices will be reviewed and presenters will discuss communication strategies to modify treatment plans to be culturally sensitive and meet families where they are at.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand role of family behaviors, including coercive feeding practices, accommodation, and avoidance in maintaining restrictive eating behaviors
- Recognize cultural differences in feeding practices including mealtime environment, feeding expectations, and culturally appropriate foods
- Identify communication strategies to develop culturally sensitive treatment plans for children with pediatric feeding disorders
Registration:
Physician, Psychologist
Speech-Language Pathologist, Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapist, Registered Dietitians, and Nurse Practitioners
Speaker Bios:
Dr. Ryan Davidson completed her Ph.D. at the University of Arizona and her postdoctoral fellowship on the psychiatry consultation service at BCH. She is an Instructor of Psychology in Psychiatry at HMS, an attending psychologist in the GI division, Associate Program Director for the Growth and Nutrition Program, and teaches Behavioral Medicine at BU. She works closely with parents and families of children with pediatric feeding disorders and provides supervision to psychology postdoctoral fellows in GNP and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellows. In addition to her clinical work, she is active in the GI EDI taskforce.
Juliet Ochura, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC is a speech-language pathologist at Boston Children’s Hospital. She specializes in the evaluation and treatment of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders in medically complex infants and children. She diagnoses and treats feeding and swallowing disorders in infants and children on an inpatient and outpatient basis including multidisciplinary clinics specializing in children with multifactorial feeding difficulties. Juliet is passionate about developing creative solutions in the management of dysphagia in populations with socio-economic, psychosocial, and cultural differences and conducts research on SDH and their impact on PFD. She serves as a mentor to BIPOC SLP graduate students at the MGHIHP.
Dr. Rebecca Kramer is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Growth and Nutrition Program within the Department of Gastroenterology and Nutrition at Boston Children’s Hospital and in Instructor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Kramer completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Seattle Pacific University. She completed her predoctoral internship at Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital in Baltimore and post-doctoral fellowship on the GI Psychology Service at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Kramer’s clinical and research interests include ARFID and exposure therapy.
Anna Rouse, MSW, LICSW is a social worker for the Growth and Nutrition Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. This is an interdisciplinary outpatient program that primarily treats children, from birth to school-age, with feeding difficulties and poor weight gain. The primary role of the social worker is to assess for and support families with any psychosocial needs that may contribute to the diagnostic presentation, and coordinate care with community based providers.
Use of Applied Behavior Analysis in the Assessment and Treatment of Feeding Disorders
Originally recorded on March 26, 2025
90-minute recordingSpeaker:
Alison Kozlowski, PhD, LP, BCBA-D, Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine;
Valerie Volkert, PhD, BCBA-D, Marcus Autism Center and Emory University School of MedicineAbstract:
Feeding disorders can be multifaceted, including having medical, nutritional, oral-motor, and/or psychosocial components. For many individuals, assessment and treatment from multiple disciplines is warranted, with behavior analysts able to target psychosocial components. Behavior analysts use a scientific approach to identify the environmental variables impacting feeding, develop function-based treatments, and systematically evaluate the effectiveness of treatments so appropriate recommendations can be made. This webinar will review what applied behavior analysis is, behavior analysts’ roles as part of the interdisciplinary feeding team, and common behavior-analytic feeding assessments and treatments. The effectiveness and social validity of behavior-analytic feeding therapy will also be reviewed.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify and understand the role of applied behavior analysis in the assessment and treatment of feeding difficulties.
- Identify and understand the various functions of problem behavior during mealtimes and how that information is used to guide treatment.
- Identify and understand the purpose and effectiveness of some common behavior-analytic feeding treatment components.
Registration:
Physician, Psychologist
Speech-Language Pathologist, Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapist, Registered Dietitians, and Nurse Practitioners
Speaker Bios:
Ali Kozlowski is the assistant director, a licensed psychologist, and a doctoral-level board certified behavior analyst in Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program, and an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Kozlowski was previously Director at Large – Psychologist for the International Association for Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing (IAPFS) and Past-President for the Maryland Association for Behavior Analysis. She also serves on the Research and Education Committee for IAPFS currently. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Boston University in 2006, she worked for two years as a teacher at the May Institute in Randolph, Massachusetts, using the principles of applied behavior analysis to develop and implement behavior support plans and Individualized Education Plans for children with autism spectrum disorder. Subsequently, she earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Louisiana State University in 2013. After completing her coursework, she completed her doctoral internship at Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program and Neurobehavioral Unit-Outpatient Program, and a postdoctoral fellowship in the Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program. Dr. Kozlowski has remained with the Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program since that time. In her current role she supervises the behavioral assessment and treatment of children with feeding disorders admitted to the interdisciplinary day treatment and inpatient feeding programs; provides outpatient behavioral feeding services; supervises doctoral interns, postdoctoral fellows, early career psychologists, and those training to be behavior analysts; and conducts research related to the assessment and treatment of pediatric feeding disorders.
Valerie M. Volkert, PhD, BCBA-D, Associate Professor (Pediatrics), is a psychologist program manager in the Children’s Multidisciplinary Feeding Program at Marcus Autism Center. She received her doctorate in school psychology from Louisiana State University in 2007. She was previously faculty at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, and adjunct faculty at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she became the Training Director for the Applied Behavior Analysis Ph.D. Program and Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders. In 2015, Dr. Volkert joined the Marcus Autism Center. She sees patients in intensive day treatment and outpatient at the Feeding Program, supervises interns and residents, and pursues lines of clinical research. She has authored four book chapters and published 51 peer-reviewed research studies in multiple journals, including the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and the Journal of Pediatrics. Dr. Volkert consistently serves on editorial boards and was associate editor for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.
Communication & Collaboration With Patients, Families, And Colleagues Creating A Shared Mission & Culture Of Feedback And Wellness
Originally recorded on May 13, 2025
90-minute recordingSpeaker:
Susan H. McDaniel, PhD
Abstract:
This presentation will center on the complex skills involved in effective communication as a foundation of clinical practice, education, and research. It will include research on clinician-patient communication, in-depth descriptions of evidence-based communication skills that can result in higher patient (and colleague) satisfaction and improved physician/faculty wellness, a communication coaching program that promotes these skills, and the use of this program to improve interactions among clinicians and patients, professional colleagues, and clinical and research teams across institutions.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe 2 behaviors that strengthen family functioning in the face of a challenge such as their child having a feeding disorder
- Identify 2 communication skills that contribute to parent/caregiver’s satisfaction with their child’s pediatric visit
- Describe 2 family systems concepts that also apply to clinical teamwork
Registration:
Physician, Psychologist
Speech-Language Pathologist, Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapist, Registered Dietitians, and Nurse Practitioners
Speaker Bio:
Susan H. McDaniel, PhD ABPP, is the Dr. Laurie Sands Distinguished Professor of Families & Health at the University of Rochester Medical Center where she is Director of the UR Medicine Physician Communication Coaching and Leadership Development Program, Chief Psychologist and Director of the Institute for the Family in the Department of Psychiatry, and Vice Chair of the Department of Family Medicine.
Dr. McDaniel’s career is focused on healthcare communication and teamwork, biopsychosocial medicine, the integration of behavioral health into healthcare more broadly, and medical family therapy. She has won many awards and is the author of over 100 journal articles and 18 books. Dr. McDaniel was Co-Editor with Tom Campbell MD of the interdisciplinary journal, Families, Systems & Health for 12 years, and Associate Editor of the American Psychologist for 10 years. She is a frequent speaker at national and international medical and mental health meetings.
Dr. McDaniel has served in many leadership positions in healthcare. Among them, she served as the President of the American Psychological Association in 2016, and is now President of the Practice Division of the International Association of Applied Psychology. She also serves as the Vice-Chair and mental health representative on the policy-focused, interprofessional Board of the Primary Care Collaborative in Washington DC.Transdisciplinary Down Syndrome Clinics
Originally recorded on October 20, 2025
60-minute recordingSpeakers:
Angela Lombardo, MSW; Cori Myjak, MS, CCC-SLP; Meredith Close, MD; Kate Pawlowski, MS; Carol Wilkinson, MD, PhD; Maria Stanley, MD, FAAP; Mary Marcus, MS, RDN, CSP, CD; Amy Lyle, MSSW, APSW; Jaclyn Bender, MS, OTR/L
Abstract:
Patients with Down Syndrome benefit from care by transdisciplinary teams. Care topics include those related to feeding, oral and pharyngeal dysphagia, obesity as well as gross and fine motor, language, and psychosocial development. Team make up may include physicians, APPs, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, dietitians etc. The domains covered and disciplines represented mirror those of transdisciplinary teams who see patients with chronic pediatric feeding disorder. We as feeding professionals seek to learn about Down Syndrome transdisciplinary team function, logistics, team building and the care provided.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize the facets of feeding challenges associated with Down Syndrome.
- Build and maintain a transdisciplinary team to treat a specific diagnosis.
- Treat feeding challenges in patients with developmental delays including Down Syndrome.
Registration:
Physician, Psychologist
Speech-Language Pathologist, Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapist, Registered Dietitians, and Nurse Practitioners
Speaker Bios:
Angela Lombardo, MSW
Angela Lombardo is the program coordinator for the Down Syndrome Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, which offers specialized services for all children with Down syndrome and their families from newborn through age 22. Angela works in close collaboration with medical specialists, community physicians, educators, and Down syndrome organizations. She is also the Family Faculty person for the LEND Program, a fellowship program focused on disability, and coordinates the Linking Hands Program. Linking Hands connects LEND fellows to local families for home visits to learn what family life is like for children with special needs and their families.Cori Myjak, MS, CCC-SLP
Cori received her Bachelor’s in Speech, Language, and Hearing Science from the University of Connecticut. Her undergraduate experiences include research assistantships at the UConn Language and Brain Lab and the UConn Child Labs as well as a minor in Human Development and Family Studies. Cori obtained her Masters of Science in Speech Pathology from Southern Connecticut State University where she also served as the president of the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association chapter.
Cori went on to complete her post-graduate clinical fellowship at Yale New Haven Hospital specializing in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders.
Cori is now a member of Boston Children’s Hospital’s inpatient feeding and swallowing team providing clinical feeding evaluations, Modified Barium Swallow studies, and feeding therapy in an acute care setting. She is also a feeding specialist on the Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia multi-disciplinary outpatient clinic.Meredith Close, MD
Dr. Meredith Close is a board-certified neurodevelopmental disabilities pediatrician in Boston, MA, specializing in developmental and behavioral pediatrics. She graduated from the University of Arizona / College of Education and offers telehealth appointments and sees patients at various locations in Boston and Brookline, MA.Kate Pawlowski, MS
Katherine Pawlowski is the lab director of the Developmental Medicine Clinical Research Laboratories and a clinical research manager in the Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center. At Boston Children’s Hospital, she supervises a team of clinical research assistants and specialists, who support more than ten principal investigators in a number of disciplines, including Genetics, Neurology, Developmental Medicine, and Psychiatry. She is primarily involved with the implementation of clinical research projects that focus on pediatric neurodevelopment, including research projects in Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X Syndrome, and Down syndrome, ranging from interventional clinical trials to longitudinal natural history studies.Carol Wilkinson, MD, PhD
Dr. Carol Wilkinson is a physician-scientist in the Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience in the Division of Developmental Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Wilkinson earned her MD, PhD, and completed her pediatric residency at the University of California, San Francisco. There, her graduate work focused on molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. As a Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician in the Autism Spectrum Center and Developmental Medicine Center at Boston Children’s, she cares for children with a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders and challenges. Through her research and clinical work, her goal is to help children maximize their potential in all aspects of their life.Maria Stanley, MD, FAAP
Maria A. Stanley, MD, FAAP, is a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics in the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She serves as Medical Director of the Waisman Center and as Director of the Waisman Down Syndrome Clinic. She has longstanding clinical interest and experience caring for children with complex developmental, behavioral and feeding issues. She also has been actively involved in educating clinicians regarding best practice care for individuals with Down syndrome through her work with Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group-USA (DSMIG-USA).Mary Marcus, MS, RDN, CSP, CD
Mary Marcus is a registered dietitian nutritionist and board certified in pediatric nutrition. Mary’s expertise is in pediatric nutrition care, with a special interest caring for children from birth to 21 with medically complex health needs and developmental conditions including Down syndrome. Mary has also trained many nutrition trainees, dietetic interns, and healthcare providers on pediatric nutrition. She presents on a variety of pediatric nutrition topics to community and professional groups.Amy Lyle, MSSW, APSW
Amy Lyle, MSSW, APSW is Clinic Coordinator and social worker in the Down Syndrome Clinic at University of Wisconsin- Madison – Waisman Center. Amy has in-depth knowledge of the children’s long-term support service system in Wisconsin that she gained while working in partnership with children and youth with disabilities and their families as a case manager in the Family Support and Children’s Long Term Support Waiver programs. She has been at Waisman Center, Wisconsin’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) for 12 years.Jaclyn Bender, MS, OTR/L
Jaclyn Bender is a certified, licensed occupational therapist, specializing in pediatrics. She works at the Waisman Center in 3 capacities. Jaclyn is a member of interdisciplinary clinics serving children with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other neuromotor conditions, providing consultative evaluations. Secondly, she serves as an occupational therapist in the Waisman Early Childhood Program, promoting inclusion in the classrooms and providing ongoing treatment for children who attend. Lastly, she works on faculty for the Wisconsin LEND program; Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. This is a training program for students and community members to better the service delivery for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
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