Archives: Committee Members

Sharon is board certified in Pediatric Nutrition by the Commission on Dietetic Registration and has worked as a pediatric dietitian for almost 3 decades in various capacities including inpatient teaching hospitals, a private practice, consultative roles and outpatient clinic settings. She has practiced at UNC Children’s Hospital and has been in her current position as a Pediatric Specialty Clinic Dietitian for 15 years. Sharon has been working with the pediatric feeding team since its inception in 2012 and loves watching the transformation in eating skill, growth and overall nutrition that patients develop as an outcome of the interdisciplinary collaboration from the feeding team. Areas of particular interest include children with special health care needs, GI nutrition and enteral feeding. Sharon graduated with a BA in Nutrition with double major in Psychology from Russell Sage College in Troy, NY followed by a nutrition internship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN.

Dr. Kelsey Thompson is a speech language pathologist and researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research centers around supporting families of high-risk infants through the transition to complementary foods in order to prevent long-term pediatric feeding disorder. Her work includes qualitative, quantitative, and biobehavioral methods. She is particularly interested in family-centered, translational research.

Anne Elise is a certified pediatric speech-language pathologist working in the outpatient setting at Ochsner Hospital for Children in New Orleans, Louisiana. She evaluates and treats pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders, including through a multidisciplinary feeding team. Her caseload includes a diverse range of patients, from infants to those with complex medical needs. Anne Elise is deeply committed to family-centered care, advocating for a multidisciplinary approach, and supporting other professionals in increasing their knowledge of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders.  

Jenny has been a licensed speech-language pathologist for 22 years and is also a Certified Lactation Counselor. At the UT Dallas Callier Center, she specializes in diagnostics and treatment of children with feeding challenges from birth through adolescence. She is the co-author of two books, Helping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating and Conquer Picky Eating for Teens and Adults, which can be found at www.extremepickyeating.com

Dana is an occupational therapist, Board Certified in Pediatrics, and has a special interest in feeding as well as sensory processing. She has worked in a variety of pediatric settings including a pediatric hospital, specialty clinic, private practice, and home health. Dana has presented on feeding therapy and interventions nationally and across virtual platforms. Dana is a published author on the subject of pediatric feeding disorders. She currently volunteers her time with Feeding Matters by serving on the Pre-Conference Committee and the Family Advisory Council. Dana was first introduced to feeding therapy when accompanying her younger brother Sean to his appointments. Her personal experience with PFD over many years inspired her to pursue occupational therapy to help other families navigate the complex world of feeding disorders.

Dr. Preceous Jensen is a neonatologist with an interest in dysphagia. She trained at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and was a key member of the Neonatal Infant Feeding Disorders Program. Since leaving fellowship, she implemented the Johns Hopkins Feeding Enhancement Program, a robust interdisciplinary team of neonatologist, Speech and Language Pathologists, Nutritionist, Physical Therapist with a focus on improving the oral feeding outcomes of high risk neonates.

Jennifer has been a registered dietitian for 19 years. She founded First Step Nutrition in Calgary, Alberta, where she helps make feeding families easier, focusing on baby-led weaning and picky eating. Jen is the published author of two books, including “The Parents’ Guide to Baby-led Weaning,” and contributed to the Practice Based Evidence in Nutrition pathway on Toddler & Preschooler Nutrition. She has helped hundreds of families make dinnertime more peaceful, now working with clients in her business online via programs. Jen also trains healthcare professionals via the Picky Eating Network for Healthcare Professionals.

Liz is a pediatric dietitian in the Department of Clinical Nutrition and Lactation and the Comprehensive Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She is also a Certified Lactation Counselor. She specializes in working with children with pediatric feeding disorder, other comorbid psychological and/or medical concerns by ensuring they are receiving proper nutrition for adequate growth and development.

Isuru is a speech-language pathologist with a clinical and research expertise in pediatric feeding disorders. She has worked as a lecturer and a clinician in Sri Lanka and received her doctorate in pediatric dysphagia from New Zealand. Isuru is a strong advocate for supporting to improve clinical care for PFD in under-resourced settings by equipping clinicians and educating families and communities. Her main research interests are to develop reliable low-cost swallowing screening/ assessments and to improve the quality of instrumental swallowing assessments for children. Currently, she is pursuing a post-doctoral research fellowship at the Swallowing Rehabilitation Research Institute in Toronto Rehabilitation Research Institute, Canada. She is a council member of the Sri Lankan Association of Speech and Language Pathologists and a member of Dysphagia Research Society.

Jennifer is a licensed and certified SLP with over 30 years of experience in working with infants, toddlers, children and adolescents with feeding and swallowing disorders and differences. She has worked in NICU, PICU, and outpatient settings. Ms. Casteix is currently an Associate Clinical Professor at The University of Arizona where she teaches and mentors undergraduate and graduate students, and teaches courses on pediatric dysphagia and autism spectrum disorder.