The 2024 Feeding Matters Annual PFD Alliance Symposium: Exploring an education pathway for PFD

Description

Speakers

Cuyler Romeo, MOT, OTR/L, SCFES, IBCLC Amy Delaney, PhD Paula Rabaey, PhD Erin Ross, PhD Amber Mieras, FAC Chair, Parent of Child with PFD Nikhila Raol, MD, MPH, FAAP The 2024 Feeding Matters Annual PFD Alliance Symposium: Exploring an education pathway for pediatric feeding disorder

Learning Objectives

1. Identify the audience that Feeding Matters can best influence access to and integrate a PFD educational pathway
2. Contrast current PFD educational pathways with actual provider needs and list 2 growth opportunities
3. Identify 2 opportunities for PFD curriculum integration in mainstream educational pathways

Presentation Summary

The 2024 Symposium aims to outline the key components and strategies involved in the development of an educational pathway for pediatric feeding disorder (PFD). In recognizing the critical need for specialized education in this field, our pillar chairs, along with our director of strategic initiatives will have an open discussion with our PFD Alliance community about what opportunities are available within each pillar to best integrate a pathway and how to determine the optimal course of action when implementing education. During this unique live event participants will have the opportunity to share challenges and generate ideas through dynamic real-time interaction with other participants, leadership, and families. Participants will leave with new ideas and renewed motivation to move the system of care for PFD towards a brighter future.

Cuyler Romeo, MOT, OTR/L, SCFES, IBCLC

Cuyler has developed a broad clinical understanding of the needs of families and children by serving as an Occupational Therapist and industry expert in pediatric feeding disorder for over 20 years. As the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Feeding Matters, she assists in developing and executing a strategic plan to bring about system wide change for families struggling with pediatric feeding disorder. She utilizes her clinical understanding and leadership expertise to collaborate with constituents in identifying, tracking, and assessing innovative solutions to system problems. Cuyler also has extensive experience facilitating strategic partnerships and aligning diverse groups of people under a common goal. She designed and executed a state-wide multi- disciplinary mentorship program, launched a Community of Practice within the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and advanced professional development through her position on AOTA’s Commission on Continuing Competence and Professional Development (CCCPD). Prior to joining Feeding Matters, she served as a founding partner of a feeding specialty clinic, Mealtime Connections, and rectified system issues on a broader scale as the Director of Clinical Innovation at Therapy 2000. She also treats clinically as a feeding specialist at Banner University Medical Center-Tucson in a Level 3 NICU and speaks professionally.

Amy Delaney, PhD

Amy is an Assistant Professor in Speech-Pathology & Audiology at Marquette University. She is the Director of the Neurodevelopmental Feeding and Swallowing Lab focusing on the identification of a norm-reference for feeding development to establish diagnostic criteria and assessment tools for the early and accurate diagnosis of pediatric feeding disorder. Dr. Delaney worked at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin for 20 years in advanced diagnostics and intervention for medically complex children with PFD and dysphagia. She is the Education Pillar Chair for Feeding Matters.

Paula Rabaey, PhD

Paula is Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy at the University of Minnesota. She has 30 years clinical experience in pediatric occupational therapy including early intervention, outpatient, home health, feeding, eating, and swallowing, and NICU. Dr. Rabaey’s research and scholarship focuses on children with and without disabilities living in marginalized communities both in the US and abroad with a focus on feeding and mealtimes. Her current project is looking at feeding assessments used by practitioners and the alignment with the PFD diagnosis. She is a feeding technical expert forS POON Foundation and has developed a curriculum to train caregivers in orphanages around the world to safely feed children with disabilities.

Erin Ross, PhD

Erin received her PhD from the University of Colorado in 2007, followed by a 2-year PostDoctoral Fellowship in the Section of Nutrition at the University of Colorado Denver. Her Master’s Degree is in Speech and Language Pathology, from California State University Stansilaus, which she received in 1988. Dr. Ross is currently an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado and is on faculty at the Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She has authored several book chapters and publications related to feeding preterm infants, infants with medical comorbidities, and children with pediatric feeding disorder (PFD). Dr. Ross provides clinical consultation to several NICUs within the HealthONE system in Denver, in addition to providing professional education and research consultation through Feeding Fundamentals. She created SOFFI®, a training program for caregivers in the NICU and in Early Intervention.

Amber Mieras, FAC Chair, Parent of Child with PFD

Amber is the mother of Jax, 8, and Nayeli, 4. Amber connected with Feeding Matters when Jax was an infant and she was looking for information about feeding challenges. She found a wealth of support and knowledge about feeding tubes, therapies, and connections with other families that impacted her entire family. Over the last 7 years, Amber has continued to utilize the Feeding Matters resources and support, serving as the chair on the Family Advisory Council, as a mentor with the Power of Two program, as well as presenting at the 2021 PFD Conference. Amber was an elementary school teacher, mentor, and professional development facilitator for over 16 years serving the Phoenix area as well as a small community outside of Boston. In her spare time, she loves running and hiking, cheering on her alma-mater Arizona State University Sun Devils, and her beloved Red Sox. She loves spending time with her family, watching movies, and being outdoors.

Nikhila Raol, MD, MPH, FAAP

Nikhila is an Associate Professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery and health services researcher at Emory, as well as a pediatric otolaryngologist at CHOA. She completed her medical education at the University of Texas southwestern medical center and her otolaryngology training at Baylor college of medicine. She then completed her pediatric otolaryngology training at the Massachusetts eye and ear infirmary, during which time she obtained her Master of Public Health degree at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Her primary research and clinical interests center on the management of children with pediatric feeding disorder and obstructive sleep apnea. When she’s not obsessing about how other people’s kids eat and sleep, she obsesses over how her three kids and husband and dog eat and sleep. She and her family also love spending time reading, rooting on their favorite sports teams, and enjoying the outstanding Atlanta performing arts scene