Additional information:
Dr. Pusins specializes in infant/pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders. She has extensive experience in the NICU environment and is also a certified breastfeeding specialist. She has presented nationally and internationally on infant/pediatric feeding and swallowing. She currently teaches Dysphagia and Motor Speech Disorders at Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Pusins received her Doctor of Clinical Science of Medical Speech Pathology degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. The Unicorn Foundation Feeding Clinic at Nova Southeastern University approaches feeding and swallowing concerns using a multidisciplinary approach. Our philosophy to assessment and treatment is based on the foundation that feeding and swallowing difficulties stem from an underlying medical cause. The feeding/swallowing difficulties occur due to a medical etiology and lead to subsequent feeding refusal. She believes the behavioral component is a result of the underlying medical issue. Frequently, even if the medical issue is resolved the feeding aversion continues as the behavioral response has been learned. Given her medical background, Dr. Pusins approaches the assessment and management of feeding and swallowing concerns by investigating potential medical etiologies resulting in the clinical presentation. Dr. Pusins investigates if there is an underlying medical etiology contributing to the feeding and swallowing difficulties and assists parents in obtaining further medical evaluation, while also assessing for oral motor function and overall swallow physiology. Dr. Lesack is a licensed psychologist, a board-certified behavior analyst at the doctoral level, and is certified through the American Board of Professional Psychology in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. She is also certified in PCIT, an evidence-based intervention working simultaneously with the caregivers and child to increase adaptive interactions and address problem behavior and noncompliance. Dr. Lesack addresses feeding difficulties using a behavioral framework once all the underlying medical concerns have been managed. The approach implemented within our feeding clinic aims to assess and manage all components of feeding and swallowing difficulties in order to facilitate developmentally appropriate feeding behaviors.