September was an exciting and productive month for Dr. James Curtis (PhD, CCC-SLP), director of the Aerodigestive Innovations Research Lab (AIR), and Dr. Anaïs Rameau (MD), director of The Laryngology Innovations Lab, from the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. The two colleagues traveled to Japan to present their work at two highly attended international dysphagia (swallowing) conferences. They were among five internationally invited guest speakers, with others including Drs. Reza Shaker (MD), Greg Postma (MD), and Michelle Singer (SLP).
The first of the two conferences was the Japanese Society of Dysphagia Rehabilitation (JSDR), held on September 2nd, 2023 in Yokohama, Japan. During this conference, Dr. Curtis presented his research findings examining the effects of bolus volume (sip size) on swallowing outcomes and aspiration in people with Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Rameau presented her novel research findings discussing the relationship between depression and anxiety with swallowing dysfunction in people with dysphagia.
The second of the two conferences was the 5th International Dysphagia Symposium, held on September 5th, 2023 in Nagoya, Japan. During this conference, Dr. Curtis presented his invited research findings discussing the relationship between breathing and swallowing in people with Parkinson’s disease and novel methods for dysphagia rehabilitation. Dr. Rameau presented her invited research on the relationship between voice and swallowing impairments in people with dysphagia, while also discussing the development of New York City’s first transdisciplinary dysphagia clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Congratulations to Drs. Rameau and Curtis on their clinically relevant research endeavors!