Medical Speech Pathology Council of California
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Functional Dysphagia: A GI Psychologist’s Perspective & Treatment Interventions
2/21/2026 - 2/21/2026
Dr. Rebecca Klam, PsyD, serves as Section Chief of Psychology and Director of the Digestive Disease Behavioral Medicine Program at Tampa General Hospital, a leading academic medical center in Florida. A Clinical Health Psychologist by training, she specializes in eating disorders, obesity medicine, and complex digestive diseases, with advanced expertise in gastrointestinal (GI) psychology. Her clinical and programmatic work focuses on integrating behavioral health into multidisciplinary medical teams to improve outcomes for patients with complex GI and swallowing disorders.
Dr. Klam utilizes evidence-based therapies, mindfulness interventions, and comprehensive psychological assessments to help patients manage the interaction between mental and physical health, particularly within the gut-brain axis. She is passionate about developing sustainable models of integrated care that promote collaboration among gastroenterologists, surgeons, dietitians, and speech-language pathologists to enhance patient experience and treatment outcomes.
In addition to her clinical and leadership roles, Dr. Klam has extensive experience in program development, process improvement, and leadership training, with additional education in the business of healthcare. Her ongoing mission is to advance the role of psychology within medical systems, expanding access to behavioral medicine services and promoting whole-person, evidence-based care for individuals with complex medical and gastrointestinal conditions.
Disclosures: Dr. Klam received an honorarium from MSCC.
Facilitator: Kim Gully, MS, CCC-SLP, CCM, CBIST
Disclosures: President & ASHA Continuing Education Administrator (CEA) of MSCC, Founder and Leader of New Start Support Group for TBI Survivors
Course Description: Functional dysphagia presents a complex clinical challenge for speech-language pathologists, as symptoms of impaired swallowing often occur in the absence of identifiable structural or neurological abnormalities. This presentation explores the intersection between gastrointestinal physiology, the autonomic nervous system, and psychological processes that contribute to the experience and persistence of dysphagia symptoms. Drawing from the growing field of psychogastroenterology, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the brain–gut axis and its relevance to the assessment and treatment of functional swallowing disorders.
Led by Dr. Rebecca Klam, a clinical health psychologist specializing in digestive disease and behavioral medicine, this course will examine how stress, anxiety, trauma, and visceral hypervigilance influence upper GI function and sensory perception. Dr. Klam will review evidence-based behavioral and psychological interventions that complement traditional dysphagia therapy, including interoceptive awareness training, gut-directed hypnotherapy, exposure-based approaches, and relaxation strategies targeting the vagal system.
The lecture will integrate current research, case vignettes, and interdisciplinary models of care highlighting collaboration between SLPs, gastroenterologists, and behavioral health specialists. By the end of the session, participants will be equipped to identify functional dysphagia presentations, educate patients about the brain–gut connection, and incorporate behavioral principles into their treatment planning. This session is designed for clinicians who wish to expand their understanding of functional dysphagia beyond anatomy and physiology, toward a biopsychosocial framework that addresses both the mind and body components of swallowing.
Instructional Level: Intermediate Target Audience: Speech-Language Pathologists
Learner Objectives
Describe the role of the brain–gut axis and autonomic regulation in the pathophysiology of functional dysphagia.
Differentiate functional dysphagia from structural and neurological swallowing disorders using a biopsychosocial lens.
Identify psychological factors (e.g., anxiety, hypervigilance, trauma) that contribute to symptom perpetuation in functional dysphagia.
Apply evidence-based behavioral and psychogastroenterological strategies to complement traditional dysphagia treatment approaches.
Time ordered agenda
Introduction (15 min)
The Brain–Gut Axis and Swallowing (30 min)
Psychological Mechanisms in Functional Dysphagia (45 min)
Behavioral Treatment Approaches (60 min)
Interdisciplinary Collaboration (20 min)
Clinical Application and Case Review (30 min)
Q&A and Knowledge Check (10 min)
Special Requests
We encourage participation by all individuals. If you have a disability or other special requests (visual, hearing, physical, etc.), please indicate your request in the designated section included in registration process. We will do our best to accommodate you, please allow a minimum of 14 days notice to allow us time to process your request.
Refund Policy
Refund requests must be submitted in writing via email. Requests made more than 10 business days prior to course date will be subject to an administration fee of $15 of the registration fee if an additional cost is associated with the course. Membership fees will not be refunded if member is not able to attend conferences that are included with annual fee. Refund requests made less than 10 business days prior to any course that requires an additional fee for the course are subject to a $25 administrative fee. This is to cover the costs associated with the course that have already been accrued based on preregistration. No refunds for non-attendance will be issued on the day of, or after, the conference.
Cancellation Policy
If MSCC cancels a course that requires an additional registration fee, all members who have prepaid for the course will be refunded the registration fee in the form of the original payment within 30 business days of the cancellation of the course. MSCC membership fee will not be refunded.
Satisfaction Guarantee & Complaint Policy
MSCC’s continuing education offerings are designed to help professionals achieve improved performance and results in all areas. If for any reason you are not satisfied with the content and material presented, we encourage you to file a complaint via the process outlined on our website within 30 days of the completion of the course. Click Here for Policy
Content Disclosures
The content of this course does not focus exclusively on any specific proprietary product or service. Presenter financial and non-financial disclosures may be found in the Presenter & Disclosures area above.
Dystussia in Neurological & Neurodegenerative Disorders
3/28/2026 - 3/28/2026
Alexandra Brandimore, Ph.D. CCC/SLP joined the USF Communication Sciences and Disorders department faculty in May 2017. She completed her undergraduate, Master's and doctoral studies at the University of Florida and a post-doctoral fellowship in the Laboratory for Upper Airway Dysfunction at Teachers College, Columbia University. During her post-doctoral work she established and coordinated the Clinical Research Neurorehabilitation Center at Teacher’s College and served as co-investigator and/or study coordinator for various large-scale NIH and MJ Fox funded projects. As an academician, Dr. Brandimore's primary research goals target the development of evaluative techniques and therapeutic paradigms to improve upper airway dysfunction, primarily dysphagia (disordered swallowing) and dystussia (disordered cough), in persons with neurodegenerative diseases (i.e. PD, ALS, PSP, etc). Her clinical work has mainly been in the area of Movement Disorders where she has evaluated and treated the motor speech, voice, AAC, and airway protective needs of hundreds of patients within multi-disciplinary movement disorder and ENT clinic. Dr. Brandimore has teaching expertise in the areas of: dysphagia, dystussia, motor speech disorders, voice disorders, respiratory physiology, cognitive-motor relationships, neural/myogenic adaptations to exercise and training.
Facilitator: Kim Gully, MS, CCC-SLP, CCM, CBIST
Disclosures: President & ASHA Continuing Education Administrator (CEA) of MSCC, Founder and Leader of New Start Support Group for TBI Survivors
Course description:
Protection of the lower airways involves a continuum of airway protective behaviors with swallowing serving to prevent material from entering the airway and cough serving to forcefully eject aspirate or endogenous material from the airway. The treatment of airway protective disorders has historically focused solely on the management of dysphagia (swallowing dysfunction). However, production of cough is an equally important maneuver for protecting the airway from aspirate material and is often disordered in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
A successful cough requires the intricate coordination of three phases: an inspiratory phase, a compression phase in which the vocal folds adduct to generate intrathoracic pressure, and an expiratory phase which generates rapid airflow acceleration. Cough can be produced voluntarily, on command, or in reflexively in response to sensory stimuli in and around the airway. This presentation aims to educate on the fundamental differences between the respiratory kinematics, airflow and production of these cough behaviors. It will also provide ways to measure and evaluate reflex and voluntary effectiveness within Speech-Language pathology clinics.
Additionally, our research has demonstrated a cognitive-motivational component to both reflex and voluntary cough production, making it potentially amenable to biofeedback and cueing strategies for the treatment of dystussia (cough dysfunction). Given that many patient populations experience simultaneous decline of swallowing and cough, it is essential to increase the clinical understanding and utility of cough intervention for the improvement of respiratory outcomes. This presentation will discuss novel and effective techniques to immediately up-regulate reflex and voluntary cough function in healthy adults and in people with neurological conditions. These include treatments such as smTAP, expiratory muscle strength training, inspiratory muscle strength training, etc.
This presentation will conclude with the identification of appropriate populations who may benefit from targeted dystussia treatment and provide clinical cases to support evidence-based learning application.
Instructional Level: Intermediate Target Audience: Speech language pathologists
Learner objectives
20 Minutes Background information on the mechanisms and shared neural substrates of swallowing and cough
20 Minutes Differences between reflex and voluntary cough
20 Minutes Research regarding how to evaluate reflex and voluntary cough function
45 Minutes Research and clinical tools for treatment of dystussia (45 minutes)
60 Minutes Clinical cases of patients with dystussia and neurological and neurodegenerative disease who received evaluations and treatments
15 minutes Questions & Answers
In order to receive credit for this course participants must complete the following requirements:
• attend entire course
• Join webinar on time and stay until course concludes
• partial credit not allowed
• complete program evaluation/self assessment
• must be completed within 7 days of completion of course in for attendance to be reported to ASHA CE Registry
• certificate of completion will be awarded upon receipt of program evaluation
Special Requests
We encourage participation by all individuals. If you have a disability or other special requests (visual, hearing, physical, etc.), please indicate your request in the designated section included in registration process. We will do our best to accommodate you, please allow a minimum of 14 days notice to allow us time to process your request.
Refund Policy
Refund requests must be submitted in writing via email. Requests made more than 10 business days prior to course date will be subject to an administration fee of $15 of the registration fee if an additional cost is associated with the course. Membership fees will not be refunded if member is not able to attend conferences that are included with annual fee. Refund requests made less than 10 business days prior to any course that requires an additional fee for the course are subject to a $25 administrative fee. This is to cover the costs associated with the course that have already been accrued based on preregistration. No refunds for non-attendance will be issued on the day of, or after, the conference.
Cancellation Policy
If MSCC cancels a course that requires an additional registration fee, all members who have prepaid for the course will be refunded the registration fee in the form of the original payment within 30 business days of the cancellation of the course. MSCC membership fee will not be refunded.
Satisfaction Guarantee & Complaint Policy
MSCC’s continuing education offerings are designed to help professionals achieve improved performance and results in all areas. If for any reason you are not satisfied with the content and material presented, we encourage you to file a complaint via the process outlined on our website within 30 days of the completion of the course. Click Here for Policy
Content Disclosures
The content of this course does not focus exclusively on any specific proprietary product or service. Presenter financial and non-financial disclosures may be found in the Presenter & Disclosures area above.
Basics of Respiratory Muscle Strength Training (RMST): What's all the Hype?
6/13/2026 - 6/13/2026
Christine M. Sapienza, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a distinguished speech-language pathologist, scientist, and academic leader recognized internationally for her expertise in respiratory muscle strength training (RMST), voice and swallowing disorders, and neurological rehabilitation. Over her career, Dr. Sapienza has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, multiple book chapters, and seminal works on respiratory and phonatory rehabilitation. She has served as principal investigator on numerous NIH- and VA-funded research projects and developed evidence-based clinical protocols widely adopted across speech-language pathology and rehabilitation medicine. Her innovative translational work has transformed the clinical management of Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and neurodegenerative conditions. Dr. Sapienza is also a seasoned educator and continuing education speaker, known for her engaging and clinically grounded presentations.
Facilitator: Kim Gully, MS, CCC-SLP, CCM, CBIST
Disclosures: President & ASHA Continuing Education Administrator (CEA) of MSCC, Founder and Leader of New Start Support Group for TBI Survivors
Course Description
Respiratory Muscle Strength Training (RMST) is an evidence-based therapeutic approach designed to improve respiratory and laryngeal function for patients with neurological, pulmonary, and voice disorders. This three-hour course, led by Dr. Christine M. Sapienza, will provide speech-language pathologists and rehabilitation professionals with a comprehensive understanding of the science, application, and clinical outcomes associated with RMST. The course emphasizes translational research findings and their direct application to patient care, empowering clinicians to confidently integrate RMST into therapy programs for individuals with dysphagia, dysphonia, and airway protection deficits.
The course begins with an overview of respiratory muscle physiology and the mechanisms that underlie strength and endurance training of the inspiratory and expiratory systems. Foundational studies and clinical trials supporting the use of Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training (IMST) and Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) will be reviewed, with discussion of how these interventions impact speech breathing, cough, swallowing safety, and phonatory control. Attendees will gain insight into how RMST enhances airway clearance, improves cough efficacy, and supports respiratory coordination during speech and swallowing tasks.
Participants will explore evidence-based training protocols, including device calibration, individualized dosing, progression strategies, and integration with existing voice and swallowing therapy techniques. Special emphasis will be placed on identifying appropriate patient populations such as those with Parkinson’s disease, stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and post-surgical weakness. Considerations for safety, contraindications, and monitoring of physiologic responses will be highlighted.
Through demonstration and real-world case studies, learners will observe the practical implementation of RMST in clinical settings, including both inpatient and outpatient environments. Examples will illustrate multidisciplinary collaboration and outcome measurement, focusing on functionally meaningful changes in cough peak flow, subglottal pressure, and patient-reported communication and swallowing outcomes.
By the end of the session, participants will have the knowledge and clinical tools to evaluate patients for RMST candidacy, implement and monitor individualized programs, and document measurable outcomes to support reimbursement and efficacy. The course concludes with an interactive discussion designed to reinforce key learning points and answer participant questions, ensuring that attendees leave with both a solid scientific foundation and practical clinical competence in this innovative rehabilitation technique.
Learner Outcomes
Intended Audience
Speech-language pathologists, speech-language pathology assistants, and other rehabilitation professionals working in acute care, outpatient, and long-term care settings who provide services for patients with voice, swallowing, or respiratory-related disorders.
Instructional Level
Intermediate – designed for clinicians with foundational knowledge of speech, voice, or swallowing physiology who wish to expand their skills in RMST application.
Disclosures
• attend entire course
• Join webinar on time and stay until course concludes
• partial credit not allowed
• complete program evaluation/self assessment - must be completed within 7 days of completion of course in for attendance to be reported to ASHA CE Registry
• certificate of completion will be awarded upon receipt of program evaluation
Special Requests
We encourage participation by all individuals. If you have a disability or other special requests (visual, hearing, physical, etc.), please indicate your request in the designated section included in registration process. We will do our best to accommodate you, please allow a minimum of 14 days notice to allow us time to process your request.
Refund Policy
Refund requests must be submitted in writing via email. Requests made more than 10 business days prior to course date will be subject to an administration fee of $15 of the registration fee if an additional cost is associated with the course. Membership fees will not be refunded if member is not able to attend conferences that are included with annual fee. Refund requests made less than 10 business days prior to any course that requires an additional fee for the course are subject to a $25 administrative fee. This is to cover the costs associated with the course that have already been accrued based on preregistration. No refunds for non-attendance will be issued on the day of, or after, the conference.
Cancellation Policy
If MSCC cancels a course that requires an additional registration fee, all members who have prepaid for the course will be refunded the registration fee in the form of the original payment within 30 business days of the cancellation of the course. MSCC membership fee will not be refunded.
Satisfaction Guarantee & Complaint Policy
MSCC’s continuing education offerings are designed to help professionals achieve improved performance and results in all areas. If for any reason you are not satisfied with the content and material presented, we encourage you to file a complaint via the process outlined on our website within 30 days of the completion of the course.
Content Disclosures
The content of this course does not focus exclusively on any specific proprietary product or service. Presenter financial and non-financial disclosures may be found in the Presenter & Disclosures area above.
Assistance...
2/21/2026 - 2/21/2026
Dr. Rebecca Klam, PsyD, serves as Section Chief of Psychology and Director of the Digestive Disease Behavioral Medicine Program at Tampa General Hospital, a leading academic medical center in Florida. A Clinical Health Psychologist by training, she specializes in eating disorders, obesity medicine, and complex digestive diseases, with advanced expertise in gastrointestinal (GI) psychology. Her clinical and programmatic work focuses on integrating behavioral health into multidisciplinary medical teams to improve outcomes for patients with complex GI and swallowing disorders.
Dr. Klam utilizes evidence-based therapies, mindfulness interventions, and comprehensive psychological assessments to help patients manage the interaction between mental and physical health, particularly within the gut-brain axis. She is passionate about developing sustainable models of integrated care that promote collaboration among gastroenterologists, surgeons, dietitians, and speech-language pathologists to enhance patient experience and treatment outcomes.
In addition to her clinical and leadership roles, Dr. Klam has extensive experience in program development, process improvement, and leadership training, with additional education in the business of healthcare. Her ongoing mission is to advance the role of psychology within medical systems, expanding access to behavioral medicine services and promoting whole-person, evidence-based care for individuals with complex medical and gastrointestinal conditions.
Disclosures: Dr. Klam received an honorarium from MSCC.
Facilitator: Kim Gully, MS, CCC-SLP, CCM, CBIST
Disclosures: President & ASHA Continuing Education Administrator (CEA) of MSCC, Founder and Leader of New Start Support Group for TBI Survivors
Course Description: Functional dysphagia presents a complex clinical challenge for speech-language pathologists, as symptoms of impaired swallowing often occur in the absence of identifiable structural or neurological abnormalities. This presentation explores the intersection between gastrointestinal physiology, the autonomic nervous system, and psychological processes that contribute to the experience and persistence of dysphagia symptoms. Drawing from the growing field of psychogastroenterology, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the brain–gut axis and its relevance to the assessment and treatment of functional swallowing disorders.
Led by Dr. Rebecca Klam, a clinical health psychologist specializing in digestive disease and behavioral medicine, this course will examine how stress, anxiety, trauma, and visceral hypervigilance influence upper GI function and sensory perception. Dr. Klam will review evidence-based behavioral and psychological interventions that complement traditional dysphagia therapy, including interoceptive awareness training, gut-directed hypnotherapy, exposure-based approaches, and relaxation strategies targeting the vagal system.
The lecture will integrate current research, case vignettes, and interdisciplinary models of care highlighting collaboration between SLPs, gastroenterologists, and behavioral health specialists. By the end of the session, participants will be equipped to identify functional dysphagia presentations, educate patients about the brain–gut connection, and incorporate behavioral principles into their treatment planning. This session is designed for clinicians who wish to expand their understanding of functional dysphagia beyond anatomy and physiology, toward a biopsychosocial framework that addresses both the mind and body components of swallowing.
Instructional Level: Intermediate Target Audience: Speech-Language Pathologists
Learner Objectives
Describe the role of the brain–gut axis and autonomic regulation in the pathophysiology of functional dysphagia.
Differentiate functional dysphagia from structural and neurological swallowing disorders using a biopsychosocial lens.
Identify psychological factors (e.g., anxiety, hypervigilance, trauma) that contribute to symptom perpetuation in functional dysphagia.
Apply evidence-based behavioral and psychogastroenterological strategies to complement traditional dysphagia treatment approaches.
Time ordered agenda
Introduction (15 min)
The Brain–Gut Axis and Swallowing (30 min)
Psychological Mechanisms in Functional Dysphagia (45 min)
Behavioral Treatment Approaches (60 min)
Interdisciplinary Collaboration (20 min)
Clinical Application and Case Review (30 min)
Q&A and Knowledge Check (10 min)
Special Requests
We encourage participation by all individuals. If you have a disability or other special requests (visual, hearing, physical, etc.), please indicate your request in the designated section included in registration process. We will do our best to accommodate you, please allow a minimum of 14 days notice to allow us time to process your request.
Refund Policy
Refund requests must be submitted in writing via email. Requests made more than 10 business days prior to course date will be subject to an administration fee of $15 of the registration fee if an additional cost is associated with the course. Membership fees will not be refunded if member is not able to attend conferences that are included with annual fee. Refund requests made less than 10 business days prior to any course that requires an additional fee for the course are subject to a $25 administrative fee. This is to cover the costs associated with the course that have already been accrued based on preregistration. No refunds for non-attendance will be issued on the day of, or after, the conference.
Cancellation Policy
If MSCC cancels a course that requires an additional registration fee, all members who have prepaid for the course will be refunded the registration fee in the form of the original payment within 30 business days of the cancellation of the course. MSCC membership fee will not be refunded.
Satisfaction Guarantee & Complaint Policy
MSCC’s continuing education offerings are designed to help professionals achieve improved performance and results in all areas. If for any reason you are not satisfied with the content and material presented, we encourage you to file a complaint via the process outlined on our website within 30 days of the completion of the course. Click Here for Policy
Content Disclosures
The content of this course does not focus exclusively on any specific proprietary product or service. Presenter financial and non-financial disclosures may be found in the Presenter & Disclosures area above.
3/28/2026 - 3/28/2026
Alexandra Brandimore, Ph.D. CCC/SLP joined the USF Communication Sciences and Disorders department faculty in May 2017. She completed her undergraduate, Master's and doctoral studies at the University of Florida and a post-doctoral fellowship in the Laboratory for Upper Airway Dysfunction at Teachers College, Columbia University. During her post-doctoral work she established and coordinated the Clinical Research Neurorehabilitation Center at Teacher’s College and served as co-investigator and/or study coordinator for various large-scale NIH and MJ Fox funded projects. As an academician, Dr. Brandimore's primary research goals target the development of evaluative techniques and therapeutic paradigms to improve upper airway dysfunction, primarily dysphagia (disordered swallowing) and dystussia (disordered cough), in persons with neurodegenerative diseases (i.e. PD, ALS, PSP, etc). Her clinical work has mainly been in the area of Movement Disorders where she has evaluated and treated the motor speech, voice, AAC, and airway protective needs of hundreds of patients within multi-disciplinary movement disorder and ENT clinic. Dr. Brandimore has teaching expertise in the areas of: dysphagia, dystussia, motor speech disorders, voice disorders, respiratory physiology, cognitive-motor relationships, neural/myogenic adaptations to exercise and training.
Facilitator: Kim Gully, MS, CCC-SLP, CCM, CBIST
Disclosures: President & ASHA Continuing Education Administrator (CEA) of MSCC, Founder and Leader of New Start Support Group for TBI Survivors
Course description:
Protection of the lower airways involves a continuum of airway protective behaviors with swallowing serving to prevent material from entering the airway and cough serving to forcefully eject aspirate or endogenous material from the airway. The treatment of airway protective disorders has historically focused solely on the management of dysphagia (swallowing dysfunction). However, production of cough is an equally important maneuver for protecting the airway from aspirate material and is often disordered in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
A successful cough requires the intricate coordination of three phases: an inspiratory phase, a compression phase in which the vocal folds adduct to generate intrathoracic pressure, and an expiratory phase which generates rapid airflow acceleration. Cough can be produced voluntarily, on command, or in reflexively in response to sensory stimuli in and around the airway. This presentation aims to educate on the fundamental differences between the respiratory kinematics, airflow and production of these cough behaviors. It will also provide ways to measure and evaluate reflex and voluntary effectiveness within Speech-Language pathology clinics.
Additionally, our research has demonstrated a cognitive-motivational component to both reflex and voluntary cough production, making it potentially amenable to biofeedback and cueing strategies for the treatment of dystussia (cough dysfunction). Given that many patient populations experience simultaneous decline of swallowing and cough, it is essential to increase the clinical understanding and utility of cough intervention for the improvement of respiratory outcomes. This presentation will discuss novel and effective techniques to immediately up-regulate reflex and voluntary cough function in healthy adults and in people with neurological conditions. These include treatments such as smTAP, expiratory muscle strength training, inspiratory muscle strength training, etc.
This presentation will conclude with the identification of appropriate populations who may benefit from targeted dystussia treatment and provide clinical cases to support evidence-based learning application.
Instructional Level: Intermediate Target Audience: Speech language pathologists
Learner objectives
- Describe the mechanisms of airway protection (cough and swallowing) and their shared neural substrates
- Explain the similarities and differences between voluntary and reflex cough
- Identify tools to successfully evaluate cough function within speech-language pathology clinics
- List interventions to improve dystussia across neurological and neurodegenerative populations
- Provide solutions to clinical cases and standards for best practice with cough evaluation and treatment
20 Minutes Background information on the mechanisms and shared neural substrates of swallowing and cough
20 Minutes Differences between reflex and voluntary cough
20 Minutes Research regarding how to evaluate reflex and voluntary cough function
45 Minutes Research and clinical tools for treatment of dystussia (45 minutes)
60 Minutes Clinical cases of patients with dystussia and neurological and neurodegenerative disease who received evaluations and treatments
15 minutes Questions & Answers
In order to receive credit for this course participants must complete the following requirements:
• attend entire course
• Join webinar on time and stay until course concludes
• partial credit not allowed
• complete program evaluation/self assessment
• must be completed within 7 days of completion of course in for attendance to be reported to ASHA CE Registry
• certificate of completion will be awarded upon receipt of program evaluation
Special Requests
We encourage participation by all individuals. If you have a disability or other special requests (visual, hearing, physical, etc.), please indicate your request in the designated section included in registration process. We will do our best to accommodate you, please allow a minimum of 14 days notice to allow us time to process your request.
Refund Policy
Refund requests must be submitted in writing via email. Requests made more than 10 business days prior to course date will be subject to an administration fee of $15 of the registration fee if an additional cost is associated with the course. Membership fees will not be refunded if member is not able to attend conferences that are included with annual fee. Refund requests made less than 10 business days prior to any course that requires an additional fee for the course are subject to a $25 administrative fee. This is to cover the costs associated with the course that have already been accrued based on preregistration. No refunds for non-attendance will be issued on the day of, or after, the conference.
Cancellation Policy
If MSCC cancels a course that requires an additional registration fee, all members who have prepaid for the course will be refunded the registration fee in the form of the original payment within 30 business days of the cancellation of the course. MSCC membership fee will not be refunded.
Satisfaction Guarantee & Complaint Policy
MSCC’s continuing education offerings are designed to help professionals achieve improved performance and results in all areas. If for any reason you are not satisfied with the content and material presented, we encourage you to file a complaint via the process outlined on our website within 30 days of the completion of the course. Click Here for Policy
Content Disclosures
The content of this course does not focus exclusively on any specific proprietary product or service. Presenter financial and non-financial disclosures may be found in the Presenter & Disclosures area above.
6/13/2026 - 6/13/2026
Facilitator: Kim Gully, MS, CCC-SLP, CCM, CBIST
Disclosures: President & ASHA Continuing Education Administrator (CEA) of MSCC, Founder and Leader of New Start Support Group for TBI Survivors
Course Description
Respiratory Muscle Strength Training (RMST) is an evidence-based therapeutic approach designed to improve respiratory and laryngeal function for patients with neurological, pulmonary, and voice disorders. This three-hour course, led by Dr. Christine M. Sapienza, will provide speech-language pathologists and rehabilitation professionals with a comprehensive understanding of the science, application, and clinical outcomes associated with RMST. The course emphasizes translational research findings and their direct application to patient care, empowering clinicians to confidently integrate RMST into therapy programs for individuals with dysphagia, dysphonia, and airway protection deficits.
The course begins with an overview of respiratory muscle physiology and the mechanisms that underlie strength and endurance training of the inspiratory and expiratory systems. Foundational studies and clinical trials supporting the use of Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training (IMST) and Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) will be reviewed, with discussion of how these interventions impact speech breathing, cough, swallowing safety, and phonatory control. Attendees will gain insight into how RMST enhances airway clearance, improves cough efficacy, and supports respiratory coordination during speech and swallowing tasks.
Participants will explore evidence-based training protocols, including device calibration, individualized dosing, progression strategies, and integration with existing voice and swallowing therapy techniques. Special emphasis will be placed on identifying appropriate patient populations such as those with Parkinson’s disease, stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and post-surgical weakness. Considerations for safety, contraindications, and monitoring of physiologic responses will be highlighted.
Through demonstration and real-world case studies, learners will observe the practical implementation of RMST in clinical settings, including both inpatient and outpatient environments. Examples will illustrate multidisciplinary collaboration and outcome measurement, focusing on functionally meaningful changes in cough peak flow, subglottal pressure, and patient-reported communication and swallowing outcomes.
By the end of the session, participants will have the knowledge and clinical tools to evaluate patients for RMST candidacy, implement and monitor individualized programs, and document measurable outcomes to support reimbursement and efficacy. The course concludes with an interactive discussion designed to reinforce key learning points and answer participant questions, ensuring that attendees leave with both a solid scientific foundation and practical clinical competence in this innovative rehabilitation technique.
Learner Outcomes
- Explain the physiological rationale and scientific evidence supporting inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength training (IMST and EMST).
- Identify appropriate patient populations and contraindications for RMST use in clinical practice.
- Demonstrate correct setup, calibration, and implementation of RMST protocols, including progression and data tracking.
- Integrate RMST within a broader therapeutic framework for dysphagia, voice, and airway management in neurological and pulmonary disorders.
| Time-Ordered Agenda | ||
| 15 minutes | Introduction and Overview | |
| 45 minutes | Scientific Foundation of RMST | |
| 45 minutes | Clinical Implementation and Protocols | |
| 30 minutes | Case Studies and Video Demonstrations | |
| 30 minutes | Measuring Outcomes and Troubleshooting | |
| 15 minutes - | Summary and Q&A |
Intended Audience
Speech-language pathologists, speech-language pathology assistants, and other rehabilitation professionals working in acute care, outpatient, and long-term care settings who provide services for patients with voice, swallowing, or respiratory-related disorders.
Instructional Level
Intermediate – designed for clinicians with foundational knowledge of speech, voice, or swallowing physiology who wish to expand their skills in RMST application.
Disclosures
- Financial: Dr. Sapienza receives royalites from Plural Publishing and speaker fees for educational webinars.
- Nonfinancial: Dr. Sapienza has published and presented extensively on RMST as part of her academic research and advocacy for evidence-based clinical practice.
• attend entire course
• Join webinar on time and stay until course concludes
• partial credit not allowed
• complete program evaluation/self assessment - must be completed within 7 days of completion of course in for attendance to be reported to ASHA CE Registry
• certificate of completion will be awarded upon receipt of program evaluation
Special Requests
We encourage participation by all individuals. If you have a disability or other special requests (visual, hearing, physical, etc.), please indicate your request in the designated section included in registration process. We will do our best to accommodate you, please allow a minimum of 14 days notice to allow us time to process your request.
Refund Policy
Refund requests must be submitted in writing via email. Requests made more than 10 business days prior to course date will be subject to an administration fee of $15 of the registration fee if an additional cost is associated with the course. Membership fees will not be refunded if member is not able to attend conferences that are included with annual fee. Refund requests made less than 10 business days prior to any course that requires an additional fee for the course are subject to a $25 administrative fee. This is to cover the costs associated with the course that have already been accrued based on preregistration. No refunds for non-attendance will be issued on the day of, or after, the conference.
Cancellation Policy
If MSCC cancels a course that requires an additional registration fee, all members who have prepaid for the course will be refunded the registration fee in the form of the original payment within 30 business days of the cancellation of the course. MSCC membership fee will not be refunded.
Satisfaction Guarantee & Complaint Policy
MSCC’s continuing education offerings are designed to help professionals achieve improved performance and results in all areas. If for any reason you are not satisfied with the content and material presented, we encourage you to file a complaint via the process outlined on our website within 30 days of the completion of the course.
Content Disclosures
The content of this course does not focus exclusively on any specific proprietary product or service. Presenter financial and non-financial disclosures may be found in the Presenter & Disclosures area above.
Practicing at the Top of Your License: Dysphagia in Neurodegenerative Disorders
7/11/2026 - 7/11/2026
Kendrea Garand will be the speaker for this webinar presentation. More details to follow.
Registration is Coming Soon for this event
7/11/2026 - 7/11/2026
Kendrea Garand will be the speaker for this webinar presentation. More details to follow.
Registration is Coming Soon for this event
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