November 11, 2025 (Volume 49, Number 6)
Article by
Sri Nandamudi
Riley MacDonald, a clinical dietetics graduate student, practices nasogastric tube placement on a simulation model during the Interprofessional Dysphagia Labs in the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences on October 24.
Sri Nandamudi, associate professor of speech-language pathology, facilitated the annual Interprofessional Dysphagia Labs and the popular “Swalloween” event in late October, in collaboration with the Simulation Center and other College of Health Professions programs.
Dysphagia means difficulty swallowing. This can be a debilitating condition that affects a person’s ability to eat and drink safely, leading to serious health complications such as aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition and dehydration, while also impacting the quality of life and social participation.
As chair of the Dysphagia IPE Taskforce, Nandamudi coordinates the labs, which are designed around shared learning objectives emphasizing teamwork and understanding of each profession’s role in dysphagia intervention.
Graduate students from Speech-Language Pathology, Occupational Science and Therapy, and Clinical Dietetics participated in the three-part learning experience. They began with online modules from each discipline, then met in person to collaborate on interprofessional activities. Two weeks later, students reconvened for simulation-based case studies, learning to develop care plans for patients with swallowing disorders and working with standardized patients portraying individuals and caregivers.
The labs also featured a fun “Swalloween” costume contest on food/drink-inspired themes to raise awareness about dysphagia, awarding the best teams with interprofessional prizes.
-- Sri Nandamudi is the associate professor and admissions coordinator for the Speech-Language Pathology program.
This article was last edited on November 6, 2025 at 12:3 p.m.
Aviation students can complete the Bachelor of Applied Science degree program in Traverse City, or online, and have tangible professional benefits within the industry.
Featured
June 16, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 18)
Article by
Kate VanDerKolk
A Detroit News article centered on university governance and a Brookings article called the Thompson Scholars program a model solution for increasing access for students from middle-income families.
June 16, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 18)
Now working in the Division of Enrollment Development and College Futures, Ngassa discusses how his background serves as a bridge between enrollment and academic affairs.
June 16, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 18)
