Pediatric Dysphagia and FEES (fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing) Workshop

Dr. Douglas Sidell
Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Stanford University, Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Dr. Sidell is Associate Professor of Otolaryngology -Head and Neck Surgery at the Stanford University Medical Center, where he is a member of the Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology. Dr. Sidell's surgical practice focuses on the management of children with complex airway and pulmonary disorders, with a special interest in complex and revision airway reconstruction. His clinical interests also include the management of children with voice and swallowing disorders as well as congenital or acquired abnormalities of the larynx and trachea. He is the Director of the Pediatric Aerodigestive Center and Co-director of the Pediatric Voice and Swallowing Clinics at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford. Dr. Sidell has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed articles in top-tier medical publications. He is board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology with a Complex Pediatric Otolaryngology board subcertification and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is a member of numerous organizations and societies, including the Stanford Maternal and Child Health Research Institute, the American Academy of Otolaryngology, American Broncho-Esophagological Association, and the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology.

April Johnson
Speech and Language Pathologist, Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford University, USA

April Johnson is a pediatric Speech Pathologist at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and Manager of the Speech Pathology Department. After graduating with her Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders, she completed her Fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital before moving to California to pursue a career at Stanford. Her expertise lies in the areas of Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Disorders, Voice Disorders, Swallowing Disorders, and FEES.  She works closely with Otolaryngology and started several clinics in partnership with ENT throughout the years, including the Vocal Cord Dysfunction Clinic, Velopharyngeal Dysfunction Clinic,  and the Voice and Swallow Clinic.  April established the multidisciplinary FEES program at Stanford Children’s with her ENT colleagues.  She enjoys presenting and meeting new people in all phases of their careers.

Dr. Taseer Din
Assistant Professor, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar and Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sidra Medicine

Dr Din serve sas an Assistant Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology, Head-Neck Surgery, Weill Cornell-Qatar and Pediatric Otolaryngologist, Head-Neck Surgeon at Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar after completing a Fellowship in Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head-Neck Surgery, at Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, USA. While at Stanford University, he was awarded the Fellow of the Year within the Department of Otolaryngology, Head-Neck Surgery and nominated for the 2023 Kelley M. Skeff GME Professionalism Award. He is also a recipient of the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship from over 7,500 applicants and the TSESI Dubai traveling scholarship, among other awards. He is a highly motivated clinician with a keen interest in clinical and global health research, having published multiple original research articles within the highest impact journals in my field. His ultimate vision is to continually perform clinical medicine at the highest level and promote global otolaryngology research that facilitates an equitable and world-class clinical practice.

Lisa McNamara
Manager, Speech and Language Pathology, Sidra Medicine

Lisa McNamara is a distinguished Speech and Language Pathologist with a robust academic background and extensive clinical experience. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Linguistics at the University of Hertfordshire, where she first cultivated her passion for language and communication. This foundational knowledge propelled her to pursue a Master of Science in Speech and Language Pathology and Therapy at University College London (UCL), UK.

Upon completing her studies, Lisa gained invaluable experience working in several prominent NHS Trusts in London, including King’s College, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals, and the Evelina Children’s Hospital. Throughout her tenure in these esteemed institutions, she specialized in paediatric dysphagia, developing a comprehensive skill set in assessing and treating swallowing disorders among children.

Currently, Lisa serves as the Manager of SLP at Sidra Medicine. In this role, she has been instrumental in establishing numerous programs aimed at enhancing patient care and treatment outcomes. Her leadership and advocacy for the profession have been pivotal in advancing the field of SLP within the region and making a meaningful impact in the lives of the individuals she serves.