Dissertation Committee

My dissertation committee has been finalized!! Here's a brief bio sketch of my chair and reader.

CESAR RUIZ, SLP.D, CCC-SLP, BRS-S

CESAR RUIZ, SLP.D, CCC-SLP is an Assistant Professor at La Salle University, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Ruiz holds appointments at the Philadelphia Veteran Affairs Hospital, and the Penn Center for Voice at Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Ruiz is an adjunct professor in the Doctoral Studies for SLP.D. at Nova Southeastern University, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He has extensive experience in voice and swallowing disorders, and in rehabilitation of patients following head and neck cancer. Dr. Ruiz has published and presented at national and international conferences.

CATHLEEN BERGIN, ED.D, CCC-SLP, BRS-S

Cathleen Bergin Ed.D, CCC-SLP is a certified speech-language pathologist in the Department of Otolaryngology at Naples Medical Center, Naples, Florida and a consultant at Lee Cancer Care, Lee Memorial Hospital Regional Cancer Center in Ft. Myers, Florida. Dr. Bergin is an adjunct professor and doctoral advisor at Nova Southeastern University. She is an IAL alaryngeal instructor. She holds degrees from The Florida State University, Nova Southeastern University and Inter American University of Puerto Rico. She has specific interests in the treatment of voice disorders, head/neck cancer, professional voice, and dysphagia.

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Dissertation Committee

I am eagerly awaiting my dissertation committee assignment. I don't think I have ever checked my emails so much in one day.

Purpose and Relevance of My Proposed Study

What do you think bloggers....?
Relevance and Purpose

Many individuals who undergo a total laryngectomy elect to also undergo surgical voice restoration to communicate with a tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis. While many studies have been done which have shown great initial success with this device (Attieh, Searl, Shahaltough, Wreikat, & Lundy, 2008; Blom, Singer, & Hamaker, 1986; Gerwin & Culton, 2005; Graville, Gross, Andersen, Everts, & Cohen, 1999; Kazi et al., 2007; Leder & Cara Erksin, 1997; Shuster et al., 2004; Singer & Blom, 1980; Wetmore, Krueger, & Wesson, 1981), few studies have looked at long-term follow up (Ferrer Ramirez et al., 2001; Geraghty, Wenig, Smith, & Portugal, 1996), particularly among the elderly population. The purpose of this study is to determine if users of a tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis are (a) satisfied with their device and (b) using their device successfully with advancing age.

Research Questions

This study seeks to answer the following research questions.

            1. How do users of a tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis feel about their ability to use their device as they age?

            2. How do users of a tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis feel about their ability to maintain their device as they age?

            3. How do certain medical conditions influence the use of a tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis in those who use this device to communicate?

            4. Is there a difference in average duration of device use from a tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis as individuals age?

Welcome!

My name is Mario and I intend to use this blog to allow readers to follow my journey through my Clinical Doctorate in Speech Language Pathology at Nova Southeastern University. I'll mainly be posting about my progress with my dissertation, but will also include any updates from my classes and program. Feel free to post any comments...and words of encouragement, which will be greatly appreciated.