University of Georgia, Athens- Basic FEES: Instrumental Dysphagia Assessment -23-24 August 2025 (PRIVATE TRAINING)

Presented by:

SA Swallowing Services, PLLC, Nashville, Tennessee

Hosted by:

Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of Georgia, Athens, GA

Intended Audience Only: Privately Hosted with Invitation Only

Speech-Language Pathology graduate students and staff with earned Master’s degree or above who are working for or affiliated with the University of Georgia.  Registration by non-SLP professionals is not permitted.

Private Course Date:

23-24 August 2025

Registration Closes:

5 August 2025

Course Location:

Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Aderhold Hall, 110 Carlton Street, Athens, GA

Purpose:

To provide an intermediate-level, two-day training course for Speech-Language Pathologists in the use of transnasal endoscopy to assess pharyngeal dysphagia using a standard FEES assessment protocol, and scoring and analysis procedures.

Objectives: 

At the completion of this course participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate safe & effective manual skills using nasoendoscopy to assess the oropharynx, hypopharynx, & larynx before, during, & after each swallow event;

• Describe & demonstrate specific FEES protocols & procedures to capture & assess dynamic & complex swallowing events;

• Identify & explain the anatomy & physiology of swallow peristalsis & airway protection functions during normal & abnormal swallowing events, as viewed endoscopically;

• Identify, describe, & demonstrate standard infection control procedures before & after each FEES procedure;

• Identify & describe any risks or contraindications for administering the FEES procedure; and

• Identify, analyze, & interpret FEES results to recommend & guide appropriate interventions.

Local Contact & Special Needs Coordinator:

T.J. Ragan, M.S., CCC-SLP (tragan01@uga.edu)

Course Information Contact and Complaint Resolution:

John R. Ashford, Ph.D., (John.r.ashford6703@gmail.com)

Faculty & Disclosures:

 Michelle Skelley, M.Ed., CCC-SLP:  Co-founder and President of SA Swallowing Services, she is a medical Speech-Language Pathologist and FEES Endoscopist serving rehabilitation hospitals and nursing homes across Tennessee and parts of Kentucky and Georgia.  She also is the supervisor/instructor for on-site FEES competency training.  She is licensed and certified as a provider and instructor of swallowing endoscopy in accordance with Tennessee statutes.

Disclosures: Financial: Co-Owner of SA Swallowing Services, PLLC, paid course instructor; Non-financial: None

John R. Ashford, Ph.D., CCC-SLP: Co-founder and Educational/Research Director of SA Swallowing Services, he has over 48 years of experience as a Speech-Language Pathologist. He is retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System and as a University Professor. He is licensed and certified as an instructor of swallowing endoscopy in accordance with Tennessee statutes.

Disclosures: Financial: Co-Owner of SA Swallowing Services, PLLC, paid course instructor; Non-financial: None

Travis Camp, M.S., CCC-SLP: Formerly, a traveling medical Speech-Language Pathologist in several states, he is licensed and certified in FEES Endoscopy serving hospitals and nursing care facilities in middle Tennessee and northern Georgia.  He joined SASS in 2018 as a FEES clinician and has moved forward as an instructor and researcher.

Disclosures: Financial: Contract Associate with SA Swallowing Services, PLLC, paid course instructor; Non-financial: None.

:Matt Ward, Ph.D., CCC-SLP: A medical Speech-Language Pathologist serving hospitals and nursing facilities as a FEES Endoscopist in middle Tennessee.  He is Education Director for Nashville-based FEES and competency training programs.  He is licensed and certified as a provider and instructor of swallowing endoscopy in Tennessee.

Disclosures: Financial: Contract Associate with SA Swallowing Services, PLLC, paid course instructor; Non-financial: None.

Other Disclosures:

University of Georgia: Financial: None; Non-financial: Use of facility meeting space.

Course Agenda:

Day One: 8:00 to 5:00

• Introduction & Purposes of FEES (20m)

• Surface Anatomy (30m)

• Surface Anatomy Exercise (20m)

• Endoscopy Laboratory (50m)

• Underlying Anatomy &Physiology of Swallowing (40m)

• Nasoendoscopic & FEES Equipment (20m)

• Medical Issues & Nasoendoscopy (20 min)

• Infection Control Requirements & Procedures (20m)

• Endoscope Insertion & Handling (40 min)

• Endoscopy Lab: Hands-on, supervised Nasoendoscopy/FEES Training, and

  FEES Analysis Lab: Identifying & Defining Swallowing Consequences: Introduction to FEES Observations & Computer Analysis Practice Labs (250m)

Day Two: 8:00 to 4:10

• FEES Protocols & Procedures (45m)

• Scoring FEES Using Rating Scales (80m)

• Analyzing Swallow & Airway Protection Behaviors (50m)

• FEES: Behavioral Intervention & EBP (60m)

• FEES Demonstration/Duel Scope Video (20m)

• Endoscopy Lab: Hands-on, supervised Nasoendoscopy/FEES Training, and

• FEES Analysis Lab: FEES Observations and Scoring (195m)

Course Registration:

• Register online at https://www.sasspllc.com/basic-fees-training-courses/p/university-georgia-athens/

• Select Registration - Student or Non-Student

• Complete the Registration Information. Confirmation will be sent via email within the week.

• Students will pay the university Speech & Hearing Clinic directly ($485.00)

• Non-students will pay online with credit card ($645.00)

Satisfactory Training Completion Requirements:

 To satisfactorily complete the requirements for the Certificate of Specialized Training for Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), the following are required:

• Attend all training lectures during the two-day training.

• Complete an anatomy quiz (passing score is not required).

• Complete in-lecture learning exercises.

• Complete the 15-step FEES Protocol & Procedures Laboratory using nasoendoscopy with 15 normal volunteers, and completing a procedural self-assessment after each. Signed off by instructors providing verified proof of supervised training.

• Attend FEES Analysis and Interpretation Laboratories and complete learning exercises.

• Submit a post-training course self-evaluation of learned skills and course-obtained knowledge.

Continuing Education Credit:

This course is offered for 1.6 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate Level).