Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC
Co-Host of First Bite: A Speech Therapy Podcast
Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, serves as a speech-language pathologist with Wolfe Speech Therapy, LLC, in Staunton, VA, and adjunct professor with North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham, NC. Additionally, she is the acclaimed host of “First Bite: Fed, Fun, Functional,” a weekly speech therapy podcast that addresses “all thangs” of pediatric speech therapy and is presented by SpeechTherapyPD.com. Michelle authored "Chasing the Swallow: Truth, Science, and Hope for Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders." She is an accomplished lecturer, traveling across the nation delivering courses on best practices for the evaluation and treatment of medically complex infants, toddlers, and children with respect to their pediatric oropharyngeal dysphagia, pediatric feeding disorder, as well as language acquisition within the framework of Early Intervention. She currently volunteers as the Topic Chair for the Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders committee for the 2024 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention and volunteers as the co-chair for the Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia (SHAV) Dysphagia and Pediatric Feeding Disorder Group, as well as a convention committee for the 2025 annual SHAV Convention. She has served as the Treasurer for the Council of State Association Presidents (CSAP), is a Past President of the South Carolina Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (SCSHA), a graduate of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Leadership Development Program (ASHA LDP), a recipient of the Pediatric Feeding Disorder Awareness Champion from Feeding Matters, a recipient of the Louis M. DiCarlo Award for Outstanding Clinical Achievement from the SCSHA, a recipient of the State Clinical Achievement Award from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Foundation, recognized as an ASHA Innovator in 2023, and eleven-time recipient of ASHA’s ACE Award for continuing education.
Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC has hosted 236 Episodes.
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Empowering Current and Future Leaders with NBASLH with Kia Noelle Johnson, PhD
February 8th, 2023 | 1 hr 7 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Kia Noelle Johnson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP - The last time Dr. Johnson was a guest on “First Bite” was in February 2020. A month later, the world changed, and so has NBASLH! Over this hour, Dr. Johnson joyfully shares the new initiatives that NBASLH has taken these past two years. Looking for opportunities to mentor future generations of speech-language pathologists, to participate in intimate monthly conversations on cultural considerations, and to enhance your leadership skills, join in as these topics will be explored.
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NFOSD: Support, Education, and Advocacy for the Patient, Caregiver, and SLP with Donna Edwards & Elizabeth Daly
February 1st, 2023 | 1 hr 6 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guests: Donna Edwards, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S & Elizabeth Daly, MS, CCC-SLP - If you have heard about the National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders (NFOSD) but were unsure about what this phenomenal non-profit organization does, then this is the hour for you.
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Neurodiversity, Double Empathy, and the Role of the SLP with Morgan Oates
January 25th, 2023 | 1 hr 7 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Morgan Oates, MA CCC-SLP - Morgan’s research interests include the implications of double empathy theory in terms of the effects of neurotype on language and communication, neurodiversity-affirming supports for adolescent and adult autistic individuals, and the intersections of gender and autism.
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Healthy Boundaries to Optimize Positive Clinical Fellowship with Sarah Grier Brumfield
January 18th, 2023 | 1 hr 6 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Sarah Grier Brumfield, MS, CCC-SLP - Sarah shares tips for successfully navigating a clinical fellowship year. Graduate school may lay the foundation for clinical knowledge and skills for one's CF. Still, advocacy, resiliency, mentorship, and establishing healthy boundaries are crucial to ensuring a positive clinical fellowship experience.
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Neurodiversity Affirming Practices with AAC Use with Allison Bean
January 4th, 2023 | 1 hr 16 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Allison Bean, Ph.D., CCC-SLP - The episode is dedicated to understanding and growing our knowledge of the neurodiversity affirming practice.
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Ethics of Social Media: Considerations for Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders with Donna Edwards, Memorie Gosa & Georgia Malandraki
December 21st, 2022 | 1 hr 7 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guests: Donna Edwards, MA CCC-SLP, BCS-S, F-ASHA, Memorie Gosa, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, & Georgia Malandraki, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, F-ASHA - The guests hold a crucial conversation regarding the ethical utilization of social media as it correlates to pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders.
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Mister Clay spills the EBP on AAC with Clay Hadden
December 14th, 2022 | 1 hr 6 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Clay Hadden, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Clay Hadden joins Michelle to discuss evidence-based approaches for AAC.
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Conversations on Faith and Culture to Evolve your Pediatric Practice with Fe Murray, Raquel Garcia & Sofia Carias
December 7th, 2022 | 1 hr 57 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guests: Fe Murray, EdD, CCC-SLP, Raquel Garcia, SLPD, CCC-SLP, CNT, BCS-S & Sofia Carias, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle and Erin are joined by industry leaders from across the nation to hold intimate conversations on how our faith and cultures influence our practice as pediatric speech-language pathologists.
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Understanding Medical Interpretation with Inez Esparza
November 30th, 2022 | 1 hr 7 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Inez Esparza, a Spanish Certified Medical Interpreter, and ASHA Certified SLPA - As a profession, speech-language pathology has an abundance of English-speaking clinicians evaluating and treating individuals who may not or do not speak English. So, where does that leave the monolingual licensed SLP? How can they best engage in that patient’s care to provide optimal outcomes?
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Inspiration and Guidance for the “SLPreneur” in You with Tamala Close
November 23rd, 2022 | 1 hr 8 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guests: Tamala Close, MS, CCC-SLP & Britney Desir, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Tamala and Britney bring their years of expertise to inspire us to take that leap of faith and start our own private practices. Unsure of where to begin, never heard of an “NPI Number”, afraid of writing a business plan, overwhelmed by potential overhead costs? Breathe deep, grab your favorite pen and notebook, and let Tamala and Britney instill practical guidance to build your private practice confidence.
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PFD Down Under with Dr. Jeanne Marshall
November 15th, 2022 | 1 hr 8 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Jeanne Marshall, Ph.D, B Sp. Path - Are you ready to understand the differences between being an SLP in Australia? Then join Michelle and Dr. Marshall as they deep dive into research on operant vs. systematic desensitization treatment for Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) and better understand the invaluable role of simulation for PFD treatment.
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Musical AAC Magic with Corinne Zmoos
November 2nd, 2022 | 1 hr 8 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Corinne Zmoos, MS, CCC-SLP - Corinne spends the hour educating listeners about the early stages of Gestalt language processing, celebrating the beauty of this learning style, effectively incorporating it into augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and then how to put it all to music! So get your instruments and speech-generating devices ready because, by the end, you’ll want to engage in play-based therapy with both.
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What is Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy with "Hope for HIE" with Betsy Pilon
October 26th, 2022 | 1 hr 7 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Betsy Pilon - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Betsy, the Executive Director of “Hope for Acquired Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE).” This hour is a deeply profound conversation as one mom shares her journey of advocacy and empowerment, inspiring and educating us along the way. Join in as the topics of causes and current treatment for HIE. are presented. Potential long-term impacts and barriers to continued treatment after NICU discharge will be discussed.
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The SLP’s Role in Lactation and More with Maggie Sudimack
October 19th, 2022 | 1 hr 8 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Maggie Sudimack, MA, CCC-SLP, CLC - If you’re new to the world of infant feeding, Maggie shares insights to help guide your first steps for the patient’s first sips. Highlights include the role of the SLP in a lactation evaluation, how to transition from breastfeeding to bottle feeding, and how to coach a caregiver through all these processes.
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Hot Topics in PFD: Crucial Conversations on EBP with Erin Forward
October 12th, 2022 | 1 hr 7 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
In this episode, Michelle and Erin are holding crucial conversations regarding current evidence-based practice for pediatric feeding disorders. In this hour, Michelle and Erin tackle the current evidence for tether-oral tissues and non-speech oral motor exercises, as well as discuss the ethics of using social media as a source of evidence.
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Non-Nutritive Suck and Its Role in Oral Feeding with Emily Zimmerman
October 5th, 2022 | 1 hr 5 mins
asha, ceu, continuing education, slp, speech language pathology, speech pathology, speech therapy
Guest: Emily Zimmerman, Ph.D, CCC-SLP - Dr. Zimmerman describes what a non-nutritive suck (NNS) is, the factors that can influence an NNS, and its role in oral feeding and then offers insight into where the future of pediatric feeding research is heading.