Brittany Krekeler, PhD, CCC-SLP
PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATOR, LAB DIRECTOR
Dr. Krekeler is an assistant professor and clinician-scientist at UC in the Department of Otolaryngology -Head and Neck Surgery with a secondary faculty appointment in the Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine. She received her master’s degree and doctoral degree in Communication and Sciences Disorders at the University of Wisconsin Madison. She completed her post-doctoral fellowship at Northwestern University. Dr Krekeler’s research interests center around developing novel behavioral and exercise-based interventions to improve swallowing ability and quality of life for individuals with dysphagia. Her training in both basic and clinical-translational science sparked her interest in digging deeper to better understanding the role and applications of exercise and skilled-motor learning in dysphagia rehabilitation.
Anna Hopkins,
MS, CCC-SLP
CLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR
Anna is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist (CCC-SLP) and clinical research coordinator for the Dysphagia Rehabilitation Lab. She received her bachelor's in Communication Sciences Disorders from University of Kentucky and her master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Tennessee. As clinical research coordinator for the DLR, Anna oversees recruitment and enrollment for our active research studies and directs student research efforts. Anna has been a long-term advocate of uptake of research in clinical settings. With over 9 years of experience in clinical dysphagia care, Anna joined the lab to continue pursuing the delivery of improved services for her patients.
Claudia Vollman,
MA, CCC-SLP
CLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR
Claudia is a certified speech-language pathologist (CCC-SLP). She is a hybrid employee working in the clinic of the Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery. Additionally, she works as a clinical research coordinator in the Dysphagia Rehabilitation Laboratory. She received her bachelor’s in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Miami University and her master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Cincinnati. Furthermore, she completed her clinical fellowship at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Maria Hardesty,
MS, CCC-SLP
CLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR
Maria Hardesty is a certified Speech Language Pathologist (CCC-SLP) and clinical research coordinator for the Dysphagia Rehab Lab. She received her Bachelors in Health Sciences from Sacred Heart University and her Masters degree in Speech Language Pathology from Purdue University. Maria has over 5 years experience working with dysphagia management, primarily in the acute care setting and mobile modified barium swallow studies. Maria is passionate about clinically applicable research and has interests in improving accessible, research based dysphagia diagnostic and treatment tools.
Maria Hardesty,
MS, CCC-SLP
CLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR
Maria Hardesty is a certified Speech Language Pathologist (CCC-SLP) and clinical research coordinator for the Dysphagia Rehab Lab. She received her Bachelors in Health Sciences from Sacred Heart University and her Masters degree in Speech Language Pathology from Purdue University. Maria has over 5 years experience working with dysphagia management, primarily in the acute care setting and mobile modified barium swallow studies. Maria is passionate about clinically applicable research and has interests in improving accessible, research based dysphagia diagnostic and treatment tools.
Rachel Mulanda, B.S.R.T. (R)
CLINICAL RESEARCH Professional (CRP ll)
Rachel Mulanda is a Clinical Research Professional II at the University of Cincinnati in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. She works in the Dysphagia Research Laboratory (DRL) with Dr. Brittany Krekeler and her team, and also collaborates with Dr. Katie Phillips on CRS research, focusing on acute exacerbations and nasal polyps.
Rachel completed her undergraduate degree in Radiologic Science at Northern Kentucky University and has prior research experience in oncology (head and neck cancer and melanoma) and psychology. She is currently completing the Master of Health Informatics (MHI) program at the University of Cincinnati, with a focus on applying AI, imaging, and informatics to advance oncology research while exploring potential applications in ENT and related clinical areas.
Otolaryngology Team
Ashley Collins,
CCC-SLP
Clinical Research Collaborator
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Allied Health
Angela Dionisio,
CCC-SLP
Clinical Research Collaborator
College of Medicine Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Farah Kaval,
CCC-SLP, BCS-S
Clinical Research Collaborator
College of Medicine Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Rebecca Howell,
MD
Associate Professor
Director of Robin Cotton & Rocco dal Vera Professional Voice, Swallowing, Airway Center College of Medicine Department of Otolaryngology -Head and Neck Surgery
David Durban, B.S
Clinical Research Collaborator
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine MD Candidate Class of 2027
Rebecca Reinert
Sr Clinical Research Professional
College of Medicine Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
Amna Mira
PhD Candidate Research Assistant
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Allied Health
Greg Dion,
MD
Associate Professor
College of Medicine Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Interested in
Collaborating?
Suzanne Boyce,
PhD, CCC-SLP
PROFESSOR
College of Allied Health Sciences Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Joseph Broderick, MD
DIRECTOR UC GARDNER
NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE
Professor of Neurology College of Medicine Department of Neurology & Rehabilitation Medicine
Greg Dion, MD
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Department of Otolaryngology -Head and Neck Surgery
Brett Kissela, MD, MS
ALBERT BARNES VORHEIS
PROFESSOR AND CHAIR
Executive Vice-Dean and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Research College of Medicine Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine
Achala Vagal, MD
PROFESSOR
Vice Chair of Research
College of Medicine Department of Radiology
Heidi Sucharew, PhD
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR,
BIOSTATITCIAN
Department of Pediatrics Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Want to get to
know us more?
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Nicholas Schoenleb
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T. Douglas Mast, PhD
Professor
Leader of UC Biomedical Acoustics Laboratory
UC Bioscience Center
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Vesna Dominika Novak, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Cincinnati
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Heather Bonilha, PhD, CCC-SLP​
Professor and Graduate Director of Doctoral Program for COMD.
Communication Science Disorders Arnold School of Public Health
Kate Hutcheson, PhD, CCC-SLP
PROFESSOR, CHIEF OF SPEECH PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Department of Head and Neck Surgery
Cagla Kantarcigil, PhD
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
PROFESSOR
Northwestern University School of Communication Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Nicole Rogus-Pulia, PhD, CCC-SLP
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
Director of the Swallowing and Salivary Bioscience Research Program in the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center Department of Medicine and Surgery, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology
Georgia Malandraki, PhD
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Purdue University Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering
Bonnie Martin-Harris, PhD, CCC-SLP
ALICE GABRIELLE TWIGHT PROFESSOR, ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR FACULTY AFFAIRS
Northwestern University School of Communication Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Rosemary Martino, PhD, MSC
PROFESSOR,
SENIOR SCIENTIST
University of Toronto Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network
Let's
Connect!
Kate Davidson, MD
CLINICAL RESEARCH
COLLABORATOR
Northwestern University Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.
David “Woody” Rule, PhD, CCC-SLP,
BCS-S
CLINICAL RESEARCH
COLLABORATOR
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Ed M. Bice, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
Clinical Consultant
IOPI Medical Consultant
Author of Research
Guest Blogger
CURRENT STUDENTS
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Hannah Davis
Undergraduate
Major of Speech-Language Hearing Sciences
College of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati
Class of 2026
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David Durban, B.S.
Clinical Research Collaborator
College of Medicene
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Harsh Patel, B.S.
Clinical Research Collaborator
College of Medicene, University of Cincinnati
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Thomas Stinson
Undergraduate
Major of Speech-Language Hearing Sciences
College of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati
Class of 2026
In Memory Of
