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 Schwab,
MS, CCC-SLP
CLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR
Maria Schwab 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.
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
Bernice Klaben, PhD,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
Rachel Roberts
Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Allied Health
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