Tina Tan is the Supervisor, Pediatric Speech/Swallowing Services, at Tisch Hospital and Ambulatory Care Center. Her particular area of interest and role at Rusk is in providing diagnosis and management of pediatric feeding and swallowing impairments. She has a special interest in the feeding and swallowing skills of medically complex infants and swallowing impairments in children with aero-digestive disorders. She and her pediatric speech pathology colleagues participate in the Interdisciplinary Nutrition and Feeding Program and the GUARDS (Gastrointestinal, Upper Airway, Respiratory Disease and Sleep) Program. Her bachelor’s degree in communication disorders is from the Honors College at Southern Connecticut State University and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology is from Emerson College. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing & Swallowing Disorders. In this interview, Tina discusses what sorts of medically complex issues lead to feeding and swallowing problems in children as well as management considerations when providing care.
