News
Learning to Swallow Together : Pharmacy, Speech and Language Therapy and Dietetics Interprofessional Learning
An interprofessional learning initiative between pharmacy, speech and language therapy and dietetics students, exploring the management of patients with various forms of swallowing difficulties, kicked off last week in the School of Pharmacy. Students from all three disciplines learned from, with and about one another whilst working collaboratively within teams. Each team focussed on a specific patient case e.g., a patient who had Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia and the challenges of administering food, liquids and medicines to this patient in a safe and appropriate manner. Staff facilitated these discussions and students gained a comprehensive understanding of the unique but also common roles each healthcare professional has to offer towards the management of patients with swallowing difficulties.
During the workshop, students also learn about mouth and neck physiology, the swallowing process, food texture, the modification of foods and liquids to facilitate swallowing and the challenges of modifying or facilitating the swallowing of medicinal formulations for those with dysphagia. Staff contributors included Dr Helen Kelly (not pictured) and Dr Aoife Sheehy from the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Dr Laura J Sahm, Dr Michelle O’Driscoll (not pictured), Ms Maria Hegarty and Dr Harriet Bennett-Lenane from the School of Pharmacy and Dr Samantha Cushen and Dr Aoife Ryan from the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences.
View Photo Gallery