Gap Education
April 20, 2024, Live, Synchronous, 7-Hour Webinar
BOLUS and Beyond: Advancing Critical Reasoning in Dysphagia
The BOLUS framework helps clinicians move beyond the idea that aspiration always translates to pneumonia by encouraging a critical, multi-factor approach to dysphagia care. Designed for use before, during, and after patient encounters, the framework supports more comprehensive assessment, treatment planning, and interdisciplinary communication.
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In this episode, Dr. Phyllis Palmer and Aaron Padilla explore the clinical application of the BOLUS framework. Together, we discuss how clinicians can think critically about the many factors influencing dysphagia management, anticipate challenges before meeting the patient, and apply practical strategies to strengthen interdisciplinary communication and provide more individualized treatment.
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Target Audience: Intermediate level
CE Credit: This episode is eligible for 0.1 ASHA CEUs from Sept. 10, 2025 through Nov. 30, 2025. No partial CE credit is provided. Eligibility to Earn ASHA
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To earn a certificate, and ASHA CEUs if desired, eligible learners must do the following on or before November 30, 2025:
-Listen to the entire podcast episode
-Obtain 80% on a short post assessment (may be retaken as needed).
-Complete required items in a learner survey related to ASHA CEU reporting.
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Learning Objectives:
1. Learner will explain why aspiration alone does not cause pneumonia, using the BOLUS framework.
2. Learner will provide one example from each letter in the B-O-L-U-S acronym.
Thanks to financial sponsorship from BRACCO Diagnostics, access to the post-test and reporting for ASHA CEUs is offered at no cost to our learners.
Notes: Participants requesting ASHA CEUs will still need to pay the annual CE Registry fee to ASHA. Episode is CEU Eligible from Sept. 10, 2025 through Nov. 30, 2025
Instructors
Phyllis M. Palmer, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Episode Guest
Phyllis Palmer, PhD, CCC-SLP is Department Chair of the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at University of New Mexico. Under the umbrella of improving dysphagia management for all New Mexicans and dysphagia education for future clinicians, her lines of research address (a) methodologies to improve clinician education including her interactive textbook “Swallowing Across the Lifespan” and the recent development of a swallow disorders data repository, (b) development and implementation of risk associated with aspiration using the proposed BOLUS framework, and (c) improved understanding of the swallow disorder associated with OPMD, a disease with a high incidence in New Mexico.
Financial Disclosures
Salary: University of New Mexico​
Non-financial Disclosures
Serves as a reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals
Aaron H. Padilla, M.S., CCC-SLP, BCS-S
Episode Guest
Aaron Padilla is an acute care speech pathologist in New Mexico. He is a board certified specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders and currently serves on the board of directors. He enjoys bridging the gap between the research lab and clinical world through implementation science. He has been a volunteer member of the Swallow Disorders Research Lab in collaboration with Dr. Palmer, at the University of New Mexico since 2012. During this time projects have included: cultural considerations, swallow diagnostics and the development and implementation of the BOLUS framework, a multifaceted tool to assist in clinical decision making.​
Financial Disclosures
None ​
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Non-financial Disclosures
SIG 13 Coordinating Committee ABSSD Board of Directors
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Timothy Stockdale, SLPD, CCC-SLP
Episode Host
Timothy (Tim) Stockdale is a medically focused speech-language pathologist and educator. He is particularly passionate about addressing gaps in dysphagia education and practice. From this passion, he became the founding director of the Hard to Swallow: A Catalyst for Change in Dysphagia Management conference at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions and started Gap Education, LLC. Through Gap Education, he hosts the podcast Swallow the Gap and organizes continuing education content. He has continued to practice clinically in multiple settings, which he believes helps him to maintain relevance and practicality. In January of 2023, Tim was appointed to ASHA’s SIG-13 (Dysphagia) Professional Development Committee and serves this term through December 31, 2025.
Financial Disclosures
Salary: Gap Education, LLC
Royalties: MedBridge​
Non-financial Disclosures
SIG-13 Professional Development Committee Member
Episode Schedule
00:01–02:42 Episode Introduction — All Instructors
02:43–10:55 Framework Introduction — All Instructors
10:56–13:05 B — Bolus Variables — Primarily Aaron Padilla
13:06–17:26 O — Oral Care — All Instructors
17:27–31:20 L — Lifestyle Factors — All Instructors
31:21–36:38 U — Unintended / Iatrogenic Influence — Primarily Phyllis Palmer
36:39–39:35 S — System Status — Primarily Aaron Padilla
39:36–1:04:49 Clinical Application — All Instructors
1:04:50–1:05:45 Outro — Tim Stockdale
