Medical Speech Pathology Council of California
Event Description
Dr. Rebecca Klam, PsyD, serves as Section Chief of Psychology and Director of the Digestive Disease Behavioral Medicine Program at Tampa General Hospital, a leading academic medical center in Florida. A Clinical Health Psychologist by training, she specializes in eating disorders, obesity medicine, and complex digestive diseases, with advanced expertise in gastrointestinal (GI) psychology. Her clinical and programmatic work focuses on integrating behavioral health into multidisciplinary medical teams to improve outcomes for patients with complex GI and swallowing disorders.
Dr. Klam utilizes evidence-based therapies, mindfulness interventions, and comprehensive psychological assessments to help patients manage the interaction between mental and physical health, particularly within the gut-brain axis. She is passionate about developing sustainable models of integrated care that promote collaboration among gastroenterologists, surgeons, dietitians, and speech-language pathologists to enhance patient experience and treatment outcomes.
In addition to her clinical and leadership roles, Dr. Klam has extensive experience in program development, process improvement, and leadership training, with additional education in the business of healthcare. Her ongoing mission is to advance the role of psychology within medical systems, expanding access to behavioral medicine services and promoting whole-person, evidence-based care for individuals with complex medical and gastrointestinal conditions.
Disclosures: Dr. Klam will receive an honoraruim from MSCC.
Facilitator: Kim Gully, MS, CCC-SLP, CCM, CBIST
Disclosures: President & ASHA Continuing Education Administrator (CEA) of MSCC, Founder and Leader of New Start Support Group for TBI Survivors
Course Description: Functional dysphagia presents a complex clinical challenge for speech-language pathologists, as symptoms of impaired swallowing often occur in the absence of identifiable structural or neurological abnormalities. This presentation explores the intersection between gastrointestinal physiology, the autonomic nervous system, and psychological processes that contribute to the experience and persistence of dysphagia symptoms. Drawing from the growing field of psychogastroenterology, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the brain–gut axis and its relevance to the assessment and treatment of functional swallowing disorders.
Led by Dr. Rebecca Klam, a clinical health psychologist specializing in digestive disease and behavioral medicine, this course will examine how stress, anxiety, trauma, and visceral hypervigilance influence upper GI function and sensory perception. Dr. Klam will review evidence-based behavioral and psychological interventions that complement traditional dysphagia therapy, including interoceptive awareness training, gut-directed hypnotherapy, exposure-based approaches, and relaxation strategies targeting the vagal system.
The lecture will integrate current research, case vignettes, and interdisciplinary models of care highlighting collaboration between SLPs, gastroenterologists, and behavioral health specialists. By the end of the session, participants will be equipped to identify functional dysphagia presentations, educate patients about the brain–gut connection, and incorporate behavioral principles into their treatment planning. This session is designed for clinicians who wish to expand their understanding of functional dysphagia beyond anatomy and physiology, toward a biopsychosocial framework that addresses both the mind and body components of swallowing.
Instructional Level: Intermediate Target Audience: Speech-Language Pathologists
Learner Objectives
Describe the role of the brain–gut axis and autonomic regulation in the pathophysiology of functional dysphagia.
Differentiate functional dysphagia from structural and neurological swallowing disorders using a biopsychosocial lens.
Identify psychological factors (e.g., anxiety, hypervigilance, trauma) that contribute to symptom perpetuation in functional dysphagia.
Apply evidence-based behavioral and psychogastroenterological strategies to complement traditional dysphagia treatment approaches.
Time ordered agenda
Introduction (15 min)
The Brain–Gut Axis and Swallowing (30 min)
Psychological Mechanisms in Functional Dysphagia (45 min)
Behavioral Treatment Approaches (60 min)
Interdisciplinary Collaboration (20 min)
Clinical Application and Case Review (30 min)
Q&A and Knowledge Check (10 min)
Special Requests
We encourage participation by all individuals. If you have a disability or other special requests (visual, hearing, physical, etc.), please indicate your request in the designated section included in registration process. We will do our best to accommodate you, please allow a minimum of 14 days notice to allow us time to process your request.
Refund Policy
Refund requests must be submitted in writing via email. Requests made more than 10 business days prior to course date will be subject to an administration fee of $15 of the registration fee if an additional cost is associated with the course. Membership fees will not be refunded if member is not able to attend conferences that are included with annual fee. Refund requests made less than 10 business days prior to any course that requires an additional fee for the course are subject to a $25 administrative fee. This is to cover the costs associated with the course that have already been accrued based on preregistration. No refunds for non-attendance will be issued on the day of, or after, the conference.
Cancellation Policy
If MSCC cancels a course that requires an additional registration fee, all members who have prepaid for the course will be refunded the registration fee in the form of the original payment within 30 business days of the cancellation of the course. MSCC membership fee will not be refunded.
Satisfaction Guarantee & Complaint Policy
MSCC’s continuing education offerings are designed to help professionals achieve improved performance and results in all areas. If for any reason you are not satisfied with the content and material presented, we encourage you to file a complaint via the process outlined on our website within 30 days of the completion of the course. Click Here for Policy
Content Disclosures
The content of this course does not focus exclusively on any specific proprietary product or service. Presenter financial and non-financial disclosures may be found in the Presenter & Disclosures area above.
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| 2/21/2026 |    |
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