Dr. Sonja Molfenter is a clinically-trained Speech Language Pathologist whose research specializes in understanding the physiological features of both normal swallowing and disordered swallowing (known as dysphagia). Swallowing function is commonly disrupted after many conditions including stroke, brain injury, head and neck cancer and spinal cord injury.

Her over-arching research goal is to produce clinically-relevant research to inform front-line clinical practice.

Her current focus is on naturally-occurring muscle loss in the pharynx as the result of aging and the impact of this loss on swallowing function.

She also is interested in identifying the underlying mechanisms of impairment of swallowing post cervical spine surgery. Sonja has received funding for her research from the NIH, ASHA, NYU CTSI and NYU Steinhardt.

Education

PhD (2013)- University of Toronto, Speech Language Pathology (Supervisor: Dr. Catriona Steele)
MHSc (2007) – University of Toronto, Speech Language Pathology
BA (2004) – University of Toronto, Psychology, Linguistics & Anthropology

Contact Information

Sonja M Molfenter, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Associate Professor, Dept Communicative Sciences & Disorders, NYU Steinhardt
Affiliate Faculty, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, NYU School of Medicine
Fellow, NYU Aging Incubator

665 Broadway, Room 622
New York, NY 10012
E-mail: smm16@nyu.edu

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