About Us
The Oral Health and Swallowing Research Lab team, currently led by Rebecca Affoo, investigates oral health, and swallowing. This includes the interrelationships between oral health, swallowing, and other factors such as frailty. While we are housed in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, our interprofessional focus means we collaborate with researchers and clinicians with expertise in dentistry, medicine, nutrition, and nursing. Our lab team aims to go beyond the physiology of swallowings processes to investigate the impact of oral health and swallowing on quality of life, and social vulnerability. Patient partners, community healthcare organizations, and the wider community are integral to our research activities.
Our Values
Collaborative
We believe in conducting research that includes the perspectives from members of the interprofessional team, members of our community, and members of the public who are impacted by the work we do.
Community
We believe that research has a greater impact when we prioritize the wants and needs of our community and include community members on our research team.
Impactful
We strive to conduct impactful research that contributes to improved health and quality of life for older adults.
Education
We understand the importance of integrated knowledge translation and disseminating research results in a format that benefits those who will ultimately use those findings. As such, we are committed to sharing knowledge with our community and anyone else who might benefit.
Gallery
Our Team
Who We Are
The OHSRL team is a diverse, interprofessional group with a broad range of expertise and experience. It would not be possible to do the work we do without our passionate team members!
Dr. Rebecca Affoo (she/her)
Primary Investigator
Dr. Rebecca Affoo a clinically certified speech-language pathologist, an assistant professor at Dalhousie University in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Health, and cross-appointed in the School of Dental Hygiene, Faculty of Dentistry. She is the Director of the Oral Health and Swallowing Research Laboratory. She is also a scholar with the Healthy Populations Institute (HPI) at Dalhousie University and a co-lead of the HPI flagship project Putting ‘Oral Health is Health’ into Action. The goal of her program of research is to improve the oral health, and speech and swallowing function of older adults through novel, interprofessional assessment and management practices.
Shauna Hachey (she/her)
Lab Director
Shauna Hachey is a registered dental hygienist and an Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University in the School of Dental Hygiene, Faculty of Dentistry. She is a scholar with the Healthy Populations Institute (HPI) and co-lead of the HPI flagship project, Putting' Oral Health is Health' into Action. Shauna is a Board Member and Treasurer of the Canadian Society for Disability and Oral Health, and Vice Chair of the NCOHR (Network for Canadian Oral Health and Research) Disability and Oral Health Working Group. Shauna’s research interests include the integration of oral health into primary and continuing care settings, and novel community-led oral health promotion and knowledge translation.
Frank Day (he/him)
Research Manager
Frank Day MSc SLP-Reg, is a research manager at the Oral Health and Swallowing Lab and registered speech-language pathologist in Nova Scotia. His research interests include communication and swallowing participation and quality of life, sexual health and education, and socioeconomic determinants of communication and swallowing health. His masters thesis was investigating S-LP’s role in treating sexual health when impacted by communication or swallowing disorders. Frank enjoys contributing to research relevant to his field and interests, and working with other professionals and students who are excited about the ongoing research.
Keara Boyce (she/her)
Clinical Research Coordinator
Keara Boyce, MSc., SLP(C)-Reg is a clinical speech-language pathologist and clinical research coordinator with the Oral Health and Swallowing Research Lab (OHSRL). Keara joins the OHSRL with research and teaching experience at McMaster University, as well as clinical experience with adult dysphagia, language, and voice management (e.g., acute care in neurosurgery, trauma, head and neck cancer, and ICU; outpatient swallowing and voice clinics). Her research interests include dysphagia rehabilitation across the lifespan, health equity and access, and community knowledge translation. Keara has presented at various conferences locally and internationally, and has co-authored several papers on dysphagia rehabilitation, swallowing profiles, and dysphagia equity and access. As a former Dalhousie graduate from the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Keara feels fortunate to be returning to join the research team at OHSRL.
Heather McDougall (she/her)
Research Assistant
Heather McDougall M.Sc., B.Kin. is a Research Assistant at the Oral Health and Swallowing Research Lab (OHSRL). She holds a Master of Science in Aging and Health and brings a background in nursing research, with a particular focus on dementia care. Heather contributes expertise in qualitative research and systematic review methodology. Her research interests include dementia care, quality of life in long-term care and acute care, the impact of therapeutic recreation on dementia-related behaviors, ageism, and knowledge translation.
Ani Brennan (she/her)
Research Assistant
Ani Brennan BSc (Hons), MSc., SLP-Reg. completed her Masters in Human Communication Disorders at Dalhousie University. Her master's thesis investigated the relationship between oral processing and sensory perception in older adults, under the supervision of Dr. Rebecca Affoo. She is involved with the Oral Health and Swallowing Research Lab as a Research Assistant. Her current research interests include oral processing, motor programming, and dysphagia, with a growing interest in sensory perception research. Ani enjoys being able to apply classroom and clinical knowledge to her research, working with the diverse Halifax population, and other lab members.
Pam Brown (they/them)
Research Assistant
Pam Brown MSc, SLP-Reg, is a research assistant at the Oral Health and Swallowing Lab and speech-language pathologist at Hearing & Speech Nova Scotia. Their research interests are broad, including transgender voice care, communication and swallowing rehabilitation, language preservation and documentation, and dysphagia assessment and management. Pam's master’s thesis, presented at WPATH and ASHA, focused on understanding the acoustic properties of voice that change throughout testosterone hormone replacement therapy for trans masculine individuals. As a research assistant in the lab, Pam is enthusiastic about broadening their understanding of dysphagia, gaining more experience conducting research, and contributing to the ever-growing field of SLP through a person-centered lens.
Debbie Chan (she/her)
Research Assistant & Thesis Student
Debbie Chan, BSc, MSc (in progress), is a Masters student in Human Communication Disorders at Dalhousie University. She is interested in oral health, frailty, food safety & nutrition, dysphagia, and cultural and linguistic diversity. Her current MSc thesis under Dr. Affoo aims to explore the interaction between oral health factors and clinical frailty in Nova Scotian older adults. She finds joy in being part of this research group, where she works alongside amazing individuals with diverse perspectives. Through her involvement, she not only develops her research and professional skillset but also contributes to projects relevant to her field and interests.
Joelle Safatli (she/her)
Research Assistant & Thesis Student
Joelle Safatli BSc (Hons), is an incoming Master of Science student in Speech-Language Pathology at Dalhousie University. She recently completed her Honours degree in Psychology, where she developed a strong interest in rehabilitation and intervention, oral health, frailty, communication, patient care, and dementia. Joelle is grateful to be part of the Oral Health and Swallowing Lab team and looks forward to continuing her learning alongside such a supportive, wonderful group. She is excited to begin her Master’s studies this fall and to complete her thesis under the supervision of Dr. Rebecca Affoo.