Giselle Carnaby, MPH, PhD
Professor and Director
- Education
Education
1996-1999: Ph.D. (Public Health /Speech Pathology), Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia.
1994-1996: M.P.H:(Public Health-Epi Biostats), Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia
1992-1993: Post.Grad Dip. (Public Health /Health Sc), Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia
1983-1986: B.Sc. (Speech Pathology), Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia - Awards
Professional Honors & Awards:
- 2024. Excellence in Teaching Award (UTHSCSA) School of Health Professions.
- 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award (UTHSCSA) School of Health Professions.
- 2022 Excellence in Teaching Award (UTHSCSA) School of Health Professions.
- 2021 Excellence in Teaching (EOT): Essentials of online teaching- quality course designation, UCF.
- 2020 Honors of the Association, American Speech Language Association (ASHA)
- 2015 Technology Innovator Award, University of Florida (UF)
- 2015 Nominated: ASHA Vice President for Science & Research
- 2014 Nominated Candidate for Florida for “ASHA “DiCarlo Award” for SLP clinical excellence
- 2014 Technology Innovator Award, University of Florida (UF)
- 2014 Research Mentoring (ARM) Network- “Pathways” mentor, American Speech Language Association (ASHA)
- 2014 Outstanding Oral Presentation Award, Dysphagia Research Society (DRS)
- 2013 Clinician of the Year, Florida Speech Language & Hearing Association [FLASHA]
- 2012 Fellow of the Association, American Speech Language Association (ASHA)
- 2012 Faculty Incentive Award: Outstanding Research Contributions, College of Public Health & Health Professions, University of Florida
- 2012 Faculty Incentive Award: Outstanding Teaching Contributions, College of Public Health & Health Professions, University of Florida
- 2012 Research Investigator Award, Head and Neck Cancer Alliance
- 2011 Deans Paper Citation Award, College of Public Health & Health Professions, University of Florida
- 2010 Yul Brenner Award for Cancer Related Research, Dysphagia Research Society (DRS)
- 2010 Faculty Incentive Award: Outstanding Research Contributions, College of Public Health & Health Professions, University of Florida
- 2006 Lifetime American Cancer Society Research Scholar, American Cancer Society
- 2003 New Investigator award, Dysphagia Research Society (DRS)
- 2001 New Investigator award, ASHA Special Interest Division 13 / Swallowing and swallowing disorders
- 1998 Certificate of Research Excellence, Mark Liverist Health Sciences Research Seminar, Curtin University Western Australia
- 1997 Teaching Assistant Scholarship, Curtin University Western Australia
- 1996 “Geoff Blee Award” -Excellence in Research, Australian Brain Foundation
- 1996 “Peter Bladin Award” -Young Investigator of the Year Award, Stroke Society of Australasia
- 1996 Recognition of Service Award For excellence in Clinical research, Australian Association of Speech & Hearing
- 1995 Young Investigators Award, Australian Brain Foundation
- Research
Dr Carnaby has been conducting clinical research in upper aerodigestive functions and dysphagia for over 30 years. For over 15 years she has been considered a pioneer and leader in this field both nationally and internationally. She has worked to elucidate the natural history and outcomes of swallowing dysfunction following Stroke and Head /Neck Cancer and developed many of the tools currently utilized for measurement of this condition. Moreover, her research has explored the mechanisms underlying the cascade of dysfunction associated with swallowing decline using T2Weighted MRI, Surface EMG, videofluroscopy, manometry and biokinemetric measurement. Dr Carnaby’s research has always been interdisciplinary, incorporating collaborations from Oncology, Dentistry, Otolaryngology, Psychology, Gerontology, Respiratory medicine, Neurology, and Neurosurgery in her foundational research efforts.
Beyond mechanistic or longitudinal explorations of the clinical manifestations of dysphagia, Dr Carnaby has also investigated methods to remediate the health burden associated with swallowing disability, developing novel prehabilitation and rehabilitation options for this population. In this regard, her research contributions to the area of dysphagia are replete with ‘firsts’. She conducted the first clinical trial on dysphagia in acute Stroke [Carnaby, Lancet Neurology,2006. 5:31 PMID: 16361020]. She conducted the first two clinical trials on prophylactic treatment for patients being treated for Head/Neck cancer (Pharyngocise) [Carnaby-Mann, Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 2012, 83:210 PMID:22014959]. She developed the first and widely used validated, standardized clinical assessment for dysphagia in patients with neurologic disease (MASA: Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability) and the follow up version for patients treated for head/neck cancer (MASA-C: Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability- Cancer) [Carnaby 2014,Support Care Cancer, 22:595, PMID:24141700]. She developed one of only two currently available validated tools for scoring the fluoroscopic swallowing examination (C-VFE: Calculated VideoFluoroscopic Examination) [Mann, Cardiovasc Dis, 2000, 10:380, PMID:10971024]. She developed one of the first swallowing rehabilitative programs that uses swallowing as an exercise (MDTP: McNeill Dysphagia Therapy Program) [Carnaby, J Oral Rehab, 2020,47:501, PMID:31880338]. She has patented a technique to use a biological measure of swallowing frequency for the early identification of swallowing difficulty in at risk populations [Carnaby, Arch Phys Med Rehab, 2019, 100:1283, PMID 30735625]. More recently produced the SWKS (Swallowing Kinesiophobia Scale) [ Carnaby, Head Neck, 2021,43:967, PMID:33269550] for use in at risk Head /Neck cancer patients and is continuing to innovate through the development of predictive algorithms for early identification of occult dysphagia and preventative interventions in community dwelling older persons and Parkinson’s Disease.
She continues that work in the development and directorship of the Upper Aerodigestive Functions Research Laboratory at the UTHealth San Antonio.
- News