Doctoral Student

What year did you start the program? 2021
 

What are your prior degrees and with what institutions?
MS, Communication Disorders, University of Texas at Dallas, TX
BA, Psychology, University of North Texas, TX
 

What is your current research setting?
Mentors: Bridget Perry, PhD, CCC-SLP & Jordan Green, PhD, CCC-SLP, FASHA
Lab: Speech and Feeding Disorders Lab

 

What is your current research focused on?
Coming from a background in medical speech-language pathology, I am interested in instrumental and/or quantitative assessment of swallowing, particularly in head and neck cancer, that would produce reliable results in places that would otherwise not have access to such methodologies.

 

Why did you choose to come to this program rather than a doctoral research program in your specific profession?This program offers a wealth of research opportunities, high quality mentorship, and focus on interdisciplinary education and collaboration.  I am excited to be working with Drs. Perry and Green on swallowing research. Their research provides very practical applications that were important to me when I was actively working as a hospital-based speech-language pathologist. 
 

  • BA, Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas.
  • MS, Communication Disorders, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas.
  • PhD, Rehabilitation Sciences, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, Massachusetts.  (current)

Research Interests

Tabitha is interested in conducting clinical research, specifically investigating assessment and treatment of swallowing impairments in individuals with neurogenic disorders.

Presentations

Lu, F., Kao, T., Chang, S., Hardeman, M. (2021). Multidisciplinary intervention for chromosome 18 deletion syndromes. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Conference. Washington, D.C.

Lu, F., Kao, T., Cody, J. (2021). Motor speech disorders across the lifespan. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Washington, D.C.

Lu, F., Kao, T.H., Gilmore, A., Gomez, G., & Sun, D.Y. (2019). Prophylactic measures and intervention for post-surgical dysphagia after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Chicago, IL.

Lu, F., Kao, T.H., Meaux, V., Thomas, S., Rattan, K., & Sun, D.Y. (2019). Understanding dysphagia following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Dysphagia Research Society. San Diego, CA. 

Lu, F., Kao, T., Gilmore, A., Gomez, G., & Sun, D. (2019). Prophylactic measures and intervention for post-surgical dysphagia after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 100(12): e216. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2019.10.172

Lu, F., Kao, T.H., Meaux, V., Thomas, S., Rattan, K., & Sun, D.Y. (2019). Understanding dysphagia following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Dysphagia, 34: 948. doi: 10.1007/s00455-109-10022-z

Contact Information

  • tkao@mghihp.edu
  • Center for Health & Rehabilitation Research, B79/96, 2nd floor