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“I would highly recommend Dr. Shanna Semmler’s infant feeding course as she unravels the medical details associated with oral feeding skill development and performance. This course provides the feeding therapist with specific assessment and treatment techniques for a variety of medical diagnosis that can impact the development of oral feeding. Dr. Semmler has been instrumental in my clinical skill advancement as her ability to educate therapists on infant feeding performance enhances our clinical reasoning.” – Holly Schifsky, OTR/L, CNT, NTMTC, CBIS
Live Webinar for Pediatric Therapists. Complete both sessions for 12 Contact Hours (1.2 CEUs)
June 25 and 26, 2207
9:40 am EST • 8:40 am CST • 7:40 am MST • 6:40 am PST (US)
EARLY BIRD RATE!
Register by May 14, 2027, to receive $20 off your registration. Enter coupon code EARLYBIRD20 at checkout to receive the discount. Must be used at the time of registration.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Learn to evaluate infant feeding performance and provide evidence-supported interventions to maximize infants’ outcomes. We’ll discuss diagnostic tools for bedside evaluation, cervical auscultation, modified barium swallow studies, and specific medical comorbidities seen in the NICU setting and how these influence the therapy pathway. In addition, we’ll review the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative and its impact on infant oral feeding. The developmental specialists’ role in oral motor assessment and interventions to support infant feeding in the NICU will be discussed, including how to support infant care team members in providing best practice care. This course will include lectures, small group discussions, and clinical scenarios with video to enhance the observation skills of attendees.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Identify infant phases of swallow
- Identify anatomical structures related to infant swallow mechanisms
- Relate how anatomical structures support safe swallow
- Relate how specific medical co-morbidities impact feeding performance
- Select which infants are and are not appropriate to complete oral feeding based on level of respiratory support and gestational age
- Decide which evidence-based assessment tool to use to evaluate an infant’s swallow
- Interpret results of observations to plan appropriate clinical intervention techniques
- Select safe oral feeding viscosity based on reported diagnostic assessment
- Develop a treatment plan to support an infant’s oral motor skill acquisition based on the results of different oral motor assessments
- Choose nonpharmacological interventions to support infants exhibiting Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and/or Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS)
- Select bottle/nipple to match infants’ skill level, support breastfeeding goals, and take into consideration any applicable medical comorbidities.
- Identify differences in feedings schedules currently in practice in NICUs
- Identify different environmental supports, feeding techniques, bottle choices and nutritional varieties for infants with symptomatic reflux
- Identify when to recommend an alternative feeding method to support infant nutrition, development and long-term success
AUDIENCE:
This course is intended for PTs, OTs and SLPs who work with the Pediatric, NICU or Feeding & Swallowing populations.
Shanna M. Semmler, OTD, OTR/L, CNT, NTMTC is an occupational therapist with more than 20 years of experience specializing in neonatal care and developmental support for premature and medically complex infants. She has dedicated her career to helping premature and full-term infants affected by medical complexities and birth trauma achieve their highest developmental potential.
For the past 17 years, Shanna has practiced within a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and three affiliated Level III NICUs at a leading academic medical center. Her clinical expertise includes developmental care, neurodevelopmental assessment and intervention, caregiver education, and family-centered approaches that promote optimal outcomes for vulnerable newborns.
Throughout her career, she has been committed to advancing evidence-based practice while supporting infants and their families during the earliest stages of development.
Shanna became a Certified Neonatal Therapist (CNT) in 2017 and earned her Neonatal Touch and Massage Therapist Certification (NTMTC) in 2020. She is an active member of the National Association of Neonatal Therapists and is passionate about interdisciplinary collaboration, professional education, and improving developmental outcomes for infants in the NICU and beyond.
Shanna earned her Bachelor of Arts from Augustana University in 2001 and her Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in 2004.
Financial Disclosure: Shanna Semmler receives an honorarium from Education Resources, Inc.
Non-Financial Disclosure: Shanna Semmler has no non-financial disclosures to report.
I came in wanting to learn more about how to intervene with these babies in the NICU and I feel so much more confident to do so now! The set up and speaker were wonderful! -Cori M., OT
I would highly recommend Dr. Shanna Semmler's infant feeding course as she unravels the medical details associated with oral feeding skill development and performance. This course provides the feeding therapist with specific assessment and treatment techniques for a variety of medical diagnosis that can impact the development of oral feeding. Dr. Semmler has been instrumental in my clinical skill advancement as her ability to educate therapists on infant feeding performance enhances our clinical reasoning. -Holly Schifsky, OTR/L, CNT, NTMTC, CBIS
Shanna Semmler is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about this population. I learned skills that I can put to immediate use at my hospital! -Meredith M., SLP
Thank you for this wonderful course! Dr. Semmler provided excellent strategies as well as case studies to carryover the information in the text to real-life scenarios. -Leila Z., PT
Shanna was an expert in her field! Her course was very informative and much of the information presented I will be able to put into immediate clinical practice. She was very receptive to all questions! -Tamara B.
Shanna is a great speaker and she explained complex ideas and strategies for feeding in a very simple and applicable way. I was able to apply the strategies the very next day when I returned to work! -Sarita A., OT
This course meets the criteria for 12 contact hours (1.2 CEUs) Intermediate Level.
If your state is not listed below and you have three or more therapists interested in attending, please contact us at info@educationresourcesinc.com or call 800-487-6530 to speak with a team member. We will review whether approval can be obtained for your state.
To receive a certificate of completion all registered attendees are required to attend and participate fully in all applicable course activities (i.e., labs, discussions, group work, polls, post-tests with passing grade of 80% or greater etc.) and complete the evaluation form.
AOTA – American Occupational Therapy Association
AOTA - Education Resources Inc. is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval ID#05145. This Distance Learning-Interactive course is offered at 12 contact hours 1.2 CEUs. (Intermediate level, OT Service Delivery). AOTA does not endorse specific course content, products, or clinical procedures.
FL OT - Approved provider of the FL Board of Occupational Therapy-CE Broker – 14 hrs. This course meets the approval of the TX Board of OT Examiners.
ASHA – American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
ASHA - ASHA CE Provider (Intermediate level) 1.2 ASHA CEUs. ASHA CE Provider approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedures. SLPs that require ASHA must submit your ASHA participant form to ERI. ASHA participant form to ERI.
TX SLP - ASHA credits are accepted by the Texas Department of License and Renewal.
PT – Physical Therapy by State
FL PT (FPTA) - Application has been made to the Florida Physical Therapy Association for 14 continuing education contact hours. Accreditation of this course does not necessarily imply the FPTA supports the views of the presenter or the sponsors.
MD PT - Approved by the Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners.
MN PT - Application has been made to the Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy.
NJ PT - Approved by the New Jersey Board of Physical Therapy Examiners.
IL PT - Approved sponsor by the State of Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for Physical Therapy for 14 contact hours.
ILEI - Application has been made to the Illinois Early Intervention Training Program.
NY PT - Approved provider by the New York State Board of Physical Therapy for 14 contact hours (1.4 CEUs).
Education Resources, Inc. is an approved provider for Physical Therapy CEUs in the following states: CA, NM, OK, TX and the assignment do not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures for these.
The following state boards of physical therapy accept other states’ approval: AK, AR, AZ, DC, DE, GA, HI, ID, IN, KS, KY, MA, MI, MO, MS, NC, OR, PA, RI, SC, UT, VA, VT, WI, WY. The following state boards of physical therapy either do not require course pre-approval or do not require CEUs for re-licensure: AL, CO, CT, IA, ME, MT, NE, ND, NH, SD, WA.
NDTA - 12 hours of this course qualify towards the discipline-specific hours for the 20-hour requirement for NDTA re-certification. They do NOT qualify towards the 8-hour NDTA Instructor requirement for re-certification.
NTNCB - This course meets the criteria for 12 hours that can be applied toward the Neonatal Therapy National Certification.
Education Resources Inc. 266 Main St, Suite 12, Medfield, MA 02052 • 800-487-6530
