Personal Statement
Michelle is a Clinical Academic Speech and Language Therapist, specialising in dysphagia (swallowing difficulties), working across the University of Liverpool and Mid Cheshire NHS Trust. She is currently undertaking an NIHR Advanced Fellowship, developing and evaluating the feasibility of a novel intervention (respiratory-swallow training) to improve swallow function for people following head and neck cancer, in addition to working clinically as an Advanced Clinical Specialist in head and neck oncology.

Michelle completed a PhD at the University of Manchester, winning a Stroke Association postgraduate Fellowship in 2013. As part of her PhD, Michelle developed a psychometric scale to measure the impact of developing a positive therapeutic alliance in aphasia rehabilitation, which is now being translated internationally. Following her PhD, she secured an NIHR postdoctoral bridging Fellowship in 2021 and Advanced Fellowship in 2023.

Michelle has over 20 years of clinical experience in assessment and management of dysphagia and communication impairment arising from multiple aetiologies. Her clinical and research interests include: prehabilitation, outcome measurement, instrumental assessment, respiratory disorders, psychosocial adjustment and novel swallow interventions. She has presented nationally and internationally and taught at undergraduate and postgraduate level. She is mentor for research-active healthcare professionals and a supervisor for pre-doctoral and doctoral students.

Research Overview
Respiratory-Swallow Training in Head & Neck Cancer: Development and feasibility of a respiratory-swallow intervention to improve swallow function for people with head and neck cancer (ReST-HN)
Department of Health & Social Care (UK)
Oct 2023-Sept 2028

Exploring the role of the Therapeutic Alliance in aphasia rehabilitation
Stroke Association (UK)
Sept 2013- Sept 2018