Intensive, rigorous, and clinically relevant virtual and in-person training created to improve patient care, elevate the profession, and raise awareness about swallowing disorders.
Current format
Virtual and in-person formats
25 years
Dr. Humbert's research and clinical experience
~100 hours
of education available through STEP
40,000+
course enrollments across the STEP community
Original HSTP artwork by Dr. Humbert's education program.
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Why HSTP was created
The Humbert Swallowing Training Program (HSTP) was created to address the long-standing and well-published limitations of current education and training for professionals who manage swallowing disorders. Our mission is clear: to provide a diverse range of educational experiences, both virtual and in-person, with a common objective—delivering intensive, rigorous, and clinically relevant training that helps improve patient care, elevates the profession, and raises awareness about swallowing disorders.
HSTP is based on Dr. Ianessa Humbert’s 20+ years of accumulated research, education, and training experience in swallowing and swallowing disorders (dysphagia). Ianessa Humbert, Ph.D., is an accomplished scientist, professor, and highly sought-after speaker with expertise in swallowing and swallowing disorders. With hundreds of speaking invitations worldwide, the most common feedback from attendees continues to be, “This is the first time a course has forced me to think about what I’m doing.” Dr. Humbert’s teaching philosophy requires attendees to question everything they think they know before learning can begin.
We are excited to offer a range of learning experiences designed to empower students, clinicians, and scholars with world-class knowledge, skills, and training in dysphagia management. Through our virtual Humbert Experiential Learning Program (HELP) sessions and in-person Swallowing Residencies and MBSS Intensives, trainees gain access to dysphagia expertise and experiences that can elevate their practice, enrich their careers, and allow them to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those living with swallowing disorders.
About Dr. Ianessa Humbert
Read more about Dr. Humbert’s research, teaching, speaking, and advocacy on the practice profile.
The Humbert Experiential Learning Program (HELP) is an all-virtual learning experience designed to simulate real-world clinical scenarios in dysphagia management. HELP delivers a dynamic and immersive learning experience through topical sessions that are available online in two phases—pre-recorded and live-streamed. Each HELP session features a different swallowing disorder, diagnostic technique, patient population, or treatment modality.
1Pre-recorded: Watch pre-recorded courses on the Swallowing Training and Education Portal (STEP) relevant to the course topic to strengthen foundational knowledge in preparation for the live-streamed clinical scenarios.
2Live-streamed: Attend live-streamed diagnostic and treatment scenarios in a clinical setting with volunteer patients. Mock clinical encounters are streamed from the Swallowing Wellness Center to demonstrate real-world clinical experiences for clinicians and patients.
Current HELP information
See the two-phase format, the free clinical case recording, archived session details, and registration links on the local HELP page.
Our In-Person Swallowing Residency at the Swallowing Wellness Center is designed to provide healthcare professionals with a one-of-a-kind, immersive, in-person learning experience that will take their clinical skills to the next level. Each residency program is customized to meet the individual needs of the resident and provides a comprehensive learning experience that combines theoretical and practical knowledge in dysphagia management.
Residents work alongside experienced clinicians and educators and receive hands-on training and mentorship in dysphagia assessment and treatment at a private outpatient clinical setting in Washington, DC. Residents also gain access to comprehensive dysphagia education through Swallowing Training and Education Portal (STEP) online courses throughout the residency.
After each residency, residents will have gained the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in their careers as confident, critically thinking dysphagia specialists across the continuum of care. Additional details about swallowing residencies are coming soon.
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Modified Barium Swallow Study Intensive
The In-Person Swallowing Wellness MBSS Intensive empowers healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge required to excel in conducting and interpreting Modified Barium Swallow Studies (MBSS). The comprehensive program offers an immersive learning experience with expert guidance and hands-on training.
Objective: To equip participants with the expertise to perform MBSS effectively and safely. Location: An in-person experience at the Swallowing Wellness Center in Washington, DC. Additional details about MBSS intensives are coming soon.
Introduction to MBSS and its significance in swallowing assessment
Normal and abnormal swallowing anatomy and physiology
Hands-on practice setting up equipment and conducting MBS studies
Managing clinical scenarios and complex cases
Radiation safety, policy, and industry equipment
Interdisciplinary collaboration
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Online education partner
The Swallowing Wellness Center has partnered with STEP Community (Swallowing Training Education Portal), a leading online all-in-one learning platform for swallowing and swallowing disorders.
The Swallowing Training and Education Portal provides students, clinicians, and instructors with the dysphagia resources they need to succeed at every step—from basics to clinics. Its mission is to make evidence-based swallowing training and education affordable and accessible. STEP offers nearly 100 hours of immersive and clinically relevant courses and ASHA CEUs, at a reasonable cost, covering all the essentials of normal swallowing, swallow assessment, dysphagia treatment, and professional issues for students and clinicians in dysphagia management.
The STEP x Swallowing Wellness collaboration fulfills the long-awaited and frequently requested education and training clinicians need to practice dysphagia management at the top of their licenses. It connects theory to practice and online education to hands-on training, with the goal of broadening the scope of dysphagia education and moving the clinical subspecialty forward.
Swallowing Training and Education Portal
Courses range from the basics of normal swallowing to advanced dysphagia management.
The Swallowing Wellness Center’s Humbert Swallowing Training Program is an innovative educational program designed to address the limitations of current education and training for professionals managing swallowing disorders (dysphagia). It offers a diverse range of educational experiences, both virtual and in-person, to deliver intensive, rigorous, and clinically relevant training to improve clinical outcomes, enhance patient care, and help raise awareness about swallowing disorders.
What are its key components?
The key components are virtual and in-person educational offerings and experiences. Through the virtual Humbert Experiential Learning Program (HELP), in-person Residencies, and MBSS Intensives, trainees gain access to dysphagia expertise, insights, and hands-on experiences intended to elevate clinical practice, enrich careers, and make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals living with swallowing disorders.
What does HELP offer?
HELP is an all-virtual learning experience designed to simulate real-world clinical scenarios in dysphagia management. It consists of pre-recorded courses on STEP and live-streamed clinical scenarios in a clinical setting with volunteer patients. Each session covers a different aspect of swallowing disorders and treatment.
What is the Swallowing Residency?
The In-Person Swallowing Residency is a one-of-a-kind, immersive learning experience customized to the resident’s individual needs. It combines theoretical and practical knowledge, hands-on training and mentorship in dysphagia assessment and treatment, and work alongside experienced clinicians and educators in a private outpatient clinical setting in Washington, DC.
What is the MBSS Intensive?
The Swallowing Wellness MBSS Intensive is an accelerated training program that empowers healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge required to excel in conducting and interpreting Modified Barium Swallow Studies. It covers normal and abnormal swallowing anatomy, hands-on practice with MBSS equipment, managing clinical scenarios, radiation safety, and interdisciplinary collaboration in an immersive clinical setting.
Are there prerequisites?
Prerequisites may vary by specific training session. Most sessions are open to a wide range of participants, but check each session for specific requirements or recommended prerequisites. Virtual experiential learning programs require the assigned prerecorded STEP coursework to be completed before attendance.
How do I register?
Registration and pricing details are provided on each active program page as they become available.
Are sessions online or in person?
HSTP offers online and in-person learning. The format depends on the program, allowing participants to choose the experience that best fits their schedule and preferences.
Are ASHA CEUs offered?
Most sessions offer ASHA continuing education units. Check each session’s details for the credit hours and instructional level.
How can I hear about updates?
Check the current program pages, follow Swallowing Wellness on social media, or email education@swallowingwellness.com.
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What clinicians say
Clinical Fellow
“Dr. Humbert's education and training has lifelong impact! I had a dysphagia course in graduate school but looking back majority of the course was focused on disordered swallow versus understanding what is a normal swallow. I now have a better idea of what normal should look like. Her coures take A&P to a whole other level - it was a nice review in an easy yet comprehensive way to learn.”
Practicing Clinician
“This is a great way for clinicians, new and old, as well as students to learn and/or review basics of swallowing assessment. The images, animations, and VFSS/FEES videos are hugely impactive for thorough understanding and interpreting of individualized functions as well as interrelation of all swallow events.”
Practicing Clinician
“Dr. Humbert's courses are a must need for professionals who want to advance our field in dysphagia management! Insightful, digestible, and challenging in the best way possible.”
Clinical Supervisor
“Best money I have spent for education focused on swallowing. I appreciate the review, evidenced based research and critical thinking which will impact assessment and treatment of patients, and education of swallowing with colleagues/students. Thank you.”
Dysphagia Instructor
“Dr. Humbert's teaching style and illustrations are excellent and really help students conceptualize dysphagia in a way I haven't experienced before. Thanks for a great course!”
Practicing Clinician
“I am so grateful to Dr. Humbert for this excellent coursework. As a medical speech pathologist in acute care for 11 years, I feel this is the material I have always been missing. Having completed this course, I am much more confident in my skills as a dysphagia clinician, and feel equipped to care for my patients in a more informed manner. I look forward to continuing my learning through the STEP community and with Dr. Humbert!”
Graduate Program Educator
“Fabulous coursework. The best supplement to clinical education in dysphagia management, This should be mandatory for all grad schools. Thank you for presenting research in a clear manner and relating research to clinical practice.”
