Catherine Turk, PhD, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist - Advanced Clinical Specialist
Phone:
832-822-3280
Languages: English
Departments:
Office location:
Texas Medical Center
6701 Fannin Street
5th Floor
Houston, TX 77030
Get to know Catherine Turk, PhD, CCC-SLP
Catherine (Cathy) Turk, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist at Texas Children’s Hospital with over 30 years of clinical experience. Cathy is an advanced clinical specialist in pediatric feeding and swallowing. She performs instrumental exams (VFSS), clinical feeding and swallowing evaluations, and provides evidence-based dysphagia therapy services. Helping medically complex patients and their families is the most rewarding part of her career.
Additionally, Cathy has always had a passion for teaching and mentoring. She served as an assistant professor at the University of Houston. Throughout her career, Cathy has been an invited speaker nationally and internationally, took part in research projects, and co-authored two chapters in Pediatric Dysphagia: Challenges and Controversies.
Cathy’s research interests include understanding the associated swallowing disorders and patterns in patients with genetic syndromes.
Personal Statement
I am deeply committed to providing patient-centered care, empathy, respect for individuality, open communication, and evidence-based practice.
Clinical Interests
Genetic syndromes and associated swallowing disorders
Education
| School | Education | Degree | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green State University | PhD | Doctor of Philosophy in Communication Disorders | 1987 |
| Bowling Green State University | Masters | Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology | 1984 |
| Bowling Green State University | Bachelors | Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing | 1983 |
Organizations
| Organization Name | Role |
|---|---|
| American Speech-Language-Hearing Association | Member |
| Dysphagia Special Interest Group | Member |
* Texas Children’s Hospital physicians’ licenses and credentials are reviewed prior to practicing at any of our facilities. Sections titled From the Doctor, Professional Organizations and Publications were provided by the physician’s office and were not verified by Texas Children’s Hospital.
Wong, NS, Feng, Z, Rappazzo, C, Turk, C, Randall, C, Ongkasuwan, J. Patterns of Dysphagia and Airway Protection in Infants with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. Laryngoscope, 2019: 1-5. Doi: 10.1002/lary.28317
Rappazzo, C, and Turk, C., Clinical Swallow Evaluation: An Introduction for the Healthcare Provider. In Ongkasuwan, J., and Chiou, E (Ed.), Pediatric Dysphagia (2018,1st ed. pp.) New York,NY: Springer
Rappazzo, C. and Turk, C., Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study: Challenges and Controversies. In Ongkasuwan, J. and Chiou, E. (Ed.) Pediatric Dysphagia (2018,1st ed. pp.) New York, NY: Springer
Ongkasuwan, J, Turk, CL, Rappazzo, CA, Lavergne, KA, Smith, EO, Friedman, EM. The Effect of a speaking valve on laryngeal aspiration and penetration in children with tracheostomies. Laryngoscope, 2014 June: Vol 124 (6) 1469-1474
Solar-Alofonso C, Motil, K, Turk, C, Robbins-Furman P, Friedman, E, Zhang F, Lupski, J, Fraley J, Potocki L. Potocki Lupski Syndrome: A Microduplication Syndrome Associated with Oropharyngeal Dysphagia and Failure to Thrive. The Journal of Pediatrics, 2011 Apr: 158 (4) 655-659