Dr Nicola Clayton Bio

Nicola Clayton, SP, PhD

Dr Nicola Clayton has been a Clinical Specialist Speech Pathologist at Concord Repatriation General Hospital for 17 Years. She is recognised nationally and internationally for her clinical expertise and research in the assessment and treatment of complex swallowing disorders specifically in severe burn injury, acute respiratory disease and critical illness. Nicola has a strong passion for working with tracheostomy patients, was one of the founding members of the Multidisciplinary Tracheostomy Team at Concord Hopsital, and instrumental in the design and implementation of the Tracheostomy Weaning Pathway. As the coordinator of the NSW Dysphagia Interest Group for the past 15 years, lecturer in dysphagia management at Macquarie University and key instructor in various dysphagia and burn related workshops; Nicola is committed to the education of undergraduate and graduate Speech Pathologists as well as other multidisciplinary staff. Nicola completed her undergraduate degree (University of Sydney) in 1998, Masters of Science in Medicine in 2006 (University of Sydney), and has recently completed her PhD (University of Queensland). Since completing her Masters in 2006, Nicola has authored 13 peer reviewed publications and 3 book chapters, publishing her work in leading journals in the field including Dysphagia, International Journal of Speech Language Pathology, ENT Journal, Burns and Journal of Burn Care Research. Nicola has also authored 5 professional guidelines/professional practice documents, for Speech Pathology Australia and the Australian and New Zealand Burns Association. She disseminates her research widely with more than 40 oral and poster presentations at state, national and international forums.