Contact Information

Biography

Panayiota Senekkis-Florent, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CNT is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology and the Program Director of the DU-PHAGIA Pediatric Specialty Clinic. Dr. Senekkis-Florent is a board-certified specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders and a board-certified neonatal therapist. She has a passion for working with infants and children with Pediatric Feeding Disorders (PFD) and has served this population in acute and sub-acute settings for over 25 years. Her research interests include examining the prevalence, etiology, and impact of PFD in preterm infants, in addition to investigating the social determinants of health and their potential impact on optimal health outcomes, with the aim of formulating evidence-based and family-centered practices to confront these barriers. Dr. Senekkis-Florent also has a keen interest in innovating medical devices to address unmet clinical needs in the pediatric population across resource-diverse healthcare environments. Prior to her position at Duquesne University, she served as the Director of the Pediatric Clinical Fellowship program and Assistant Professor in the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins University Hospital.

Education

  • Ph.D., Trinity college Dublin, University of Dublin, Ireland
  • M.Ed., Southern University, Baton Rouge Louisiana
  • B.A., Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

CV

Research Interests or Expertise

  • Pediatric Dysphagia
  • Perinatal care
  • Breastfeeding practices
  • Interprofessional collaborative care

School

About

Peer-reviewed Publications:

Hoekstra, N. E., Schuh, N., Chagomerana, M., Senekkis-Florent, P., Pederson, P., Mvalo, T., Lefton-Greif, M.A., & McCollum, E. (2025). Establishing normative physiological values among breastfeeding infants in Malawi for the development of a pneumonia dysphagia risk score. BMJ Open Respiratory Research, 12:e002612. doi:10.1136/ bmjresp-2024-002612 

Alsunaydi, S., Senekkis-Florent, P., Greene, Z., & Walshe, M. (2025). “When I Had a Preemie, I Didn’t Realize Feedings Would be so Impersonal”: Parents’ Autobiographical Accounts of Feeding Premature Infants.  Dysphagia, 40 (2).  doi.org/10.1007/s00455-025-10828-0 

Rajappa, A, Senekkis-Florent, P, & Venkatesh, M. (2024). Contemporary approaches to neurogenic dysphagia rehabilitation. In N. Surya, N (Eds). IFNR Textbook of Neurorehabilitation (pp. 75-93). Evangel Publishing.  

Santiago, R., Gorenberg, B. J., Hurtubise, C., Senekki-Florent, P., & Kudchadkar, S. R. (2024). Speech-language pathologist involvement in the pediatric intensive care unit. International journal of speech-language pathology, 26(5), 674–681. doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2023.2244195 

Senekki-Florent, P., & Walshe, M.  (2021). Prevalence, Impact, and Extent of Feeding and Swallowing Difficulties in Preterm Infants admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on Cyprus. Advances in Communication and Swallowing, 24:45-53. doi:10.3233/ACS-210025. 

Ryan, M. A, Upchurch, P. A, Senekki-Florent, P. (2020) Neonatal Vocal Fold Paralysis. Neoreviews, 21(5):e308‐e322. doi:10.1542/neo.21-5-e308 

Senekki-Florent, P., Karaoli, C., & Walshe, M. (2015). Frequency, Nature, and Extent of Feeding and Swallowing Difficulties in Preterm Infants in Cyprus: A Large-Scale Epidemiological Study. Dysphagia, 30:223. doi:10.1007/s00455-015-9608-3  

Under Review:

Senekkis-Florent, P., & Aliakparova, A. (2025). Language and decolonial praxis in healthcare. In G. Boodoo (Eds). Decolonial Gestures in Global Health (in press). Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 

Overby, M., & Senekkis-Florent, P. (2025). Legacies of colonialism in Speech-Language Pathology. In G. Boodoo (Eds). Decolonial Gestures in Global Health (in press). Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 

Scholarly Presentations:

Gosa, M., Clinard, E., Senekkis-Florent, P., Walshe, M., & Marhsall, J. (2024, December). Elevating Classroom & Clinical Approaches to Teaching PFD in Graduate Programs: Part 1. Seminar presented at the annual convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Seattle, WA. 

Clinard, E., Senekkis-Florent, P., & Bryan, M. (2024, December). Elevating Classroom & Clinical Approaches to Teaching PFD in Graduate Programs: Part 2. Seminar presented at the annual convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Seattle, WA. 

Senekkis-Florent, P. & Ferrara-Gonzalez, L. (2024, November). Evidence Based & Culturally Responsive Practice in the NICU. Seminar presented at the Society for Ear Nose and Throat Advancement in Children (SENTAC) 52nd Annual Meeting, Denver, CO. 

Rajappa, A.T., Senekkis-Florent, P., Soriano, K., Wolf, R, Malandraki, G. (2024, April). Interprofessional Practice/Education for Dysphagia Care Outcomes from Clinical Research Case Studies. Seminar presented at the annual convention of the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Pittsburgh, PA. 

Rajappa, A.T., Soriano, K., Senekkis-Florent, P., Wolf, R, Malandraki, G. (2023, November). 2022: Ignite and Innovate Clinical Research, Practice and Education in Dysphagia through Interprofessional Education and Practice. Seminar presented at the annual convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Boston, MA. 

Rusiewicz, H. L., Staltari, C., Baumann, B., Senekkis-Florent, P., Shensa, A., & Conmey, J. (2023, November). 2078: Navigating Comprehensive-Contemporary-Clinical Education: Student’s Self-Efficacy and Experiences. Seminar presented at the annual convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Boston, MA. 

Senekkis-Florent, P., Kim, Y., & Lenker, H. (2022). Therapy Champions - The Key to Success in Rehabilitation for Critically Ill Children, The Collaborative Therapy Team: PT, OT, and SLP. Seminar presented at the 11th Annual Johns Hopkins Critical Care Rehabilitation Conference, Baltimore, MD. 

Senekkis-Florent, P., & Kim, Y. (2021). The Critically Ill Infant and Toddler: Evidence-Based Approaches to Feeding and Swallowing. Seminar presented at the 10th Annual Johns Hopkins Critical Care Rehabilitation Conference, Baltimore, MD. 

Senekkis-Florent, P. (2020). Special Considerations for PICU: Facilitating Communication and Cognition in the ICU. Seminar presented at the 9th Annual Johns Hopkins Critical Care Rehabilitation Conference, Baltimore, MD

  • Member of American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA), SIG13
  • Associate Member of Dysphagia Research Society (DRS)
2024-25 Development of a Smart Nasogastric Tube with Integrated Sensors for GERD Monitoring in Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Charles Henry Leach II Fund for Duquesne University. PI: Panayiota Senekkis-Florent, Co-PI’s: Dr. Leda Kloudas, and Dr. Melikhan Tanyeri; $23,380. 

American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA), Certified Member 

Pennsylvania Speech-Language and Hearing Association (PSHA), Member 

ASHA Special Interest Group 13: Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia) 

ASHA Special Interest Group 17: Global Issues in Communication and Related Issues 

Dysphagia Research Society (DRS), Member 

European Society for Swallowing Disorders (ESSD), Member 

American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (AB-SSD), Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (BCS-S) – Pediatric  

Science of Clinical Investigation Award, School of Public Health and Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Johns Hopkins University 

Board Certified Neonatal Therapist