Driven to improve patient care through innovative dysphagia research.

On Sept. 1, Pooja Gandhi joined the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine as an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

While her earlier research focused on the assessment and management of swallowing disorders, Gandhi has now turned her attention to developing clinical practice guidelines that will lead to improved patient care.

Gandhi spoke to us about what her early research revealed, the challenges she’s tackling with her current work and her excitement to continue working with her colleagues and students at the University of Alberta.

What first inspired you to enter the field of rehabilitation medicine?

My grandfather had Parkinson's disease and struggled with dysphagia during the last years of his life. His willpower and resilience kept him smiling till the end and inspired me to dedicate my career to better understanding and supporting people with this debilitating condition.

Can you explain your area of research?

My research focuses on the assessment and management of swallowing disorders in

individuals with Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. This includes delineating pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying swallowing impairment, evaluating targeted interventions addressing these mechanisms and translating best available evidence to the bedside to improve patient care related to dysphagia. 

My most recent research focuses on the development of multidisciplinary, international clinical practice guidelines for dysphagia management in neurodegenerative populations and the use of large administrative databases to identify risk factors and outcomes associated with dysphagia in Parkinson’s disease.

Why did you choose this research topic?

When I moved from clinical training to my doctoral degree, I saw a huge gap between evidence and clinical practice. There is little evidence to support common clinical practices; much of it fails to translate directly to informing clinical care and practice varies significantly across clinicians and institutions. 

As I developed a deeper interest in dysphagia management, I discovered a dearth of evidence-informed clinical practice guidance to help clinicians and patients engage in shared decision-making. This led me to evaluate the methodological quality of existing guidelines and has motivated ongoing efforts to produce an international, multidisciplinary guideline adhering to standards for trustworthy guidelines to inform dysphagia management based on best available evidence.

How do you hope your research will benefit people?

There is currently a gap in understanding among our clinical and research communities regarding the pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to swallowing impairments in various conditions. I envision my research shedding light on these mechanisms and related targeted interventions to improve patient outcomes. 

Clinicians and patients need access to trustworthy evidence summaries and practice guidance to inform their decisions. I hope my work in the area of guideline development will make these more readily available to clinicians and patients, increase more evidence-informed clinical decision-making and reduce practice variation internationally. I also hope it will uncover residual uncertainties in our evidence base and will help inform research endeavors to address these uncertainties.

What drew you to the U of A?

The U of A is home to some of the country’s most talented clinicians and researchers. There’s great potential for innovations in research and clinical education through collaborative efforts within the university community. Every interaction I’ve had at this university has been filled with warmth and comradery. I’m excited to be part of an academic community that prides itself on connectivity and synergistic productivity and is invested in creating a fulfilling learning environment and productive research environment.

What are you most excited about in your new role?

Throughout my training, I’ve held a great admiration for the wonderful clinical scientists and educators who have shaped my clinical and research journeys. I’m most excited to join them with parallel roles in clinical education, research scholarship and academic leadership and to build relationships with students to inspire them as they navigate their own training paths.

Which classes will you be teaching?

I’ll be teaching CSD 521: Dysphagia starting fall 2025.

What’s the No. 1 piece of advice you give your students?

Be fearless in discovering yourself. Don’t let the fear of failure or rejection hold you back from trying new things or connecting with others. Now is the perfect time for self-discovery and remember, you’re never alone—we’re here for you!

Can you tell us something others would be surprised to learn about you?

Here are a few fun facts about me: I was born in New Zealand, have South Asian roots, and have lived and completed my education in the United Arab Emirates, Canada and Australia. My husband and I are avid travelers; we've explored ten countries in the last two years! So when I'm not immersed in research or teaching, you can usually find me hopping on a plane for new adventures!