Associate Professor Jacqueline Allen is a Laryngologist practicing in Auckland, New Zealand.  A graduate of the University of Auckland, Dr Allen undertook Fellowship training at the Voice and Swallow Centre, University of California, Davis where she specialized in Voice and Dysphagia utilizing modern in-office techniques, endoscopy and laser surgery.  She returned to New Zealand in 2010 and established the Auckland Voice and Swallow Centre, and the Swallowing Research Lab at University of Auckland where these techniques have been put to use.  Research interests include neurogenic dysphagia, swallowing and nutrition across the lifespan, vocal fold scar translational research (in which she has completed a doctoral degree), reflux disease and novel engineering modelling for swallow dysfunction. Dr Allen is Past President of Dysphagia Research Society, a Member of the American Bronchoesophagological Association, American Laryngological Association and Laryngology Society of Australasia and is Section Editor of Current Opinion in Otolaryngology, European Archives of Otorhinolaryngology and Annals of Rhinology, Otology and Laryngology. 

Consultant Laryngologist & ENT Surgeon, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals

Laura Matrka, MD, is a Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery. She graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College with a BA in English and concentrations in Anthropology and Spanish, completed medical school at University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, completed her residency in Otolaryngology at The Ohio State University, and completed a Laryngology fellowship at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio with Blake Simpson.  She is a full-time clinician who devotes significant additional time to clinical research, focusing on complicated airway management, recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery, neurogenic chronic cough, and many other topics. She is also devoted to improving gender-affirming health care and addressing issues of diversity in medicine and education. She was inducted into the American Laryngologic Association in 2020, the Triological Society in 2019, and the American Bronchoesophageal Association (ABEA) in 2015; she has held several leadership roles in these societies, and is currently a Councilor-at-large for the ABEA. She has been awarded the Exceptional Physician Peer Award, the Faculty Teaching Award, Press-Ganey recognition for patient satisfaction, and has consistently received Castle Connolly’s Exceptional Women in Medicine and Top Doctors awards since 2019. She has served as Course Director for conferences including the annual Advanced Practices in Voice and Dysphagia and the national ABEA conference, and she is the author of over 50 publications.