iRAD Research Team

Cara Donohue is a practicing speech-language pathologist, an Assistant Professor, Director of Medical Speech-Language Pathology, and Director of the iRAD Laboratory at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She completed her doctoral studies in the Computational Deglutition Lab under the mentorship of Dr. Jim Coyle and her post-doctoral research fellowship in the Aerodigestive Research Core Laboratory at the University of Florida under the mentorship of Dr. Emily Plowman. Her research work aims to improve clinical care, patient outcomes, and quality of life for individuals suffering from swallowing disorders.

Jill Cable is a research speech-language pathologist/lab manager in the iRAD laboratory. She holds a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Arizona-Tucson and an undergraduate degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Indiana University-Bloomington. Jill embarked on her career in clinical research, focusing on voice and speech in Parkinson's Disease utilizing the LSVT®/LOUD protocol under the direction of Dr. Lorraine Ramig. Transitioning later to clinical practice for 15 years, Jill honed her expertise in specializing in a variety of patient populations including individuals with dysphagia, dysphonia, upper airway disorders, and chronic cough.

Makenna Clark is a Ph.D student at Vanderbilt University and a graduate research assistant in the iRAD Laboratory. She holds a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Appalachian State University and an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Appalachian State University. Makenna’s research interests include improving quality of life and patient care for individuals living with swallowing disorders.

Claudia Raines is a current Ph.D. student at Vanderbilt University in the Speech Kinematics and Acoustics Labratory (VUSKAL) with Dr. Antje Mefferd. She graduated with her Master of Science in Communication Science and Disorders from Oklahoma State University in 2022 and is currently completing her clinical fellowship in the multidisciplinary neurology clinics at VUMC. She became involved with the iRAD laboratory to expand clinical and research knowledge of dysphagia and actively collaborate on current research projects.

Logan Novom is a current M.S.-SLP student at Vanderbilt University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology from Miami University in 2023. During her undergraduate degree she worked as a research assistant for 2 years in a dysphagia lab which sparked her initial interest in this population. She joined the iRad lab to continue pursuing her interest in swallowing disorders as well as to strengthen her research skills.

Kaitlynn Raye is a current M.S.-SLP student at Vanderbilt University. She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in French from the University of Maine in 2023. She got involved in the iRAD lab because she is eager to get explore the medical aspects of speech language pathology. 

Grace Ledford is a current M.S.-SLP student at Vanderbilt University. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders with minors in Spanish and Human Development & Family Sciences from the University of Georgia in 2023. She got involved in the iRAD lab because she wants to further her understanding of swallowing structures and their functions with a goal to work in a medical setting in the future! 

Sadie Dunn is a current M.S. SLP student at Vanderbilt University. She graduated with her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Trevecca University in 2020, then earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders and Deaf Education from Utah State University in 2022. She joined the iRAD lab because of her primary interests in voice and aerodigestive disorders.

Tess Ellis is a current M.S.-SLP student at Vanderbilt University. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Human Development with an emphasis in Biology from the University of California, Davis in 2022. She got involved in the iRAD lab because one of her primary interests is dysphagia and she was eager to gain insight into the research side of medical speech-language pathology. 

Erin Kerwin is an MS-SLP student at Vanderbilt University. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Southern Methodist University in 2021. She joined the iRAD lab to strengthen her research skills and explore her interest in swallowing impairments and effective treatment approaches.