Nicole M. Rogus-Pulia, PhD, CCC-SLP
Nicole M. Rogus-Pulia, PhD, CCC-SLP
Dr. Pulia is an assistant professor in the departments of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Additionally, she is the director of the Swallowing and Salivary Bioscience Research Program in the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital and director of the multi-site Veteran Health Administration’s (VHA) Intensive Dysphagia Treatment (IDT) program.
Dr. Pulia is a Wisconsin ADRC REC Scholar.
Dr. Pulia leads a translational research program focused on dysphagia, or swallowing dysfunction, in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The goal of her work is to systematically identify and characterize factors underlying dysphagia in patients with Alzheimer's disease and then to translate these findings into novel, evidence-based treatments for maintenance of quality of life and prevention of pneumonia onset. Dr. Pulia’s specific research interests include the effects of intensive dysphagia rehabilitation, including tongue strengthening, on swallow function and health status; the feasibility of exercise-based approaches to dysphagia treatment for patients with early stage Alzheimer's disease; and the impact of oral microbial profiles and saliva production on oral health and pneumonia risk in patients with dysphagia.