Kendrea Garand

Kendrea Garand is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders at the University of Pittsburgh. She holds dual doctorates: a PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Science from the Medical University of South Carolina and a Doctor of Clinical Science (CScD) in Medical Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Pittsburgh. Her clinical expertise spans over 15 years in medical speech-language pathology, with a focus on neurological diseases and swallowing disorders.

Garand’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from North Carolina State University, a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Purdue University, and advanced clinical and research doctorates. She maintains certifications such as the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) and Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (BCS-S).

Her research interests center on upper aerodigestive tract function, particularly respiratory-swallow coordination in aging, neurodegenerative diseases like ALS, and sleep disorders. She investigates swallowing physiology, presbyphagia, and interprofessional approaches to dysphagia management. Her work emphasizes translating clinical research into practice to improve outcomes for patients with complex swallowing challenges.

• Awards:
  • Emerging Leader Award (2023)
  • Excellence in Scholarship Award (2020)
  • Advancing Academic-Research Careers Award (2018)

Garand collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to advance dysphagia care, including contributions to guidelines for evaluating bulbar dysfunction in ALS. Her publications highlight innovations in swallowing assessment and interprofessional education, such as the use of simulation for nursing dysphagia screening.