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Maureen A. Lefton-Greif, Ph.D., M.A.

Maureen A. Lefton-Greif, Ph.D., M.A.

Headshot of Maureen A. Lefton-Greif
  • Director, Johns Hopkins Feeding/Swallowing Disorders Program
  • Professor of Pediatrics

Specializes in: Adolescents (12-18 years), Children (1-11 years), Infants (up to 1 year)

Expertise

Dysphagia, Swallowing Disorders

Research Interests

Oropharyngeal dysphagia in infants and children; development of standardized Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study procedures and outcome measures; development of respiratory-swallow coordination; respiratory-swallow coordination in Ataxia-Telangiectasia and Neuromuscular Disorders; aspiration-induced lung disease; aerodigestive disorders in infants and children ...read more

Background

Dr. Maureen A. Lefton-Greif, M.A., Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-S, is a Professor of Pediatrics, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  Her areas of clinical expertise include feeding/swallowing development and disorders.  Certified in swallowing and swallowing disorders by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, her research focuses on standardization of fluoroscopic images from bottle-fed children with dysphagia and respiratory-swallow coordination in progressive diseases with pediatric origins.

Dr. Lefton-Greif co-authored the book dedicated to Videofluoroscopic Swallow Studies in infants and young children. She is a board certified specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders, and serves on the editorial advisory boards of the Journal of Dysphagia, the Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. She is an active member of the Dysphagia Research Society. 

As a nationally and internationally renowned clinician, Dr. Lefton-Greif has served on multidisciplinary, graduate education, and clinical practice guidelines committees. Her work has changed standards of clinical care including diagnostic, surveillance, and management protocols; improved the outcomes and survival of affected children; and resulted in clinical referrals beyond the local/regional area.  Her clinical opinions, expertise, and instruction have been requested here and abroad.

 

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Titles

  • Director, Johns Hopkins Feeding/Swallowing Disorders Program
  • Professor of Pediatrics
  • Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
  • Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Departments / Divisions

Centers & Institutes

Education

Degrees

  • B.A.; Brooklyn College of the City University of New York (New York) (1972)
  • M.A.; Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) (1973)
  • Ph.D.; Temple University (Pennsylvania) (1988)

Additional Training

  • American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) / Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology

Research & Publications

Research Summary

Dr. Lefton-Greif’s research focuses on standardization of protocols and images from bottle-fed children with dysphagia and respiratory-swallow coordination in progressive diseases with pediatric origins.

Her publications were the first to identify the presence of oropharyngeal dysphagia in children with unexplained respiratory presentations; identify dysphagia as a significant contributor to respiratory compromise in Ataxia-Telangiectasia, which is the leading cause of death and had been previously attributed to immunologic problems; and report on a novel scale that quantifies the impact on caregivers of feeding/swallowing problems in their children.

Selected Publications

View all on PubMed

Lefton-Greif MA, Crawford TO, Winkelstein JA, Loughlin GM, Koerner CB, Zahurak M, Lederman HM. Oropharyngeal dysphagia and aspiration in patients with Ataxia-Telangiectasia. J Pediatrics. 2000;136(2):225-231.

Crawford TO, Mandir, AS, Lefton-Greif MA, Goodman, SN, Goodman B.K, Sengul H, Lederman HM. Quantitative neurologic assessment of ataxia-telangiectasia. Neurology. 2000; 54:1505-1509.

Lefton-Greif MA, Carroll JL, Loughlin GM. Long-Term Follow-Up of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Children without Apparent Risk Factors. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2006; 41(11): 1040-1048.

Lefton-Greif MA, Crawford TO, McGrath-Morrow S A, Carson KA, Lederman HM. Safety and caregiver satisfaction with gastrostomy in patients with Ataxia Telangiectasia. Orphanet J Rare Diseases. 2011 May 15;6(1):23.

McGrath-Morrow SA, Ryan T, Riekert K, Lefton-Greif MA, Eakin M, Collaco JM. The impact of bronchopulmonary dysplasia on caregiver health related quality of life during the first 2 years of life. I 2013. 48:579-586.

Contact for Research Inquiries

The Johns Hopkins Hospital
200 N. Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD 21287 map
Phone: 410-955-2035

Activities & Honors

Honors

  • Certificate of Honor, College of Health Professionals Alumni Association, Temple University
  • Scientific Abstract Oral Presentation Winner, Dysphagia Society
  • National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders Award
  • 15th Award for Continuing Education, American Speech-Language Hearing Association
  • Mentor for Student Research Travel Award, American Speech-Language Hearing Association

Memberships

  • Dysphagia Research Society
  • American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
  • Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Advances in Children
  • Maryland Speech-Language Hearing Association

Professional Activities

  • Editorial Advisory Board Member, An International Multidisciplinary Journal Devoted to Swallowing and Its Disorders
  • Editorial Review Board Member, Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
  • Editorial Board Member, American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
  • Mentor - Student Research Travel Award Recipient, American Speech-Language Hearing Association (2009)
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