REWIND: Tracheostomies and Upper Airways Demystified with Rachael Silveira

*****Originally Aired: July 25, 2024*****

Guest: Rachael Silveira, MA, CCC-SLP

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/tracheostomies-and-upper-airways-demystified

In this episode, Renee is joined by Rachael Silveira to discuss tracheostomies and ventilators, and how to assemble a multidisciplinary team to care for patients with respiratory compromise. Managing patients with tracheostomy and/or ventilator dependency requires an interdisciplinary approach to ensure safety and optimal care. Through continuous monitoring, regular assessments, and nutritional support, SLPs are a crucial component of this team. SLPs are also critical to communication for these patients and to the education and support of the caregiving team/families. Effective management of tracheostomized and ventilated patients with compromised respiratory systems requires comprehensive, coordinated care tailored to each patient's needs.

About the Guest: Rachael Silveira, MA, CCC-SLP, is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist specializing in dysphagia and communication disorders at a Level 1 Trauma/Transplant Hospital in Miami. With advanced training in dysphagia management for respiratory-compromised and medically complex neurogenic populations, Rachael brings clinical depth and interdisciplinary leadership to her practice. A lifelong learner, she earns annual ACE (Award for Continuing Education) recognition and actively mentors fellow clinicians. Rachael is deeply committed to patient advocacy and quality of life, having spearheaded multidisciplinary Tracheostomy Teams across multiple facilities to implement standardized protocols and streamline care. She is also a passionate educator and innovator in the medical SLP space. Her initiatives include the “Badge Buddy Series” and TRACHtalks—an open-access collaborative promoting evidence-based tracheostomy care. Through national and international conference presentations, active research, and guest lectures at universities and hospitals, Rachael continues to elevate medical SLP education and practice. Her work reflects a powerful blend of clinical excellence, advocacy, and community-building in speech-language pathology.