Liza Bergström

Liza Bergström, PhD, is a specialist Speech Pathologist (graduated 1998, University of Queensland, Australia) who has worked internationally with clinical dysphagia management and research within tracheostomy, intensive care, neurology, head-neck cancer caseloads. PhD attained 2017. 
Current area of research: Clinical research in voice, dysphagia and tracheostomy management.

1. RESEARCH PROJECTS that Bergström has led or been collaboratively involved in:

• • 2024-current.  Principle Investigator (PI) for TRACH INSPIRE project: TRACHeostomy INterprofessional practice for earlier SPeaking valve Intervention for improved communication, weaning and Rehabilitation: implementing Evidence-based practice. Multi-site implementation project within Sweden.
  • 2023-current.  PI for project: Evaluation of Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) for people with Parkinsonism: A randomised controlled trial. Dept of Speech Pathology Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
  • 2022-current.  PI: Dysphagia Research Program, Dept of Speech Pathology, Danderyd Hospital.
  • 2020-current.  PI: Evaluation and management of dysphagia following intensive care, Remeo, Stockholm, Sweden.
  • 2022-2024.  International co-researcher: Invited expert. Delphi study for visuoperceptual assessment of Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) recordins in oropharyngeal dysphagia
  • 2022-2023.  Site coordinator for intensive care swallowing (dysphagia) screen, GUSS-ICU project, Danderyd Hospital.
  • 2020-2022.  International co-researcher: Invited expert, Respiratory Acuity Dysphagia Scale (RADS) - establishing validity through international expert consensus.
  • 2020-2022.  Co-researcher (international research group): Systematic reviews and meta-analysis of randomised control trials (RCT) investigating dysphagia interventions.
  • 2019-2022.  Co-researcher (international research): The prevalence of oropharyngeal dysphagia in adults in different healthcare settings: A systematic review & meta-analysis.
  • 2017-2023.  PI: Dysphagia management with cervical auscultation, Västra Götaland Region, Sweden
  • 2012-2014.  Project Coordinator: Multi-site, Head & neck cancer RCT, investigating dysphagia management following non-surgical cancer treatment, Västra Götaland Region.

2. RESEARCH SUPERVISION

Bergström has supervised seven Honours’ (Magister) theses and 12 Masters’ theses.  

Current PhD student supervision:

• Primary supervisor to PhD candidate J.Tegnevi (Karolinska Institute): Evaluation of Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) for patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A randomised control trial (RCT)
• PhD supervisor to P.Martell (Lund University): Dysphagia in the older population and within care facilities: prevalence, quality of life, health economics and treatment 
• PhD supervisor to S.Wiberg (Åbo Academy University): The role of speech-language pathologists in interprofessional tracheostomy teams
• PhD supervisor to V.Mirkoska (Umeå University): Dysphagia after stroke - incidence, mechanism, treatment adherence and effect of oral neuromuscular training on lip force and oral intake.

UNIVERSITY: Dr Bergström is an invited/guest lecturer - particularly in the areas of dysphagia, intensive care and multidisciplinary tracheostomy management - across several universities within Sweden and internationally. Key teaching assignments listed below.

1. Karolinska Institutet, Sweden

2022, 2025: Speech pathology management for tracheostomized patients (Advanced Course, 7.5 credit points, Uppdragsutbildning). 

2024: Dysphagia within intensive care (Speech Pathology program)
2023: Physiology, the swallow function and dysphagia (Speech Pathology program)
2021-2022: Medical education (ST-läkare): The difficult airway – What do we do? A challenge for anaesthetists and ENT doctors (Advanced Course, Uppdragsutbildning). Topic: Tracheostomy and larynx function.

2. Linköping University, Sweden
2021-2024: Speech pathology management with tracheostomised and ventilated patients (Advanced level).

3. Lund University, Sweden
2012-2023: Cervical auscultation as part of clinical dysphagia management
2014-2023: Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES): Evidence-based interpretation and dysphagia management

4. Gothenburg University, Sweden 

(Course coordinator and lead lecturer):

2016-2021: Dysphagia: Speech pathologists and dietitians’ collaboration for best practice dysphagia management
2014-2020: Dysphagia: Evidence based assessment, treatment and management
2019: Speech pathology management for tracheostomized patients (Advanced Course, 5 credit points, Uppdragsutbildning)
2013, 2016, 2019: Cervical auscultation in the assessment and management of dysphagia for adult and paediatric patients (Advanced Course, 5 credit points, Uppdragsutbildning)

5. Artevelde University, Belgium
2023: Post-graduate dysphagia course. Topic: Cervical auscultation as part of the clinical swallow examination

CLINICAL EDUCATION and PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Apart from university teaching, Bergström is an invited course/workshop facilitator for working healthcare professionals – as listed below (recent years only). Collaborative workshops/presentations = indicated by *.

• 2025. National conference for Post Intensive Care rehabilitation, Stockholm, Sweden. Topic: Dysphagia in ICU and longer term impact
• 2024. Norwegian (Nordlands Region) speech pathology professional education day. Topic: Speech Pathology: Dysphagia and tracheostomy management
• 2024. UK Swallow Group, 2-day conference. Topic: Psychometric properties of cervical auscultation: Research pros, cons and clinical application
• 2023. Örebro ventilation education day. Topic: Teamwork for tracheostomised patients, with or without respiratory support *(Bergström and Sundman)
• 2023. Akademiskt primärvårdscentrum, Region Stockholm. Professional development for speech pathologists. Topic: Dysphagia management for patients in their home environment
• 2022. Akademiskt primärvårdscentrum, Region Stockholm. Professional development for speech pathologists. Topic: Dysphagia assessment with cervical auscultation
• 2022. OpIVA Nordic workshop. Topic: Weaning from the ventilator and tracheostomy with speaking valve and high flow therapy *(Sundman, Bergström and Thorssin)
• 2022. Region Stockholm ICU-nursing professional development congress (RUSK). Topic: ICU patients and swallowing dysfunction: Larynx, pharynx and saliva management
• 2021. Nordic Spinal Cord Society Conference (NoSCoS). Workshop: Relearning breathing: Part II. Dysphagia and upper airway assessment: Laryngeal weaning *(Sundman, Bergström and Ingvarsson)
• 2021. Södersjukhuset ICU education. Topic: Passy Muir speaking valve: State of the art practice
• 2021. Region Stockholm ICU-specialist nursing congress (RIVA). Topic: Dysphagia within ICU
• 2021. ALS-team national network meeting. Topic: Dysphagia and the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI)
• 2021. Danderyds hospital ICU education day. Topic: ICU, dysphagia and multidisciplinary management
• 2019. Specialist anaesthetic and intensive care nursing (AnIVA) congress. Topic: Multidisciplinary teamwork for dysphagia management with ICU-patients *(Bergström and Cedborg)
• 2019. Örebro ICU education day. Topic: Multidisciplinary management for weaning from the ventilator and tracheostomy *(Sundman and Bergström)
• 2019. Tracheostomy education day (Suunaas Rehabilitation Speech Pathology Team). Topic: Communication and swallow training with tracheostomized patients *(Bergström and Laakso)