The conference was officially opened by Prof. Zbigniew Gaciong, Rector of the MUW, and Ewa Czochrowska, MD, PhD, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry for education in: medical and dental field of study in English, general and clinical speech therapy and foreign cooperation.
Main points of the conference
Among the highlights of the conference were specialized panels on the practical aspects of clinical speech therapy. The latest research, validation of diagnostic methods, the work of expert teams, and effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies used in the clinical practice of speech therapists in Poland and around the world were discussed. Speech topics included clinical work in neonatology and neonatal pathology, otorhinolaryngology, neurology, rehabilitation or oncology departments. In addition, a panel of sponsored speeches was held, which were directly related to the practice of speech therapy.
Roundtable deliberations
An important part of the event in the context of the future of speech therapy in health care was the closed Roundtable deliberations. Participants (guests of honor, consultants in the field of health care neurology, specialists, speakers, doctors) touched on many topics such as:
- The need to include speech therapists in the group of medical professions,
- Changing diploma and postgraduate education for speech therapists - introducing a five-year master's degree program,
- The possibility of taking up employment in health care only after obtaining a master's degree;
- The need for statutory regulation of the profession of speech therapist and the assignment of professional diagnostic and therapeutic competencies specific to this profession (for example, instrumental methods of diagnosing oropharyngeal dysphagia).
- The need to create and publish nationwide guidelines on various clinical issues,
- Rapid change of outdated procedures from the basket of guaranteed benefits
- Creation of new procedures necessary to provide speech therapy health services in health care facilities in Poland in a manner consistent with accepted standards in Europe and around the world.
The problem of unauthorized use of the title of neurologist was also discussed. This title is reserved for people who have completed specialization in neurology health care at the CMKP and passed the state specialization exam at the CEM, obtaining a specialist diploma. Meanwhile, it is often used by those who have completed unregulated postgraduate studies called “neurologopedics,” often conducted by universities without clinical facilities, after which the graduate receives only a certificate of completion of postgraduate studies and does not obtain a professional title.
Guests of honor
The conference featured guests of honor - significant specialists in clinical speech therapy and related fields: Prof. Grzegorz Opala, Minister of Health in 2000-2001; Justyna Żulewska-Wrzosek, PhD, national consultant for neurologopedics; Karolina Pożoga, PhD, Danuta Kuśnierkiewicz, MA, Joanna Chmielewska-Walczak, MD, PhD - provincial consultants in neurologopedics; Anna Żebryk-Stopa, PhD in Biology - creator and long-time head of the neurologopedic health care specialization; Olga Jauer-Niworowska, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Logopedics and Voice Emission UW, Magdalena Bartosiewicz-Żegota, MA, chairwoman of the Mazovian Branch of the Polish Association of Logopedists, Wioletta Pawlukowska, MD, PhD, PUM professor, chairwoman of the Polish Society of Clinical Logopedics, and heads of MUW chairs, departments, and clinics.
Organizers and patronages
The event was held on May 18 at the University Dental Center MUW. It was organized by the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. Co-organizers were the Department of Neurology of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry of the Medical University of Warsaw, the Chair and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery of the Faculty of Medicine of the Medical University of Warsaw and the Association for the Support of Laryngology.
Honorary patronage was provided by HM Rector of the Medical University of Warsaw, the Polish Society of Clinical Logopedics, the Polish Orthodontic Society and the Mazovian Branch of the Polish Society of Otorhinolaryngologists, Head and Neck Surgeons.
The Honorary Committee of the Conference included: Minister of Health Izabela Leszczyna, HM Rector of the Medical University of Warsaw, Prof. Izabela Domitrz - Head of the Department of Neurology of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry MUW, Prof. Kazimierz Niemczyk - Head of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery of the Faculty of Medicine MUW.
The conference was an important scientific and training event that enabled the exchange of knowledge, experience and best practices, consistent with evidence-based medicine in the field of speech therapy.
Most of the speeches from the 1st National Conference on Clinical Logopedics can now be viewed on the YouTube platform
