Pediatric Feeding Disorder - a Multidisciplinary Disorder but What Does It Mean for the General Pediatrician in 2025
About the presenters:
Dana Williams, MD
Medical Director, Feeding Disorders Clinic
Medical Director, Aerodigestive Clinic
Medical Director, Patient Experience
Dr. Dana I. Williams received her medical degree from Carol Davila School of Medicine also in Bucharest, completed her residency in Pediatrics and was appointed Chief Resident in Pediatrics at New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. She received fellowship training in Pediatric Gastroenterology at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical Center. She served as Fellowship Program Director and interim director of the division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at Cornell from 2001-2004. Dr. Williams joined Phoenix Children’s in 2004. Dr. Williams was Associate Program Director for the Phoenix Children’s Hospital/Maricopa Medical Center Pediatric Residency Program (2010-2015), Director of Faculty Mentorship Program (2007-2010) and is the Medical Director of the Multidisciplinary Aerodigestive and Feeding Programs at Phoenix Children’s Hospital (2008-present) and medical director of Patient Experience at Phoenix Children's since 2023.
Dr. Williams’ career as a clinician, educator and researcher is highlighted by numerous awards and recognitions, she is well published on a variety of topics in Aerodigestive and Pediatric Feeding Disorder in Pediatric Gastroenterology.
She has presented widely on the national and international stage on Aerodigestive and PFD topics. She is the GI chair in the executive committee of the Aerodigestive Society and Clinical Chair of the Education and Communication Committee of the Pediatric Experience Collaborative.
Outside of the work Dr. Williams loves to spend time with her family, son Alex and husband Dr. Howard Williams, travel, read, ride the bicycle with family and practice French cooking.
Rosie Hodges, PsyD
GI Psychology
Rosie Hodges, PsyD, is a pediatric psychologist who provides clinical services in the gastroenterology department. She works within several multidisciplinary teams including the Intensive Feeding Program, Short Bowel Syndrome Clinic, and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinic. She provides individual and family therapy for general GI concerns as well. In addition to providing psychological services, Dr. Hodges is an active member of the psychology division's training program where she supervises trainees to prepare them for the next chapter of their career. She frequently works with other disciplines and presents didactics to medical residents and fellows focusing on the psychological impact of pediatric medical complexities. She is also currently involved in research examining healthcare professional stigma and eating disorders in the pediatric setting.
She earned her master's and doctorate degrees at the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium in California. She completed her internship at Jackson Health System in Miami and her postdoctoral fellowship at Children's Health in Dallas where she received specialized training in pediatric eating disorders.
Stefanie Lauderdale, SLP
PFD Team Lead
Stefanie Lauderdale, MS, CCC-SLP is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders. She currently serves at Phoenix Children’s Outpatient Rehabilitation as the Clinical Specialist for the Pediatric Feeding Disorders Clinic, where she provides clinical leadership to a team of occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists. Stefanie is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and holds a Master of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Portland State University.
With a strong background in clinical mentorship and interprofessional collaboration, Stefanie has developed staff training initiatives, created patient and family resources, and helped shape clinical education through in-services on counseling skills and feeding development. Her previous roles include positions at Banner Children’s Medical Center and Nelson Pediatric Therapy, where she advanced feeding programs and supported families navigating complex care needs. Her background demonstrates a clear passion for feeding starting early in her training as she completed pediatric feeding focused internships with Doernbecher Children’s Hospital and Providence in Portland, Oregon.
Stefanie continues to drive innovation in pediatric feeding through ongoing projects focused on staff development and education, community awareness of pediatric feeding disorder, and program development. Her clinical approach emphasizes whole-child care, caregiver empowerment, and interdisciplinary coordination.