Athens, Ga. (February 3, 2025) – Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center is pleased to announce that Suzanne Deal, a speech-language pathologist in the rehabilitation department, has achieved certification as a Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (BCS-S) by the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (AB-SSD). This prestigious certification places Deal among an elite group of professionals—one of only 12 specialists in the state of Georgia and one of just 400 in the entire United States.

Deal's expertise spans both inpatient and outpatient settings, where she works with medically complex adults and children. Within the hospital, she cares for adult ICU patients, including those being treated for stroke, Parkinson's disease, with head injuries, or have experienced respiratory failure. In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Deal provides critical care to babies with lung issues due to prematurity. She supports infant feedings, which often involve a feeding tube, while also providing invaluable support to patients and caregivers.

The therapies Deal provides are incredibly technical and highly specialized, with very few certified specialists in Georgia. Before Deal earned certification, families in Athens and the surrounding northeast Georgia region traveled to Atlanta to be seen by a specialist. Now, families seeking more advanced care can do so locally. Deal works with pediatric patients referred to the Outpatient Rehabilitation Clinic at Piedmont Athens, allowing families to get the care they need closer to home.

The American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders exists to safeguard and advance the care of individuals with feeding and swallowing disorders. The AB-SSD achieves this by certifying speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who demonstrate excellence through continuing education, integrated clinical practice, mentorship, research, teaching, and leadership.