Dr. Louisa

Dr. Louisa Ferrara-Gonzalez - Infant Feeding SpecialistDr. Louisa Ferrara-Gonzalez,
PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CNT, CLC, NTMCT
has earned a doctoral degree in speech and language pathology and holds additional specialization as a:
            • Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing disorders
            • Board Certified Neonatal Therapist
            • Certified Lactation Counselor
            • Neonatal Touch & Massage Certified Therapist
            • Trauma-Informed Professional
Dr. Louisa has over 15 years of clinical experience working with medically fragile infants and children. She manages the NICU Dysphagia Research Team at NYU Langone Hospital, Long Island Campus. As an active researcher, her and her team aim to advance the evidence to support appropriate feeding practices for infants admitted to the NICU and beyond. She publishes her research in high-standing, peer-reviewed journals. 


Dr. Louisa is an internationally sought out speaker on all topics related to neonatal/pediatric feeding and swallowing development and disorders.  She also serves her community by offering free parent education classes and workshops.  View her connections Here. 

Appointment with Dr. Louisa Ferrara-Gonzalez

 

SERVICES & FEE SCHEDULE:

Initial Feeding Evaluation (Breast and/or Bottle fed) (1-hour with 2-weeks follow-up communication):

  • In Office - $375
  • Virtual Call - $325
  • In home (within travel radius*) - $400
Lactation Consult for Mother (1-hour):
  • In office - $300
  • Virtual Call - $225

Infant Massage (1-hour):

  • In office - $275
  • Virtual Call - $225
  • In home (within travel radius*) - $325

15-Min Developmental Advice Session (Virtual Call) - $50

30-Min Developmental Advice Session (Virtual Call) - $100

Follow-up Appointments (1-hour with 2-weeks follow-up communication):

  • In office - $300
  • Virtual Call - $275
  • In home (within travel radius*) - $325

ICU Developmental Care Consult (1-hour):

  • Virtual Call - $225

**In-Home appointment guidelines:

  • Travel radius for in home appointments in New York: Garden City, West Hempstead, Hempstead, Franklin Square, Stewart Manner, Mineola, Rockville Centre, Malvern.

  • Should you live outside this travel radius and still wish to have an in-home appointment, an additional $50 for every 15-minutes outside of this travel radius will be applied to your bill.

  • Additional fees for parking and tolls will also be included.

  • Out of State requests will be quoted separately and honored as availability permits.

EDUCATION
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Speech and Language Pathology, Adelphi University
  • Masters of Science Degree, Speech and Language Pathology, Adelphi University
  • Bachelors of Arts Degree, Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Adelphi University
PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS & CERTIFICATIONS
  • Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) - Trained April 2024
  • Lactation Consultant (Healthy Children Project) - March 2023
  • Trauma-Informed Professional (TIP) –Certified March 2022
  • Neonatal Touch and Massage Certification (NTMC) –Certified January 2021
  • Launch: A Revolutionary Leadership Program for Health Care Professionals – December 2020
  • Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)- Trained March 2017
  • Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP)- Certified February 2014
  • Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale (NOMAS)- Trained March 2011
  • New York State Department of Health- Approved Early Intervention Provider (2009)
  • S.O.S.- Sequential Oral Sensory Approach to Feeding – December 2008 and March 2009
  • PFMAI- The Posture & Fine Motor Assessment of Infants- Training in March 2009
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
  • Ferrara, A. Bidiwalla, I. Sher, et al.. Effect of Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on The Pharyngeal Swallow in Neonates. Journal of Perinatology. January, 2017; doi: 10.1038/jp.2016.229.
  • Ferrara, R. Kamity, S. Islam, et al.. Short-term Effect of Cold Liquids on the Pharyngeal Swallowing in Preterm Infants with Dysphagia: A Pilot Study. Dysphagia. February, 2018; doi: 10.1007/s00455-018-9877-8
  • Dumpa, R. Kamity, L. Ferrara, M Akerman, et al., The effects of oral feeding while on nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in preterm infants. Journal of Perinatology. February, 2020. doi: 10.1038/s41372-020-0632-2
  • Kamity, L. Ferrara, V. Dumpa, J. Reynolds, S. Islam, et al.. Simultaneous Videofluoroscopy and Endoscopy for Dysphagia Evaluation in Preterm Infants-A Pilot Study. Fronteirs in Pediatrics. September, 2020. Doi: 0.3389/fped.2020.00537
  • Pineda, J. Lisle, L. Ferrara, K. Knudsen, R. Kumar, A. Fernandez-Fernandez. Neonatal therapy staffing in the United States and relationships to NICU type and location, level of acuity, and population factors. American Journal of Perinatology. October 2021. Doi 10.1055/a-1678-0002
AWARDED GRANTS, HONORS, & RECOGNITION
  • Cold Milk as a Novel Therapy for Dysphagia in Preterm Infants. Sponsored by NIH R21 Grant HD100653-01. $422,400
  • Excellence in Research Award, Peer Nominated, National Association of Neonatal Therapists, 2021
WORK EXPERIENCE
  • Cardinal Health (2023-2024)
    • Manager of Clinical Operations: NICU Feeding Portfolio
  • Innara Health (2020-2023)
    • Chief Clinical Officer: NTrainer Education & Research
  • NYU Langone Hospital (LI) (2019-Present)
    • Manger NICU Dysphagia Research Team             
  • NYU Winthrop Hospital (2017-2019)
    • Manager Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing Program
    • Specialists in Neonatal Feeding & Swallowing Disorders
  • Winthrop University Hospital (2010-2017)
    • Specialist in Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing Disorders     
  • Private Practice - Louisa Ferrara, SLP, PC (2008-Present)
    • DBA Infant Feeding Specialists, Inc.