COVID-19 Update

Please plan to attend your appointment, procedure or surgery as scheduled unless you are otherwise notified. During the pandemic, the hospital may be required to prioritize emergency and urgent cases, which may result in a change to your appointment. If this is the case, you will be contacted by a member of your care team. As always, our goal is to continue serving our community by providing quality hospital services for as long as it is safe and appropriate to do so during the pandemic.

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What this program does...

The Swallowing Clinic at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton works in affiliation with McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. This is a unique multidisciplinary clinic dedicated to understanding the causes of dysphagia.

The clinic is conducted jointly by an internist and gastroenterologist, and a speech-language-pathologist. We are located in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.

Our goal is to identify the cause of a swallowing problem and to restore swallowing function to a level as normal as possible in order to improve quality of life and nutrition. Our mission also includes clinical research and education for patients, families, and health care professionals.

How this program helps...

Using a step wise approach, adult out-patients are initially triaged by a specialist in internal medicine and gastroenterology and a dedicated speech-language pathologist.

Once the first assessment has been done, the patient is redirected to a specific investigational stream as per dysphagia-related symptoms, past medical history and studies performed. Therefore, a multidisciplinary consultation system is in place, coordinated by a physician who has access to timely referral consultations and complementary diagnostic tools.

The expert interdisciplinary team of physicians, speech-language-pathologists, radiologists and dietitians focus their expertise on diagnosing and treating the specific causes of swallowing disorders.

Your Care Team

Dr. Sergio Mazzadi, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology
McMaster University

Anthony Wood, M.Sc., CASLPO, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Specialist in Voice and Swallowing Disorders
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

Karen Tupper, MRT
Radiology Technologist
Department of Diagnostic Imaging
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

Contact

Swallowing Clinic
Charlton Campus
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
50 Charlton Avenue East
Hamilton, ON 
L8N  4A6
 
Connie Boffa
Administrative Assistant for Dr. Sergio Mazzadi (Medicine)
Tel: 905-522-1155 ext. 32076
Fax: 905-521-6068
 
Debbie McCloskey
Administrative Assistant for Anthony Wood SLP (Speech-Language Pathology)
Tel: 905-522-1155 ext. 36101
Direct Line: 905-521-6101
Fax: 905-521-6159

Maps & Directions

The Swallowing Clinic is located within the department of Speech-Language Pathology on Level 0 of the Bishop Dowling Wing at the Charlton Campus of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Please see directions as follows:

Martha Wing Entrance from Charlton  
Enter at the Martha Wing entrance on Charlton Avenue.  Proceed to the end of the corridor.  Turn to your left and proceed down the corridor to the Department of Audiology.  Room D03.

Directions from the Fontbonne Visitor/Patient Parking Ramp*
Exit the Fontbonne Visitor/Patient Parking Ramp and enter into the Fontbonne Building.  You will be on the 1st floor, proceed straight ahead and follow the corridor to the overhead walkway, which crosses over St. Joseph’s Drive to the main Hospital.  When you reach the end of the overhead walkway, you will be on the 3rd floor of the Bishop Dowling Wing.  Take the elevators at the end of this walkway to Level 0.  When you get off the elevators, turn to your left and proceed down the corridor to the Department of Audiology—room D03.

Please click here for a map of our Charlton Campus.

We ask that you do not bring any valuables with you as the hospital cannot be responsible for lost or stolen personal items. 

*Please note that patient and visitor parking at St. Joe’s Charlton Campus will be temporarily relocated to the parking garage on St. Joseph’s Drive (Ramp 1) starting March 1, 2023 while repairs are completed on the parking garage off James Street South. Please click here for more information.

Referral Process

A completed and signed St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton Referral Form and Radiology Requisition must accompany all swallowing referrals. These forms can be obtained by calling the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at 905-521-6101.  Please fax referrals to the attention of Debbie McCloskey, Department of Speech-Language Pathology at fax number 905-521-6159.