Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
A Procedure for Evaluating Oropharyngeal Dysphagia
The Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) procedure was developed by Dr. Susan Langmore in 1988. Alongside the modified barium swallow (MBS) study, FEES has become a globally recognized gold standard for evaluating oropharyngeal dysphagia and for assessing swallowing function.
Dr. Langmore is Professor Emeritus of Otolaryngology at Boston University Medical Center and was a Clinical Professor of Speech and Hearing Sciences at Boston University. In addition to developing and globally disseminating the FEES procedure, she carried an active clinical caseload and conducted dysphagia research for over 40 years. She has mentored numerous master and doctoral level students, was the president of the dysphagia research society, and is a recipient of the AHSA Honors award. Dr. Langmore has published more than 100 peer-review papers and has given hundreds of lectures on dysphagia across every continent except for Antarctica.
The Langmore FEES course at Boston University Medical Center is taught by Edel McNally who has spent nearly two decades being trained by Dr. Langmore to teach her FEES courses. Edel uses Dr. Langmore’s slide decks that are regularly updated by Dr. Langmore and her team. A Procedure for Evaluating Oropharyngeal Dysphagia (or the swallowing function)
The Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) was developed by Dr. Susan Langmore in 1988. Alongside the modified barium swallow (MBS) study, FEES has become a globally recognized gold standard for evaluating oropharyngeal dysphagia and for assessing swallowing function. Dr. Langmore and her team provide two types of FEES courses at Boston University Medical Center – a two-day foundation (introductory) course and a one-day advanced course.
Upcoming FEES Courses
Course Title: Langmore Foundation (Introductory) FEES Course
Dates: August 15-16, 2026
Faculty: Edel McNally, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S
Overview: The foundation FEES course provides speech language pathologists and physicians with 11.5 hours of lecture content, and an additional 4 hours of hands-on practice for in-person attendees. The lecture component covers normal physiology, indications, risks/safety, the Langmore FEES protocol, scoring the FEES exam, interpretation, use of endoscopy for treatment, billing, and program establishment. The hands-on component takes place in a state-of-the-art otolaryngology clinic, and participants typically pass the scope on each other 5-10 times under the guidance of multiple highly trained mentors. A range of FEES systems will be used to allow participants to test various types of equipment. In-person attendance will be capped at 48 attendees, but there is no limit to the number of live remote participants.
LOCATION
In-Person Attendees
Boston Medical Center
FGH Building, Carter Conference Room (in-person lectures)
820 Harrison Avenue, 1st floor
Boston, MA, 02118
Boston Medical Center
Moakley Building, Department of Otolaryngology Clinic (hands-on training)
800 Harrison Avenue, 1st floor, Suite 1400
Boston, MA, 02118
Live Remote Attendees
A Zoom link will be sent to attendees who signed up for the live remote attendance option. The link will be sent along with the course materials approximately 1 week prior to the course.
AGENDA
All times are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (Boston/New York, USA)
Saturday, August 15, 2026
7:45a – 8:00a Sign in / Sign on
8:00a – 8:15a Introduction
8:15a – 8:45a Evolution of FEES
8:45a – 9:15a Indications for FEES vs VFSS
9:15a – 10:15a Anatomy; normal swallow
10:15a – 10:30a Break
10:30a – 12:30p The Langmore FEES Protocol
12:30p – 1:15p Lunch
1:15p – 2:45p Practice Scoring FEES Exams
2:45p – 3:00p Break
3:00p – 4:30p Practice Scoring FEES Exams
4:30p – 4:45p Documentation
4:45p – 5:00p Q&A
5:00p Adjourn
Sunday, August 16, 2026
7:30a – 7:45a Sign in
7:45a – 8:00a Hands-on Instructions / Room Assignments
8:00a – 12:00p Hands-on scoping practice
12:00p – 1p Lunch
1:00p – 1:30p Risks & Safety of FEES
1:30p – 2:00p Essentials of effective scoping
2:00p – 2:30p Implementation
2:30p – 2:45 Break
2:45p – 4:45p Using FEES to Guide Treatment + Case Studies
4:45p – 5:00p Q&A
5:00p Adjourn
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Participants will attain a basic level of competence in performing the Langmore FEES protocol, interpreting the results of FEES exams, and using endoscopy to guide therapy for patients with dysphagia. The course will enable participants to be conceptually familiar with best practices regarding handling the endoscope, passing it into the hypopharynx, and manipulating the scope within and around the larynx to attain an optimal view. Those who are already performing FEES will advance their level of competence with practice scoring FEES exams using the Langmore protocol and will appreciate how FEES can be applied to various patient populations.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Participants will be able to...
- Summarize what can be visualized when using FEES.
- Identify normal and abnormal swallowing from endoscopic images.
- Describe clinical indications and risks for performing FEES.
- Follow Langmore Protocol for administering a FEES exam.
- Integrate the FEES protocol into various clinical settings and with different patient populations.
- Describe how to use endoscopy to manage patients with dysphagia.
COURSE MATERIALS
All participants will receive an email with course specific information, instructions, and a link to all the course materials approximately 1 week prior to the course.
COST
In-Person Option: $650
Live Remote Option: $399
For both options, discounts are available if multiple clinicians from the same institution attend the course together. A 10% discount is provided for 2-3 registrants, and a 20% discount is provided for 4+ registrants. Please note that participants using the discounted rate must provide their work email as confirmation of institutional affiliation when registering.
REFUND POLICY:
If a participant needs to cancel their registration for the in-person option, a full refund will be provided if the cancelation request is made at least 2 weeks prior to the course. In the highly unlikely event that the course is canceled by the course organizers at Boston University Medical Center, then all participants will receive full refunds.
Course Faculty
Edel McNally, MS, CCC-SLP
Edel McNally, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S has over 30 years of clinical experience as an SLP, and specializes in dysphagia with adults in a variety of clinical settings and with a variety of medical etiologies. She is currently a senior SLP at Boston Medical Center who works primarily in the inpatient ICU setting, but has worked in inpatient, rehab, and outpatient settings. Edel has been involved in a number of single and multi-site NIH and industry funded clinical trials focusing on head and neck cancer dysphagia rehabilitation, automated aspiration screening tool development, residue rating test construction, and clinical predictive rule development for aspiration in the ARF patient population. She taught the advanced dysphagia course for graduate SLP students at Boston University’s Sargent College and has presented research findings at Dysphagia Research Society (DRS) conventions. She has taught the Introductory and Advanced Langmore FEES Courses in numerous local, national, and international settings.
DISCLOSURES:
Edel McNally is a salaried employee of Boston Medical Center. She receives an honorarium for teaching the Langmore FEES Course. She has no non-financial relationships to disclose.
CONTACT:
Please contact the Langmore FEES Program Director, Dr. Gintas Krisciunas, PhD, MPH, MA at gintas.krisciunas@bmc.org or 617-414-1756 for any special needs or accommodations, concerns, or course related questions.
We encourage feedback. Upon receiving a complaint/concern, we will acknowledge it within five business days and investigate the matter, aiming for resolution through clarifications, improvements, or policy changes, with complainants informed of the outcome within 30 days.
REGISTER AT THIS LINK: Coming soon!