Maria Magdalena (Mari) Viviers

Dedicated post doctoral researcher and senior healthcare professional with expertise in paediatric feeding and swallowing disorders and mixed methods research. Demonstrates strong data analysis, and interpretation skills to drive evidence-based practice. Proven ability in clinical leadership, patient advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring culturally-sensitive care. Adept at proactive communication and project management, with a focus on performance management and workload prioritisation. Committed to quality supervision of masters and PhD students.

Driven professional with collaborative mindset and leadership abilities, combining clinical expertise and communication skills to guide teams and meet objectives. Proficient in managing teams and fostering interdisciplinary teamwork. Committed to driving aspirational outcomes and meeting high standards in an assistant professor role.

• Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), Independent practice status, 2005-01-01
• Health and Care Professions Council of the United Kingdom (HCPC), Speech-language therapy registration, 2013-01-01
• VitalStimTM Adult Certification, 2009-01-01

• Citizenship: South African
• Title: Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist
• Date of birth: 1981-06-26
• Nationality: South African
• Marital status: Married
• Work Permit: United Kingdom – Tier 2 Visa
• Visa status: Tier 2 Visa

• Doctor of Philosophy in Communication Pathology, 2017, Development of a clinical feeding assessment instrument to identify oropharyngeal dysphagia in high-risk neonates
• Master in Communication Pathology, 2009, Communication profiles of young children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
• Bachelor in Communication Pathology, 2003, The role of the Speech-Language Therapist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

• De Beer, M., Kritzinger, A., Viviers, M., Young children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Communication profiles., South African Journal of Communication Disorders, 57, 33-42, 2010
• Groenewald, H., Kritzinger, A., Viviers, M., Age-specific communication functioning of young children with cleft lip and palate in a South African database., The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial journal, 50, 6, 717-729, 2013
• Pike, C., Pike, M., Kritzinger, A., Kruger, E., Viviers, M., Risk profiles of infants with oro-pharyngeal dysphagia and oesophageal dysphagia in a neonatal intensive care unit., South African Journal of Child Health, 2016
• Viviers, M., Kritzinger, A., Vinck, B., Development of a clinical feeding assessment scale for very young infants in South Africa., South African Journal of Communication Disorders, 63, 1, a148, 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v63i1.148
• Viviers, M., Kritzinger, A., Vinck, B., Graham, M., Preliminary psychometric performance of a neonatal feeding assessment scale., South African Journal of Communication Disorders, 64, 1, a163, 2017, https://doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v64i1.163
• Viviers, M., Kritzinger, A., Reliability and validity of the Neonatal Feeding Assessment Scale (NFAS)., African Health Sciences, 19, 3, 2718-2727, 2019
• Viviers, M., De Jongh, M., Malan, R., Pike, T., Dickonson, L., Parent-reported feeding and swallowing difficulties of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (aged 3 to 5 years) compared to typically developing peers: A South African Study., African Health Sciences, 20, 1, 524-532, 2020
• Viviers, M., Edwards, E., Asir, M., Hibberd, J., Rowe, R., Phillips, S., Thomas, V., Keesing, M., Sugar, A., Allen, J., An enhanced rapid review of the applicability of ultrasound in the assessment of sucking, swallowing and laryngeal function in the paediatric population., International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 2020
• Viviers, M., Jary, S., Basu, A., Moffat, J., Harniess, P., Erdmann, S., Hutchon, B., Evaluation of the Ei SMART training programme in the UK., Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnn.2024.07.018

• Community engagement at the University of Pretoria: free therapy services, hearing screening, teacher training.
• Head of the Dysphagia clinic at Steve Biko Academic hospital: clinical and instrumental assessment as well as management of adult and paediatric patients once a week.
• Community engagement at the University of Limpopo/Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University: free therapy services; teacher training at various primary schools.
• Services to children with special needs in GaRankuwa community at Masakhane clinic.
• Services to preschool teachers and children at YMCA in the GaRankuwa community.
• Charitable involvement with the Down Syndrome Association of South Africa – Tshwane branch (2014-2017).
• Assisted with Teacher training workshop at Totiusdal Primary School, in a supporting role to a colleague enrolled for her doctorate in Psychology on ADHD (October 2016).

• 2004-10-03, Gauteng Department of Health Early Communication Intervention seminar, The role of the Speech-language therapist in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
• 2009-10-12, South African Speech Language Hearing Association (SASLHA) conference, Communication profiles of young children with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
• 2010-04-10, SASHLA conference, Communication profiles of young children with FASD.
• 2010-09-20, Early Childhood Development Pan African conference, The communication profiles of young children with FASD: A South African perspective.
• 2011-11-28, UNICEF Early Childhood Development Conference, The communication profiles of young children with FASD: A South African perspective.
• 2012-09-07, 2nd National FASD conference, Communication & developmental profiles of infants and young children with FASD.
• 2012-10-19, 3rd National Autism conference, Feeding & swallowing difficulties in 3 – 5 year old children.
• 2012-11-04, National SASLHA conference, Feeding & swallowing difficulties in 3 – 5 year old children.
• 2015-10-31, National SASLHA conference, Grade R Teachers’ Perceived Knowledge and Management of Learners with ADHD.
• 2016-10-09, National SASLHA conference, The development of a clinical feeding assessment instrument to diagnose oropharyngeal dysphagia in high-risk neonates.
• 2016-10-10, National SASLHA conference, The development of the Neonatal Feeding Assessment Scale.
• 2017-09-18, National SANDTA congress, Validity and reliability of the Neonatal Feeding Assessment Scale (NFAS).
• 2020-02-07, United Kingdom Swallow Research Group (UKSRG) Conference, Early identification of dysphagia in moderate to late preterm neonates.
• 2021-10-06, Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) Annual Conference, The applicability of ultrasound in the assessment of sucking, swallowing and laryngeal function in the paediatric population.
• 2022-09-15, British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) conference, EISMART Framework: Training outcomes for an MDT group of staff for the Northern Neonatal ODN, UK.
• 2023-03-15, National Association of Neonatal Therapists (NANT) Pre-conference workshop, EiSMART workshop.
• 2024-02-06, Factors influencing breastfeeding and lactation outcomes following neonatal hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy., United Kingdom Swallow Research Group – poster presentation.