Meet the SLPs of the ARK-J Program

Brian Kanapkey, M.A., CCC-SLP

​Brian holds a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology for University of Louisiana Monroe. For the past 15 years, Brian has worked as a speech-language pathologist for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) Ear Nose and Throat Clinic with a specialty in the areas of voice restoration and swallowing disorders. He runs a specialty service for coverage of over-sized tracheoesophageal fistula using silicone augmentation of TEP prostheses when surgical closure is not deemed a safe option. His clinical expertise and design has led to the commercial manufacturing of his dual-valved tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis.

Brian has co-authored research articles with ENT physicians who experts in the area of head and neck cancer, supervised numerous graduate SLP students from UNC Chapel Hill, and has taught the Swallowing Disorders course in the UNC Graduate School Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences for twelve years now and is an adjunct professor at North Carolina Central University.

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Megan Nosol, M.S.Ed., M.S., CCC-SLP

Megan holds a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received training at UNC Hospital's ENT Clinic, where Brian supervised her work with head and neck cancer patients. Since graduating from the UNC's SLP program in 2013, Megan has been a clinician in the skilled nursing, outpatient rehabilitation, and non-profit organization settings. Her research interest is Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome (RFS) as it applies to rehabilitation science.

Currently, Megan is a SLP at STEPS for Recovery, an outpatient clinic in Cary, where she treats adults who have trismus, an array of communication disorders, and dysphagia. She is also a Board Member of the non-profit organization, Lary's Speakeasy, which provides laryngectomy supplies, support, and educational resources to laryngectomees and their caregivers. Her 2015 webinar, " Improving Speech Intelligibility, Mastication, and Quality of Life in Patients with Trismus" can be viewed on Speechpathology.com. In 2017, Megan was the guest speaker for the "ABCs of HNC: Important Considerations for Your Patient with Head and Neck Cancer" show on the popular SLP podcast, Swallow Your Pride. She is also the instructor of the "Evolving Swallow: Managing the Effects of Chemo, Radiation, and Surgery" webinar via Carolina Speech Pathology. Megan is also the creator of the website, www.SpeechTherapyToolbox.com, which is a resource for patients and caregivers of communication and swallowing disorders.