From Stage to Research: Getting your research ideas off the ground

Dr. Dowdall is a board-certified surgeon in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine. She received her Performing Arts Medicine Certification from PAMA in 2016. She specialized in a multi-disciplinary approach for care of the professional voice, laryngeal contributions to breathing disorders, gender affirming voice care and performing arts medicine. She has expertise in advanced diagnostics, office-based laser surgery and a holistic approach for complex rehabilitation. She has experience treating touring performers, opera and musical theatre companies and especially enjoys caring for students and developing voices.

Dr. Dowdall currently works with the faculty at University of Nebraska – Omaha, School of Music, College of Fine Arts and Media and School of Special Education and Communication Disorders and frequently lecturers to undergraduate and graduate, voice, music, choir, theatre arts and speech pathology students. She currently serves on the Education Committee for the Performing Arts Medicine Association and is an active reviewer for several journals. She has previously held a Harvard faculty position and has been an invited speaker for Berklee College of Music in Boston and Valencia, Spain, New England Conservatory, Harvard Acting, and Harvard CME courses. She regularly attends and presents her research at the Performing Arts Medicine Association, The Voice Foundation, Fall Voice, the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck surgery. She has received awards for clinical collaboration, education, leadership and research innovation.

Dr. Dowdall is known for her patient-centered approach and prefers to collaborate to create an integrated and holistic treatment plan for patients. In Dr. Dowdall’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her son, singing, and trying new things.

Kristy Carlson, PhD is the Research Director in UNMC’s Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery department specializing in education and social sciences research.  Kristy earned her Bachelor of Science at UNL, her Master of Science at Purdue University, and her PhD at UNL. Prior to joining UNMC she worked in school health, information technology project management, marketing, and corporate training. Her areas of interest and expertise include gerontology, survey tool creation, and publication of quantitative and qualitative research studies. She provides formal and informal education to students, residents, and faculty regarding all aspects of a research project from conception through dissemination. Since 2018, Dr. Carlson has published 4 articles as a lead author and contributed to 6 publications. Five additional manuscripts are currently under review.