Meet Shari

Swallow Studies by Shari, PLLC is an independently owned and operated mobile FEES swallow study company, established in 2018.   We provide Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallow (FEES) to individuals in a variety of medical settings throughout Illinois and neighboring states.   

Shari Ferman is the owner and chief Endoscopist, who is also a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. She is licensed to practice in Illinois, Indiana, and other states in the Midwest.  Shari attended Syracuse University for her undergraduate degree and furthered her education at California State University, Los Angeles where she graduated in 2004 with a Master of Art in Speech-Language Pathology.  

Shari received direct training under a Board-Certified Dysphagia Specialist and Speech-Language Pathologist and additionally under a Laryngologist/Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) physician in the greater Chicago region.  Shari has performed more than 2,000 FEES procedures in many clinical settings since becoming a competent Endoscopist.  She has also mentored and trained several other Speech-Language Pathologists in the area of FEES.  According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's (ASHA) clinical competencies, as well as the state of Illinois Speech and Hearing Association (ISHA) Shari is trained to perform state-of-the-art FEES independently.   

Shari founded this company based on her strong passion for helping individuals.  She feels collaboration with other team members as well as providing educational opportunities allows for the patient to receive the best care and most comprehensive treatment available.  There is a great need for instrumental swallow exams both rurally and in urban areas. Swallow Studies by Shari, PLLC’s priority is to determine the safest and least restrictive diet in order for a patient to avoid acquiring aspiration related pneumonia as well as recurrent hospitalizations.  We aim to see the patient within two to three business days of receiving a referral.   

Shari continues to provide speech, language, and swallow therapy to individuals in the acute and home health settings in addition to providing FEES swallow studies.   She is also an adjunct faculty member at Northern Illinois University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders where she instructs students in the Speech-Language Pathology graduate school program.  Patient care is of the utmost importance in this organization and we hope you will allow us to provide your residents with mobile FEES swallow studies.