About
Building the management of swallowing difficulties in Cambodia since 2016
In Cambodia, most healthcare professionals are not fully trained in how to diagnose or treat people with swallowing difficulties (also known as dysphagia). When patients receive ineffective treatment, it can result in poor recovery, reduced well-being, or even death.
Speech and Swallowing Therapy Cambodia provides education to clinicians that builds their skills and abilities to help people with swallowing difficulties, as well as advocating for better care for these patients in Cambodia’s healthcare system. When doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals can provide timely, evidence based and effective therapies to their patients with swallowing difficulties, the health and quality of life improves for their patients and their loved ones.
Our Mission
Speech and Swallowing Therapy Cambodia trains clinicians in the treatment of swallowing difficulties, empowering them to deliver and advocate for high-quality services that improve the quality of life for people with swallowing challenges.
Our Vision
A healthier Cambodia where everyone has access to life-changing speech and swallowing therapy services.
Our Core Values
Our core values guide the behavior, decisions, culture and people within our organization:
- Empowerment: We provide people with the tools, resources and support they need to empower and locally lead themselves to deliver quality treatment for swallowing difficulties.
- Equity: We advocate that all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances, have equal access to quality services for swallowing difficulties.
- Empathy: We create a safe, nurturing and culturally appropriate environment where those we interact with feel heard, valued, and respected.
- Collaboration: We build strong partnerships with healthcare providers, educational institutions, community organizations and government leaders to advance the management of swallowing difficulties.
- Continued Learning: We foster a learning environment where people are encouraged to exchange knowledge, best practices and latest research to improve services.
Our History
Speech and Swallowing Therapy Cambodia (SSTC) delivers healthcare training largely unavailable in Cambodia—specifically in the management of swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) for adults. It is often treatable if managed with informed clinical practice.
2014
Speech-language pathologist Elizabeth Chafcouloff came to Cambodia as a volunteer to provide short-term dysphagia training to doctors in 2014. She was the co-founder of Speech Therapy Cambodia (STC), a US-based charity that sought to address the lack of trained professionals and specialized services to help people with swallowing difficulties in Cambodia.
Under her leadership, STC started to provide short-term training on how to evaluate and treat swallowing difficulties to doctors and physical therapists at Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital and Calmette Hospital. It was the first training of its kind in Cambodia.
2016
As STC’s work continued to grow, Chafcouloff established Speech and Swallowing Therapy Cambodia (SSTC) as a Cambodian NGO in 2016 to facilitate the in-country services of STC.
Over the years, these trainees received clinical supervision, consultation and additional training from experienced, international speech-language pathologists and university professors.
2023
In October 2023, SSTC and the Cambodian University of Puthisastra launched the “Foundations of Adult Dysphagia Management” certificate course, with the support of Rotary International. This is Cambodia’s first post-graduate certificate course in swallowing difficulties management and is supported by the Medical and Nursing Councils of Cambodia and by the Cambodian Ministry of Health.
The one-year program is Cambodia-centric. Course materials, based on SSTC resources utilized with Cambodian healthcare professionals in real clinical contexts in Phnom Penh, were re-developed and then clinically and linguistically reviewed by Cambodian health care professionals.
SSTC and UP clinicians collaborated to shape the course content and structure, ensuring it met university standards and local needs. The course is delivered by both international and Cambodian professionals, with all course materials and lessons translated into Khmer. These collaborations give education in swallowing difficulties new legitimacy in Cambodia.
SSTC has partnered with seven hospitals and clinics in Phnom Penh. Through this, SSTC helped establish new clinical services and facilitated the treatment of thousands of patients, many of whom are the most vulnerable in Cambodian society.
Today
Today, the organization is led by its Cambodian Board of Directors who, with support from STC and international speech-language therapists and pathologists, advise and oversee SSTC’s staff and project-based team members.
SSTC registered as a local non-governmental organization with the Cambodian Ministry of the Interior in 2016, and with the Cambodian Ministry of Health in 2021.
See how SSTC is making a sustainable difference in Cambodia’s healthcare system.
Our Board of Directors
Dr. Teav Veasna (Executive Director)
Head of Neurology Department,
Khmer Soviet Friendship Hospital
Dr. Pov Sothea
Head of Pneumology Department,
Cambodia-China Friendship Preah Kossamak Hospital
Dr. Oam Navuddh
Head of Technical Office,
Techo Santepheap National Hospital
Mr. Suon Sokhom
Head of Physiotherapy Department,
Calmette Hospital
Ms. Touch Sengmouy
Deputy Head Nurse,
Khmer Soviet Friendship Hospital
Mr. Leng Veasna
Administrative Officer,
Organization for Speech and Swallowing Therapy Cambodia
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