Annette Askren

Dr. Annette “Nicole” Askren graduated with her master’s degree from San Diego State University in 2013 and her Doctor of Clinical Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 2018. Her clinical experience spans four VA healthcare systems across the country in a variety of settings, including acute inpatient, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation, and long-term care. Dr. Askren is currently a staff speech-language pathologist at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, where she is the lead SLP on the American Lake Division’s ALS Care Team.

Dr. Askren is part of the VA Office of Rural Health’s Intensive Dysphagia Treatment Program national work group, developing guidelines for an SLP standard of care for veterans living with ALS. She also serves as a consultant on the VA Puget Sound Ethics Committee.

Dr. Askren is published on the topics of aphasia, bioethics, and SLP considerations at end of life; she has been invited to speak nationally.

In addition to her work at the VA, Dr. Askren serves as an adjunct instructor in the West Virginia University’s School of Medicine, where she teaches the graduate SLP dysphagia course every spring term.