Michael Zavison, a School of Communication Science and Disorders (SCSD) alumnus, former teacher and speech-language pathologist (SLP), turned a firsthand clinical challenge into a business. As the founder of Zavison Swallow Solutions, he is working to improve access to swallowing evaluations across the Florida Panhandle. 

For Zavison, the work is about more than clinical care; it is about helping people maintain an essential part of everyday life. 

“When I learned about dysphagia and realized there were people who had difficulty doing something as basic as eating and drinking, I was sold.” Zavison said. “I love good food, and food has always been something I associate with family, celebrations, travel, and enjoying life. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to suddenly have difficulty swallowing or not be able to enjoy the foods you love.” 

Zavison Swallow Solutions was born out of a challenge Zavison repeatedly faced while working as a SLP. When patients need a Modified Barium Swallow Study (MBSS), scheduling hospital appointments could be difficult, sometimes leaving them waiting weeks or even months for an evaluation. In the meantime, Zavison still had to provide treatment and make recommendations about patients’ ability to eat and drink safely.  

However, after learning about Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) and its ability to bring swallowing evaluations directly to patients, he saw an opportunity to address this gap in care, ultimately inspiring him to launch the business.  

“My goal with Zavison Swallow Solutions was to shrink that timeline from weeks or months to days. I want an SLP to be able to identify a patient who needs an instrumental evaluation, contact me, and get the information they need quickly enough so that it can actually guide what they’re doing with that patient right now,” said Zavison. 

Zavison chose a mobile FEES model to make swallowing evaluations more accessible, particularly for older adults in skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities. Rather than requiring patients to travel outside appointments, he brings the equipment directly to them, allowing evaluations to take place at bedside. This approach also allows him to serve communities across the Florida Panhandle where specialized swallowing services may be less accessible. 

The company’s slogan, “Stop the Chaos,” reflects the stress clinicians face when patients need instrumental swallowing evaluations but cannot access them promptly. By bringing assessments directly to patients and providing clinicians with timely, actionable information, Zavison aims to help care teams make more informed decisions. 

Zavison earned his master’s degree in Communication Science and Disorders from Florida State University in 2022. His education provided the clinical foundation for his work, while his background in teaching continues to shape his approach to patient care and professional education. 

Looking ahead, Zavison hopes to expand mobile FEES services across the Florida Panhandle and into South Alabama while implementing education in his work. As a former teacher, he also hopes to help other speech-language pathologists develop similar services in their communities. 

For Zavison, the journey from teaching English/Language-Arts into entrepreneurship has been unexpected, but it has given him an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in patient care. 

“It’s pretty incredible to think that a career that I didn’t even know existed while teaching has become something I’m passionate about,” Zavison said. “I actually feel like I have a long way to go, and I’m just getting started.”