Thank you for the warm invitation to serve as the editor for Perspectives. I truly appreciate the support of my colleagues in SIG 13, Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia). To my delight, the Editorial Committee continues to offer their expertise through their diverse talents and rich knowledge base. The transition has been smooth and I know you join me in thanking Lori Davis for her many years of service and dedication.

As I learn my role, I have found it an honor to work with our various authors during the creative process. Each author willingly accepted the challenge to make this, the first issue of Perspectives on Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia) for 2012, a cumulative effort focused on oral issues related to dysphagia, and it falls as a natural precursor to the later issues for this year.