Dr. Lara was born in El Paso, Tx. where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1982. She continued her education in El Paso and received her Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology. In 2006, she entered the doctoral program in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso. She completed her doctorate degree in August 2012. Dr. Lara taught at the university level while pursuing her doctoral degree. She has wide clinical experience in dysphagia and adult language disorders. Dr. Lara currently teaches the following graduate-level courses, Adult 2-Aphasia and Related Neurogenic Speecg Disorders, Cognitive Disorders, Neural Bases of Speech, Aging, Transgender Issues and Verbal and Written Communication. Dr. Lara is the director of the Gender Affirming Voice Laboratory where her research focus is QoL and voice treatment efficacy in transgender persons. In addition Dr. Lara also examines auditory comprehension in individuals with aphasia using event-related potentials.

• President's Meritorious Team Service Award - University of Texas at El Paso; Health Focoused IPE Community of Practice (06/10/2022)
• Interprofessional Education (IPE) Leveall Faculty Fellowship, 2020-2021 - University of Texas at El Paso, College of Health Sciences (05/01/2020)
• Certificate of Recognition - International Association of Laryngectomees (06/25/2016)

• Ph D in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (2012)
• MA in Speech pathology; adult neurogenic language disorders, University of Texas at El Paso (1985)
• BA in Speech Language Pathology, University of Texas at El Paso (1982)

• Development and pilot of an interdisciplinary health education program to address health disparities for gender-diverse persons at the U.S./Mexico border International Journal of Transgender Health (2024), Brandon M. Merritt, Oralia Loza, Patricia Lara, Christopher G. Medlin, Andi Tiscareno.

• An Interdisciplinary Educational Approach to Address Gender Diverse Health Disparities in a Predominantly Hispanic/Latinx Community (2023), Volume Boston, MA, Brandon M. Merritt, Patricia Lara, Sofia Carranza, Ariadna Hernandez, Oralia Loza.
• Strategies to Improve Memory (2023), Volume University of Texas at El Paso, Patricia Lara.
• Dysphagia (2023), Volume San Antonio, TX, Patricia Lara.
• Cognitive and Language Changes that Occur as a Normal Process of Aging (2023), Volume UTEP, Patricia Lara.
• Development of a Gender Affirming Voice Clinic in a Predominately Hispanic and Catholic Community (2023), Volume El Paso, TX, Patricia Lara.

• An interdisciplinary, health education program to address gender minority health inequity in an underserved, predominantly Hispanic/Latinx community