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, Phonatory Disorders of Voice, Dysphagia, Aphasia and Related Disorders and Motor Speech Disorders. She is the director of the Gender Affirming Voice Laboratory where her research focus is auditory comprehension in individuals with aphasia using event-related potentials and voice therapy efficacy in transgender individuals.

• 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)

No info available.

• The Role of Dental Medicine in Dysphagia Management (2022), Volume El Paso, Patricia Lara.
• Rethinking Challenges in Aging: A Multidisciplinary Approach (2022), Volume El Paso Convention Center, Patricia Lara.
• Gender Affirming Voice Management for Transgender Persons (2022), Volume El Paso, Patricia Lara.
• A longitudinal study of interprofessional education in graduate students from rehabilitation sciences. (2021), Volume Washington D.C., Patricia Lara.
• Evaluating Service Learning with Older Adults in Graduate Speech Language Pathology Students (2021), Volume Washington D.C., Patricia Lara, Gloria P. Macias DeFrance, Georgina Salas, .
• Development of a Voice Affirming Clinic for Transgender Persons (2020), Volume Syracuse, New York, Patricia Lara.
• Management of Voice for Transgender Persons (2020), Volume El Paso, TX, Patricia Lara.
• A Longitudinal Study of Interprofessional Education in Graduate Students from Rehabilitation Sciences (2020), Volume El Paso, TX, Sarah J. Elkington, summers, Connie, Hernandez, Francesca, Patricia Lara, Celia M. Pechak.
• Using Simulation with an Interprofessional Interpreter-Use Training (2020), Volume El Paso, TX, Celia M. Pechak, Patricia Lara.

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