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)

• A Collaborative Effort for Development of a Voice Modification Clinic for Transgender Individuals in a Medically Underserved Community Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups 3 14 (2018), Patricia Lara, Deena Peterson.
• Developing Trans-Affirming Health Services in an Underserved Area: An Intersectional Approach Transgender Health 3 1 (2018), Oralia Loza, Paulina Hernandez, Jessica Calderon-Mora, Shaked Laks, Marie Leiner, Sireesha Reddy, Patricia Lara, Hector Granados.

• 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.
• 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.
• 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 Texas, Alvaro Gurovich, Carolina Valencia, Patricia Lara, Cecilia Fierro.
• 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, .
• Highly Engaging Interprofessional Education in an Online Environment (2021), Volume El Paso, TX, William L. Roberts, Jacob Martinez, Isaac Rodriguwz, Celia M. Pechak, Patricia Lara, Margie E. Padilla.
• Development of a Voice Affirming Clinic for Transgender Persons (2020), Volume Syracuse, New York, Patricia Lara.
• The Effect of Service Learning on Graduate Students' Perceptions of Older Adults (2020), Volume conference cancelled due to COVID-19, Patricia Lara, Jamie L. Desjardins, Connie Summers, Gloria P. Macias DeFrance.
• Gender-Affirming Voice Therapy (2020), Volume Austin, TX, Yona M. Twena, Sam Clubb, Cassidy Laminack, Patricia Lara, Oralia Loza.
• 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.
• Listener Perception as a Measure of Voice Modification Treatment Effectiveness in a 22-Year-Old Transwoman (2019), Volume Oakland, CA, April Gutierrez, Patricia Lara, Oralia Loza, Deena Peterson.
• Listener Perception as a Measure of Treatment Effectiveness in Voice Modification of a Transwoman (2018), Volume Boston, April Gutierrez, Deena Peterson, Patricia Lara.
• Listener Perception as a Measure of Treatment Effectiveness in Voice Modification of a Transwoman (2018), Volume Hilton Garden Inn, April Gutierrez, Deena Peterson, Patricia Lara.

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