Dr. Rita Patel

Dr. Rita Patel is a speech language pathologist with specialization in the area of voice.

Dr. Patel’s career is a blend of ground-breaking research, clinical expertise, and passionate advocacy for voice health. After completing her doctoral degree and clinical training at the University of Wisconsin Madison, USA, Dr. Patel expanded her expertise as the Voice and Swallow Clinical Director at the University of Kentucky. Today, she serves as an Associate Professor at Indiana University’s Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, as well as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

Dr. Patel’s influence reaches beyond the US; in 2024 she was awarded the title of ‘Extraordinary Professorship’ at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Her clinical work and research focus on voice and upper airway disorders, with a special emphasis on endoscopic laryngeal imaging. Her dedication to advancing the field is reflected in over 13 research grants from national and international agencies, including ASHA and NIH.

Her contributions to the field earned her the prestigious title of Fellow from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) in 2022. In addition to her research and clinical work, Dr. Patel serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and holds positions on the Board of Trustees for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation and the Advisory Board of the Voice Foundation. Through her work, Dr. Patel continues to shape the future of voice research and care globally.