Newswise — Cari Tellis, Ph.D., CCC/SLP, assistant professor of speech-language pathology at Misericordia University, is more than a leading educator in her field. She is a classically trained opera singer, research scientist, author and voice specialist.
As a voice specialist, Dr. Tellis works with children and adults who have voice problems, including but not limited to benign vocal fold lesions caused by overuse or misuse of the voice, also cancer of the larynx, structural issues, functional issues, vocal fold paralysis/paresis, and aging voice issues. She also works with people who need voice restoration after surgery to the larynx, and with professional voice users like speakers, singers, actors and performers to improve the use of their voice.
Her research includes work on knowledge about voice care in teachers and professors who teach prospective professional voice users, and individuals’ perception of an authoritative voice. Dr. Tellis currently is doing work on vocal physiology and how it is used to rehabilitate voice.
Her first book, “Your Voice Is Your Business,’’ was a collaborative effort with Orlando R. Barone, and also features an instructional and training DVD. “Your Voice Is Your Business’’ made Plural Publishing’s best selling list in its class for 2008 and it was also selected as a selected reading for Dale Carnegie Training in 2008 (www.dalecarnegie.com).
For her research, Dr. Tellis received the inaugural Brassington Award at Misericordia University. She also received a Misericordia University Faculty Research Grant Award for her research, “Anchoring as a Strategy to Increase Vocal Intensity,’’ and a Strategic Initiatives Grant as well.
She has also conducted research with a colleague at Temple University in which they studied the histochemical analysis of aging in the intrinsic laryngeal muscle (ILM), which helps the vocal folds for voice, respiration and protection of the larynx during swallowing. The voice scientists study the metabolic capacity of the ILM during normal aging by obtaining biopsies during autopsies or from individuals who have undergone a total laryngectomy.
Dr. Tellis and another colleague have developed an instrument that enables them to measure ILM muscle function. The Adapted Flexible Endoscope (AFE) views the larynx through a small tube that is attached to a camera and inserted through the nasal passageway. The instrument is then situated above the vocal folds and a probe that emits light to the muscle is sent through a channel port, which picks up the parameters voice scientists search for in relation to muscle function.
She has also contributed to numerous scholarly publications, and has made national, international and state presentations at conferences. At the American Speech-Language Hearing Association Convention in 2009, Dr. Tellis presented, “Professors’ Inclusion of Aspects of Voice in Presentation Skills Courses.’’ She presented, “Cytochrome C-Oxidase Deficiency in Human Posterior Cricoarytenoid Muscle,’’ for the Voice Foundation in Philadelphia, Pa., and in 2008 presented, “Authority in the Voice: What Voice Characteristics Do Listeners Perceive as Authoritative,’’ at the ASHA Convention.
Many Misericordia University SLP majors co-present at professional conferences and are co-authors of research with Dr. Tellis because she believes it is important to include and expose students to scholarly research.
In 2010, Dr. Tellis delivered the course, “Innovation and Essentials in Voice Therapy,’’ at the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention. She presented the workshop, “Innovations and Essentials in Voice Therapy,’’ when PSHA invited her to speak at their spring 2010 workshop. She also delivered the workshops, “Voice Disorders in Children,’’ for New Jersey School Speech-Language Pathologists in 2009 and “Voice Through the Aging Process,’’ for West Minster Choir College in 2008.
The five-year, Master of Science degree in speech-language pathology at Misericordia University also features the Speech-Language and Hearing Center on campus, which enables MU students to gain clinical experience under the direct supervision of licensed faculty and staff. Dr. Tellis develops a course of treatment and monitors graduate students who work in a therapeutic setting with voice clients and other speech-language pathology clients. The Speech-Language and Hearing Center provides services to the underserved populations of Northeastern Pennsylvania that oftentimes have no insurance or cannot afford treatment at medical centers.
In 2008, Dr. Tellis became a Certified Master Teacher through the Estill Voice Training System. She is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is licensed in the state of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, Special Interest Division for Voice Disorders, Pennsylvania Speech-Language Hearing Association and National Student Speech Language Hearing Association.
For more information about Misericordia University, please log on to www.misericordia.edu or call (570) 674-6400.
Founded and Sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy in 1924, Misericordia University is Luzerne County’s first four-year college and offers 32 bachelor, master’s and doctoral academic programs in three colleges in full and part-time formats.
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