Team: Lab Members

SSR Lab Members

DEANNA BRITTON, PHD, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS
Director, SSR Lab

Deanna Britton (she/her) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences at Portland State University (PSU), and at the Northwest Center for Voice & Swallowing in the Department of Otolaryngology (NWCVS) – Head & Neck Surgery at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon. She is Board Certified in Neurogenic Communication Disorders in Adults by the Academy of Neurological Communication Disorders and Sciences (ANCDS). Dr. Britton’s research interests include respiratory support for speech and swallowing.

MEGAN O'BARA
Graduate Student

Megan O'Bara is a Portland native and a second-year graduate student in the Speech and Hearing Sciences Department at PSU, pursuing the Medical Concentration. Before entering the field of Speech-Language Pathology, Megan worked as a professional opera singer and voice teacher, earning degrees in Vocal Performance from DePaul University and Michigan State University. Her background in music inspired her interest in the connections between voice, respiration, and swallowing, which she continues to explore through her clinical training.

CLARA WILKINSON
Post-Baccalaureate Student

Clara Wilkinson (she/her) is a post-baccalaureate student in the Speech and Hearing Sciences Department at PSU. She holds a BA in Philosophy and has previous experience supporting individuals with speech and language needs in educational and clinical settings. Her interests include developing and implementing interventions for swallowing and communication disorders, with a particular passion for working with adults in neurologic rehabilitation. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her cats, cooking and exploring new interests.

McKenzie Smith
Post-Baccalaureate Student

McKenzie Smith (she/they) is a post-baccalaureate student in the Speech and Hearing Sciences Department at PSU. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance and a Master of Music in Voice Pedagogy. Drawing from her own experiences as a singer navigating voice disorders, McKenzie is passionate about advancing clinical understanding of vocal function and rehabilitation. Her goal is to become a medical speech-language pathologist specializing in voice and upper airway disorders. She is particularly interested in the assessment and treatment of vocal fold paresis and paralysis, and in supporting professional voice users in restoring healthy, sustainable voice production.

SSR Lab Members

DEANNA BRITTON, PHD, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS Director, SSR Lab

MEGAN O'BARA Graduate Student

CLARA WILKINSON Post-Baccalaureate Student

McKenzie Smith Post-Baccalaureate Student

DEANNA BRITTON, PHD, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS
Director, SSR Lab

MEGAN O'BARA
Graduate Student

CLARA WILKINSON
Post-Baccalaureate Student

McKenzie Smith
Post-Baccalaureate Student