Laura Purcell Verdun, M.A., CCC/SLP

 

Ms. Verdun specializes in the refinement of voice, speech, communication and presentation skills for the professional. With a practical and actionable approach, she guides individual clients (e.g., graduate and medical students, analysts, attorneys, scientists, physicians, voice-over, radio and on-air talent, politicians, executives, etc.) to modify voice, speech, communication and presentation performance when those skills are not meeting daily demands, or when they need to bring their skills to the next level.

Group training is also provided, catering to defined needs, with an emphasis on public speaking and professional communication skills. Groups who have engaged our services include non-profits, government contractors, law firms, trade associations, academic medical centers, advocacy organizations, etc. Group training for technical orals presentations required by government contract bids has been provided. I

In 2017 she spoke at the Smithsonian Associates, Cultivate Your Speaking Voice; and was invited for a return day-long engagement in 2019, Empower Your Speaking Voice! Our training efforts focus on identifying limitations in or barriers to preferred voice, speech, communication and public speaking performance; implementing targeted techniques to optimize effectiveness and impact; establishing a routine of daily practice; and ongoing self-assessment.

Ms. Verdun has practiced as a Speech-Language Pathologist for more than 30 years in the clinical care of voice, airway, motor speech and swallowing disorders. Her background in clinical care and research provides her a unique and comprehensive perspective. She presents locally, regionally and nationally; and has published on medical speech pathology topics including vocal fold paralysis, voice therapy, and speech and swallowing disorders in neurodegenerative disease and head & neck cancer.

Ms. Verdun presently serves as the Co-Chair/SLP for the ASHA 2021 Convention to be hosted in Washington, DC.  Additionally, she has served as the Topic Chair for the Health Literacy & Outcomes track for ASHA 2020 Convention Program Committee; and Topic Chair for the Voice & Voice Disorders track of the ASHA 2019 Convention Program Committee. She was the Topic Chair for the Voice & Alaryngeal Communication track for the ASHA 2016 and 2017 Convention Program Committees, and served as a member of that committee for ASHA 2018. In 2018, she completed two 4-year terms appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, to the Department of Health Professions Board of Health Professions, and the Board of Audiology & Speech Pathology, where she served as Vice-Chairman. She serves as a medical representative to the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association Northern Virginia and Washington DC Metro support groups. She is a member of the Dysphagia Research Society, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, International Parkinson & Movement Disorder Society, Speech & Hearing Association of Virginia, and the DC Speech & Hearing Association. To promote networking and continuing education opportunities for her colleagues, she formed the DC Metro Voice & Laryngeal Disorders Study Group in 2014. She is an active member of the Potomac Valley Bernese Mountain Dog Club, and hosts the annual Fall Dog Walk at Great Falls Park, and monthly Meet-ups throughout prime Berner season.

Ms. Verdun received her B.S. in Communication Disorders and M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from Saint Louis University. She holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), and is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia. She completed her clinical fellowship with the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, where she was promoted to Assistant Professor. She completed an 18-month tour as a Research Speech Pathologist with the Laryngeal & Speech Section of the NIH – NIDCD/NINDS, investigating central and peripheral laryngeal motor and sensory control; and the impact of nerve stimulation on vocal nerve recovery. She developed a clinical speech pathology program for Otolaryngology Associates, PC. Additional clinical experience includes the NIH - Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center, and Inova Fairfax Hospital. She was an Adjunct Professor with Gallaudet University, teaching the graduate course on voice and voice disorders over 5 semesters. She joined Voicetrainer, LLC as a Speech-Language Pathologist and Communication Coach in 2013, and assumed ownership in December 2017.