2026 Participant Biographies

Aaron Ayala is a voice-specialized Speech-Language Pathologist and Singing Voice Specialist in the Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA. He holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania. Aaron earned his Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Georgia State University in 2017 and his Master of Vocal Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College of Rider University in 2022. Aaron's professional services include videostroboscopy (direct visualization of the vocal folds), voice evaluation, and voice therapy. While he works with a wide range of vocal issues and symptoms, he specializes in working with transgender and gender diverse patients for gender-affirming voice care, as well as working with singers and the injured voice. Aaron is a trained singer who has performed in professional and community musical theatre for over 25 years and continues to perform locally. He is an active member of the Voice and Upper Airway Disorders Special Interest Group of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and frequently presents on topics related to the voice and voice disorders.