Laura Bear worked full time in a hospital setting, including outpatient, acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and TCU (transitional care unit) for 18 years before joining Ithaca College as a part-time faculty member. While a faculty member and clinical supervisor at IC, she continues to work in an outpatient setting at a hospital providing acute care coverage.
Laura's caseload at the hospital currently consists of voice and dysphagia management for those with head and neck cancer, including major surgical resection including total laryngectomy; post-CVA (aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia, cognitive linguistic impairment); TBI; voice disorders of a variety of etiologies; and dementia-related issues. She has special training in the management of all issues associated with my total laryngectomy population, including electrolarynx and tracheoesophageal prosthesis (TEP) assessment and management. Laura also see patients with any number of problems in the acute setting, including dysphagia and cognitive/communication deficits associated with surgical changes, anesthesia, trach-vent, NICU, CVA, HNC, major trauma, etc.
At IC, Laura supervises graduate students (and some undergrads) at the Ewing Clinic with adult clients for voice disorders and GAV, aphasia, dysarthria, and cognitive linguistic impairment. She also supervise at CLS in the mornings and has previously supervised at TAP and taught the cognitive disorders and rehabilitation graduate course.