Panel: Embracing Professional Vulnerability: A Panel Discussion
Voice professionals work at the intersection of artistry and science. Beneath both lies something less visible, but equally important: vulnerability. Vulnerability often surfaces in moments of uncertainty when we question what we know, how we care for the individuals we serve, and how we define our roles within a complex and evolving field. Yet these moments of uncertainty can also be where growth and innovation begin. In this panel, we explore three areas where professional vulnerability frequently emerges: in our relationships with clients, in our relationship with knowledge, and in how we understand and define ourselves as voice professionals.
Jae Bernado, BM, MS, SLP
Jae Bernado, BM, MS, SLP, is a speech-language pathologist who specializes in voice care, with clinical expertise in functional voice disorders, gender‑affirming voice care, and singing voice rehabilitation. Jae is dedicated to helping individuals express themselves authentically and confidently through their voices using a collaborative, patient‑centered approach.
Following a career as a performer and singing teacher, Jae earned a Master of Science in Medical Speech‑Language Pathology from the University of Washington in 2024. Since then, they have further developed their clinical expertise in voice, upper airway, and swallowing disorders while caring for patients at the University of Washington Medical Center in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery.
Jae has presented locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally on topics related to voice, upper airway, and swallowing, with a particular emphasis on gender‑voice alignment and singing voice rehabilitation. They have contributed to peer‑reviewed research published in journals such as The Laryngoscope as well as chapters in books published by Routledge and Plural Publishing.
Jae is a board member of the Northwest Chapter of the Voice Foundation and an active member of the Puget Sound Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the Pan American Vocology Association, and the American Speech‑Language‑Hearing Association. As a singer, Jae’s performance experience includes collaborations with Pacific Northwest organizations such as Seattle Opera, Lowbrow Opera Collective, Seattle Pro Musica, and the Seattle Trans and Non‑Binary Choral Ensemble.
Financial Disclosure: Mx. Bernado has no financial relationships to disclose.
Non-Financial Disclosure: Mx. Bernado has no non-financial relationships to disclose.