Your Team
Our team of specialists includes both fellowship-trained ear nose and throat physicians, speech-language pathologists and singing specialists who have specialized training in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques and work collaboratively to diagnose and treat voice disorders.
Ellen L. Ferraro, M.D.
Dr. Ferraro earned her medical degree at the University of Buffalo where she also completed her residency training in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. She continued her education by completing a fellowship in Laryngology at the Cleveland Clinic Voice Center and has specialty training in voice, airway and swallowing disorders. At the Cleveland Clinic, she had a comprehensive Laryngology experience including unique training in surgical management of airway stenosis and gender affirming voice care. She is also a strong advocate for research in the advancement of Otolaryngology and has had several publications in prestigious journals, as well as presentations at national conventions.
Ashley O'Connell Ferster, M.D.
Dr. O’Connell Ferster earned her medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine. She completed her residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Penn State Health: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. She continued her education by completing a fellowship in Laryngology & Care of the Professional Voice at Vanderbilt University’s Voice Center. Dr. O’Connell Ferster has authored a number of articles and book chapters in the fields of otolaryngology and laryngology.
G. Todd Schneider, M.D., M.S.
Dr. Schneider has special interests in treating laryngeal disorders, including voice disorders in singers and other professional voice users, dysphagia, and upper airway issues. His research interests include human behavior and motivation to change in treating voice disorders, neurologic disorders of the larynx, and the relationship between GERD and voice changes.
Dr. Schneider is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology. He completed his internship and residency at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, where he also received his medical degree.
Dr. Schneider believes in step-wise, cost-effective care especially when dealing with complex issues such as voice and swallowing disorders. He strives to educate his patients about their disorders to help them understand their treatment plans. In his personal time, Dr. Schneider enjoys listening to and discovering music in all genres, playing jazz bass and guitar, and classic American cinema.
Kristine Gabel, FNP-C
Kristi is a graduate of the Family Nurse Practitioner program at University of Rochester. Prior to this, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from St. John Fisher College. She currently works out of the Clinton Woods location. She sees a variety of patients, but works primarily with Dr. Schneider and Dr. O’Connell-Ferster with a focus in laryngology. Before completing her degree as a Nurse Practitioner, she was a nurse within the ENT department for 5 years. Prior to this, her nursing background specialized in Bone Marrow Transplant in the Wilmot Cancer Center.
Speech Pathologists
Part of Strong Memorial Hospital
Our speech-language pathologists have specialty continuing education training in the areas of breathing, cough, swallowing and voice.
We provide treatment for:
- Benign vocal fold lesions
- Functional voice disorders / Muscle Tension Dysphonia
- Vocal fold atrophy
- Vocal fold paresis / paralysis
- Gender Affirmation
- Spasmodic dysphonia and vocal tremor
- Chronic coughing and throat clearing
- Laryngeal hypersensitivity
- Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion Disorder (PVFM) / Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD) / Exercise Induced Laryngeal Obstruction
- Pre and post-operative voice and breathing therapy
- Instrumental swallowing evaluations, including
- Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
- Modified Barium Swallow Studies (MBSS)
Our specialists have training in the following treatments:
- Manual therapies
- Lessac-Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy (LMRVT)
- Casper-Stone Confidential Flow Therapy (CSCFT)
- Respiratory Muscle Strength Training (RMST)
- SPEAK OUT! ® Speech and Voice Therapy for individuals with Parkinson Disease
- Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP)
- Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)
- Iowa Oral Performance Measurement (IOPI)
- Surface Electromyography (sEMG)
Andy Goings, M.S., CCC-SLP
Andy Goings earned their Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Nazareth University. They earned their Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology with a concentration in the Medical Specialization Program from Nazareth University. They completed their clinical fellowship in Speech-Language Pathology at the UR Medicine Voice Center.
Andy specializes in gender-aligning voice and communication therapy and facilitates gender-aligning group therapy sessions. Andy has a special interest in the assessment and treatment of swallowing disorders, and providing person-centered care for neurodivergent and transgender/gender-expansive individuals.
Liane Grasso, MM, MS, CCC-SLP
Ms. Grasso earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance at the Eastman School of Music. She earned her Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from Florida State University, and her Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions. She completed her clinical fellowship at the ENT Institute of Atlanta.
Ms. Grasso has additional training in rehabilitation and care for professional voice, manual therapies, singing voice rehabilitation, and vocal pedagogy including Estill Voice Training. She also specializes in voice therapy for pediatric patients.
Gerriann Jackson, M.S., CCC-SLP
Ms. Jackson earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology, at Nazareth College. She completed a fellowship in Speech-Language Pathology at Rochester Regional Health.
Ms. Jackson specializes in gender affirming voice and communication therapy for individuals across the gender spectrum. She has a special interest in facial retraining, spasmodic dysphonia / tremor and upper airway disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea. She has advanced training in these areas. Ms. Jackson facilitates the biweekly gender-affirming community outreach groups and the “Voice Across the Lifespan” community vocal health group.
Judith Kennedy, MS., CCC-SLP
Ms. Kennedy received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Pathology from Elmira College and Master of Science Degree in Speech Pathology from Nazareth College. She has additional coursework in Linguistics and Philosophy from the University of Rochester and in neurosciences from the University of Rochester Medical School.
Ms. Kennedy has an appointment in the Department of Neurology. She specializes in treating individuals diagnosed with neurodegenerative diseases for swallowing and communication issues. She is a team member of the ALS Clinic in the Neuromuscular Disease Center and in the HD Clinic in the Huntington’s Disease Center of Excellence.
In addition to her voice and swallowing training, she has advanced specialty training in the McNeill Dysphagia Therapy Program, vocal cord dysfunction/paradoxical vocal fold motion disorder, laryngeal dystonia and chronic cough, EMST 150 and augmentative communication.
Sheryl Maier, MA., CCC-SLP
Ms. Maier earned her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Renesselaer Polytechnic Institute. She completed her Master of Arts degree in Speech Pathology at the State University of New York at Geneseo. She completed a fellowship in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Ms. Maier’s specialty areas include advanced training in spasmodic dysphonia / vocal tremor, Parkinson Disease and communication, cognitive and voice disorders following stroke and brain injury. Ms. Maier divides her time between the Voice Center and the Integrative Cognitive Rehabilitation Program.
Kelly O’Brien, M.A. CCC-SLP
Ms. O’Brien earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the State University of New York at Geneseo. She completed a fellowship in Speech-Language Pathology at University of Rochester Medical Center.
Ms. O’Brien specializes in the care of voice, communication, and swallowing disorders across a wide spectrum of diagnoses and patient populations. She has a special interest in augmentative / alternative communication and has completed advanced training in the management of neurogenic communication disorders, including aphasia, motor speech disorders, and cognitive-linguistic dysfunction. She holds certification in Lessac-Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy, SPEAK OUT! Treatment for Parkinson’s, and is a Certified Lingraphica Technology Specialist.
Elizabeth Rossborough, M.S., CCC-SLP
Ms. Rossborough earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders and Psychology at Case Western Reserve University. She received her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology with a concentration in Voice & Voice Disorders from the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions. She completed a clinical fellowship in Speech-Language Pathology at the UR Medicine Voice Center.
Ms. Rossborough facilitates the weekly LOUD Crowd, a maintenance group for individuals who have completed the SPEAK OUT! program. She also specializes in singing voice and gender affirming voice interventions as well as manual therapy.
UR Medicine Voice Center Clinical Fellowship
The UR Medicine Voice Center offers a yearly clinical fellowship to a graduate of an accredited Speech-Language Pathology program with a special interest and training in voice, breathing and upper airway disorders.
UR Medicine Voice Center Clinical Fellowship in Voice and Upper Airway
This Fellowship training program is highly competitive with applications received from around the country. Our past fellows have been offered positions at top institutions across the country, including:
- Mass Eye and Ear
- Cleveland Clinic
- USC Voice Clinic
- UW Madison Voice & Swallow Clinic
- NYU Langone Health
- Montefiore Medical Center
Past fellows include: