Meet the Founder
Education. Experience. Application. Passion. Impact.
Sara Davis, M.A. CCC-SLP
Sara is medical speech/voice pathologist who specializes in working with patients who have voice, upper airway, and/or swallowing disorders including those with head/neck cancer. In addition to founding VOXFIT®, she currently works in a private practice ENT setting in Phoenix/Scottsdale AZ and co-created (with the laryngologist) the collaborative voice/airway/swallow clinic within the practice. She is grateful for this career and truly believes that the collaborative model of care is the best one--for patient care and overall treatment success. She is originally from Cincinnati and has also lived and worked in Georgia and Florida over the years, but has been in AZ since late 2020. She has over 13 years of experience in the medical speech pathology setting (voice center, ENT private practice, and/or outpatient clinic) performing videostroboscopy, acoustic/aerodynamic assessment of voice, FEES, VFSS/MBSS, a variety of voice therapy methods, dysphagia therapy, and treatment of ILO/EILO/VCD as well as chronic refractory cough and irritable larynx/laryngeal hypersensitivity. She is certified/trained in PhoRTE, MDTP, LSVT, manual therapy, Pharyngocise, the Buteyko method, Estill Voice Training®, and the MBS IMP. Sara also is the SLP co-lead of the Valley of the Sun Dysphonia International support group, and she recently started a local chapter of SPOHNC (Support for People with Oral Head and Neck Cancer) in the North Phoenix area (within the otolaryngology private practice she works at).
Sara loves research and has completed two research studies of her own (one published and one awaiting publication) and is currently working on two new studies in 2024. She has presented her research locally and nationally at conferences and given a variety of lectures/presentations at universities, schools for the performing arts, the Weather Channel, schools, EMT/fire departments, fitness studios, companies, at conferences, and to other medical professionals (SLPs, physicians, nurses, etc.). Sara is extremely passionate about her specialties within speech pathology and works closely in collaboration with other medical professionals to prioritize achieving the highest level of evidence-based patient care.
Additionally, Sara has been heavily involved in the fitness and sports/media industries over the past 17 years and continues to teach boutique fitness classes and work with instructors. She is a fitness instructor (Level II certified in Lagree fitness), former barre instructor, former master instructor (indoor cycling), and public speaker with years of experience in the fitness and sports/media industries. She has been featured on several podcasts (check out this website for links to the podcast recordings) and other media outlets (magazine, TV, websites), and also sings with the worship group at her church.
Sara strives every day to make a positive impact on the lives of all of her patients and share with them her strong passions for a positive mindset, movement, evidence-based medicine, and self-awareness. Sara strongly believes in the power of the collaborative care model as well as educating patients, so they fully understand their diagnosis and the purpose/importance of the recommended treatment(s). One of her favorite things to do is perform a videostroboscopy on a patient and then teach them all about their (vocal) instrument!
Sara has published RESEARCH related to the importance of providing vocal seminars to fitness instructors comprised of education on vocal health/care to prevent voice disorders to an at-risk population, healthy voice use for an efficiently functioning vocal mechanism, and dynamic vocal performance & message delivery to effectively command a room and deliver monumental class experiences. Click the button below for access to the article!
She presented this research at national conferences (The Fall Voice Conference Seattle, 2018 and The Fall Voice Conference Dallas, 2019) and recently finished up another study on the use of vocal exercises for group fitness instructors and whether or not a structured protocol involving daily practice of semi-occluded vocal tract exercises affects the instructor’s self-perceived vocal effort, vocal fatigue, and/or voice handicap. The mission was to investigate the best "FitPro Voice Protocol" and the conclusions are amazing. She presented this research at The Fall Voice Conference San Francisco (2022), and another article is currently in development, with hope to be published again soon.
Sara is also currently writing a book entitled Vocal Fitness: Voices Fit to Inspire, targeted to positively impact & empower individuals who are occupational voice users. She also hopes to research and develop/validate an assessment tool (the Instructor Voice Index--IVI) for quantifying the psychosocial consequences of voice disorders on fitness instructors.
In addition, Sara created the #prioritizeyourvoice Global Voice Challenge, a worldwide virtual vocal encouragement movement that has inspired others to create a new habit of prioritizing the voice daily. This continues every Friday with Prioritize Your Voice Fridays (#pyv #prioritizeyourvoice) with a mission of creating an online vocal wellness movement to inspire others.
Sara's passion for voice, fitness, public speaking, and empowering/inspiring others has led her to create VOXFIT® in hopes that she can positively impact occupational voice users, especially those that aim to lead, help, inspire, & motivate others through instruction utilizing the voice.
Through VOXFIT®, Sara works with clients individually to provide voice coaching, vocal training, and/or voice therapy depending on the needs of the client. Sara also provides interactive group seminars and trainings to studios, companies, and/or other groups to provide voice coaching, vocal training, and/or voice therapy tailored to the needs of the group. Additionally, she has developed and provided several courses (live and virtually) on muscle tension release, videostroboscopy (including mentoring), voice therapy training, corporate voice training/leading with your voice, and comprehensive voice courses for fitness professionals. VOXFIT® strives to provide research-based education and training on VOCAL HEALTH, VOCAL EFFICIENCY, and VOCAL DYNAMICS and is on a mission to guide ALL occupational voice users towards VOCAL FITNESS.
MISSION. GOALS. PURPOSE. PASSION...
Sara's goals are to increase education and awareness related to healthy care of the vocal mechanism, promote efficient and confident voice use, and to improve the clarity and effectiveness of message delivery for those who are occupational voice users through providing high quality education, training, and treatment services in addition to vocal seminars and one-on-one instruction aimed to prevent dysphonia (problems with voice) and revitalize the dynamics of vocal performance in a class and/or presentation setting.
Licensed and Certified...
Sara upholds the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Certificate of Clinical Competence in addition to a speech pathology license in the state of Arizona.
Sara earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology/Audiology from Miami University (Ohio) and her Master of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Cincinnati.
She also consistently achieves the ASHA Award for Continuing Education (ACE), which is a formal recognition of professionals who have demonstrated their commitment to lifelong learning by earning 7.0 ASHA continuing education units (equivalent to 70 contact hours) within a 36-month period.
Sara has a strong PASSION for her profession because it provides her the opportunity to positively impact the VOICE and communication capabilities of others, especially those who are charged with being leaders, teachers, and instructors--and those who play a role in inspiring & motivating others to become greater than they can be alone.
Sara believes we are all meant to interact with and inspire one another as we move towards our greater purposes and missions in life. Improving the voice and communication abilities of others results in monumental and lasting impact on community, confidence, connection, and quality of life.
Communication is KEY... And the foundation of all relationships. Verbal and nonverbal--it forms our relationships, maintains our relationships, and grows our relationships... We are put on this earth to be in the communion of others, to help others, to empathize with others, to learn and grow with others...as we strive as one body of people to come together and become greater.
Without communication, this mission halts to a standstill.
Consider how much you communicate on a daily basis...With other people, with your pets, with your coworkers, with your friends, with your family...Consider the impact of nonverbal and verbal communication...and consider the impact of your tone and facial expressions as you communicate.
What message does your communication send to others?
Communication is so powerful and has endless possibilities for us individually and as a whole...
I am eternally grateful that my career allows me to help others communicate through the power of VOICE!
TRUTH.
VOICE is a full-body experience. Our body, mind, and spirit all work together and intertwine beautifully to develop, strengthen, rebalance, support, illuminate, and create the best and most authentic voice possible for each of us.
If we fail to recognize & embrace the connection between these foundational components of VOICE, we will be doing ourselves a disservice as we journey towards finding our best vocal selves... although it's important to remember it is always a process and never a destination...and we must trust the process and involve mind, body, and spirit in all aspects of learning to fully create all that we are capable of becoming--vocally, professionally, & personally.
It's not the ability to verbalize what you were "educated on", but instead the mastery of embodying what you "learned" and carrying that onward towards evolution & growth. Do not fear the power of opening you HEART to new and continued learning. Embrace the priceless beauty of education by involving not only your mind, but also your body and spirit...
