Mary J. Sandage

Mary J. Sandage is a Professor and Dean's Distinguished Research Fellow in the Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences within the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University. She serves as Graduate Program Officer and maintains an active research program focused on voice physiology and upper airway disorders.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Exercise Science from Auburn University
• MA in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Iowa
• BA in English with a minor in Linguistics from Iowa State University

Internationally recognized for expertise in laryngeal physiology and clinical voice rehabilitation, Dr. Sandage specializes in singing voice rehabilitation, chronic cough, inducible laryngeal obstruction, and exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction. Her research examines muscle bioenergetics, performance physiology, hormonal influences, and fatigue aspects of voice function, along with thermoregulation for upper airway disorders and healthcare disparities in speech pathology services.

Analysis of her recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a strong interdisciplinary approach bridging exercise science with voice pathology. Her work consistently explores biomarkers of vocal function (particularly blood lactate), develops novel assessment tools like the Fluid Interval Test for Voice, and addresses critical gaps in differential diagnosis for upper airway disorders. She has made significant contributions to understanding vocal physiology through the lens of sports science, with applications for both clinical populations and professional voice users.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Fellow of the American Speech Language Hearing Association
• Pan American Vocology Association Recognized Vocologist
• Dean's Distinguished Research Fellow at Auburn University

As Graduate Program Officer, Dr. Sandage oversees graduate education in Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences. Her research program includes numerous collaborative projects examining healthcare disparities, particularly in rural Alabama, and has resulted in the development of the Voice & Upper Airway Clinic within the Auburn University Speech & Hearing Clinic.

She directs the Voice Physiology Lab, where she investigates applied muscle physiology, voice acoustics and aerodynamics, laryngeal imaging, and laryngeal thermophysiology. Her work frequently involves interdisciplinary collaborations with exercise scientists, otolaryngologists, and sports medicine specialists to advance understanding of voice function across diverse populations.