Emory Voice Center's Team

Diana Rose Becker holds a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as dual Bachelor of Music degrees in classical vocal performance and music education from the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music. Ms. Becker completed her clinical fellowship at the Emory Voice Center. Along with Dr. Aisha Harun, she helped establish the Emory Voice Center's first multi-disciplinary satellite clinic at Emory Decatur Hospital. Ms. Becker's clinical interests include working with the professional and singing voice, as well as educating novice voice users about how to better use their instruments. A native of New York, Ms. Becker has extensive experience as a professional singer and has performed throughout the US and internationally.

Carissa Maira came to Emory to complete her clinical fellowship in 2004 after earning a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She returned to the Emory Voice Center in 2010 and specializes in the evaluation and treatment of voice and swallowing disorders. She frequently presents at the national and international level on the topics of treatment adherence and novel therapy approaches for muscle tension dysphonia. She has co-authored multiple book chapters as well as publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Joey Laus, CCC-SLP is a Georgia State licensed speech-language pathologist and board-certified specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders with expertise in the evaluation and treatment of voice and swallowing disorders across a diverse range of medical etiologies. Prior to moving to Atlanta, she was recognized for her clinical expertise as a senior speech-language pathologist at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center’s Voice & Swallowing Center and the Head & Neck Cancer Center. Here, she specialized in the interdisciplinary care of complex dysphagia management in people with neurologic and oncologic disease for 14 years. She has co- developed and facilitated patient care pathways to help improve patient access to care and functional outcomes. Her therapeutic approach is rooted in evidenced based practice and patient centered, with quality of life and patient autonomy prioritized. She has earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Georgia and a Master’s Degree in Speech Language pathology at Nova Southeastern University. Her professional affiliations include the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA), ASHA’s Voice and Voice Disorder Special Interest Group SIG.

Brian E. Petty holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Oklahoma State University, as well as dual Master of Arts degrees in vocal pedagogy and in speech and hearing science, both from The Ohio State University. He is in clinical practice at the Emory Voice Center in Atlanta and has specialized in disorders of the professional and singing voice for over 20 years. He is a past coordinator for Special Interest Group 3, Voice and Voice Disorders, for the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association, and is a frequent national lecturer on the clinical management of voice and upper airway disorders.

Nathaniel Sundholm, originally from Brooklyn New York, has a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology with voice specialization from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He completed his clinical fellowship at the Emory Voice Center and has since remained a permanent member of the team. Clinical interests and growing expertise include singing voice rehabilitation, cough suppression, reactive airway therapy, dysphagia management, and community outreach/engagement. Nathaniel also has a rich performance background with experience in classical voice, Gospel, R&B, Musical Theatre, and CCM.