Biography
Dr. Bari Hoffman’s research focuses on the study of normal and abnormal voice production in pediatric, professional and neurologic populations implementing methods of endoscopy, acoustics and aerodynamic analysis. Her current research involves studying novel treatments and biomechanical mechanisms of head and neck cancer while defining the high impact on quality-of-life factors.
Her research is focused in three primary areas: 1. Short duration medical, surgical and behavioral treatment to improve airway protection; 2. Biomechanical modeling of tumor, tissue fibrosis, and airway protection mechanisms; 3. Outcomes associated with quality of life for patient undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer and Parkinson disease.
To better prepare students studying healthcare for the situations they will encounter in clinics and hospitals, Hoffman has led UCF’s efforts to pioneer the use of hologram technology. More commonly seen in the entertainment industry, this technology enables students to learn from lifelike, high-definition patients and sometimes caregivers who are beamed into a room. It’s been used at UCF to teach hundreds of students about conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease and stroke. The technology enables students to see and examine the whole patient and pick up on cues that are missed more easily with textbooks or videos. UCF has built a library with more than 50 pre-recorded holograms.
Hoffman has a significant record of peer-reviewed publications and authorship of graduate textbooks, including Voice Disorders 2nd edition and Cases in Head and Neck Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Approach. She actively lectures across the country on these topics. Hoffman also serves as Research Partner to the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute and The Center for Voice Care and Swallowing Disorders at the Ear Nose Throat and Plastic Surgery Associates in Orlando.
- Association Fellow
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
