Conference Faculty

Alicia Bazzano, MD, PhD, MPH, is the Chief Health Officer at Special Olympics International.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Rivka Bornstein, AuD, CCC-A, is a clinical audiologist at Westchester Medical Center Cochlear Implant Center and Westchester Institute for Human Development. She conducts a full spectrum of audiologic services, including audiologic assessments, electrophysiologic evaluations, and hearing aid and cochlear implant evaluations. Her areas of interest include electrophysiologic assessment of hearing loss, pediatric assessment of hearing loss, and pediatric and adult hearing aids and cochlear implants. She received her doctoral degree from The Graduate Center of the City University of New York in 2010 and her bachelor's degree in Speech and Communication from Touro College. She completed her fourth year residency at Westchester Institue for Human Development.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Kristi D'Auria, AuD, CCC-A, is a clinical audiologist at the Westchester Medical Center Cochlear Implant Center and has served as a lecturer and a Clinical Supervisor to both fellows and graduate students at New York Medical College, Westchester Medical Center’s academic affiliate. As a lecturer, Dr. D'Auria will also be joining Iona College's Interdisciplinary Advanced Certificate in Deafness (IACD) program, which will commence in 2022. Her areas of interest include electrophysiologic assessment of hearing, early identification of hearing loss, pediatric hearing aids and cochlear implants, and single sided deafness/asymmetric hearing loss. Dr. D'Auria has extensive experience working with children and adults with developmental delays. Along with her passion for providing hearing health care services, Dr. D'Auria also enjoys yoga, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family. Dr. D'Auria received her doctoral degree in audiology from Salus University School of Audiology, and her master’s degree from Hunter College. She completed her internship at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and her clinical fellowship year at Head & Neck Surgical Group in New York.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Jennifer Drob, AuD, CCC-A, is an audiologist at Texas Children's Hospital (TCH). She received her BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an AuD from Towson University. She has 7 years of pediatric clinical experience and has worked at TCH since 2014. She specializes in bone conduction devices and is the primary audiologist at the TCH Microtia/Atresia Clinic. She presents annually on Microtia/Atresia Awareness Day. Her interests include bone conduction devices, cochlear implants, and diagnostics.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Richard E. Gans, PhD, CCC-A, is the founder and executive director of The American Institute of Balance.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Jessica Hoffman, AuD, CCC-A, was born with a profound sensorineural hearing loss and was not diagnosed until age 13 months and fitted with binaural amplification at 18 months. Dr. Hoffman was taught spoken English via the Auditory-Verbal therapy method and learned American Sign Language (ASL) at age 10. Dr. Hoffman received her first cochlear implant at age 14 and went bilateral at age 24. Dr. Hoffman attended Tufts University for her undergraduate degree in Biopsychology and Northwestern University for her Doctor of Audiology. Upon graduation from her doctoral program, she relocated to London, England, with her husband in early 2011 and worked as a pediatric audiologist at two different cochlear implant centers. In 2014, she moved back to the U.S. with her family and has been working as a cochlear implant and clinical audiologist at Advanced ENT Services/Westchester Medical Center for the past 8 years.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Lindsey Jorgensen, AuD, PhD, CCC-A, is an Associate Professor at the University of South Dakota, where she teaches, does research, and sees patients clinically. Her area of research and clinic focus on customizing hearing assistive technology based on a patient's cogntive, audiologic, and phycial needs. She teaches courses in amplification, counseling, advance diagnostics, hearing technology, and rehabilitation. Additionally, she serves as the Chair for the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders as well as the Clinic Director for the USD Speech and Hearing Clinics.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Stephanie Karch, AuD, PhD, CCC-A, is a research audiologist at the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory (NSMRL) and works as a principal investigator on the Regional Hearing Conservation Program of Record. In this role, she investigates the prevention of auditory injury (e.g., hearing loss, tinnitus) among service members. Specifically, she studies the effect of training and verification of hearing protection in the field, clinic, and laboratory; and the effect of hearing protection on auditory function (e.g., situational awareness, speech intelligibility, localization). A graduate in audiology of Gallaudet University (AuD and PhD), Dr. Karch has over 7 years of PhD-level experience in military medical research, having served in Navy and Army medical research laboratories. Previous to her work at NSMRL, she characterized the vestibular function of military aviators and investigated the comorbidity of auditory injuries and mild traumatic brain injuries.

Financial Disclosures:

• None

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Beth Lannon, EdD, CCC-A, has had the pleasure of participating in the Special Olympics Healthy Hearing program for over 20 years as an audiologist. During that time, the Healthy Hearing program has screened Special Olympics athletes all over the world and in some cases has been able to provide amplification through partnerships with various manufacturers. In addition to supporting athletes, the Healthy Hearing program has trained audiologists and ENTs all over the world to develop and implement this program close to home.

Financial Disclosures:

• Consultant Global Clinical Advisor Special Olympics International
• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Matthew Martinez, MEd, has been working with students with significant cognitive disabilities for over 20 years. He was a classroom teacher prior to becoming the statewide consultant for significant disabilities at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The consultant position provides professional learning throughout North Carolina to professionals working with students with significant cognitive disabilities. Matthew obtained his bachelor of science degree in moderate and severe disabilities from Morehead State University in Kentucky and his master’s degree in low incidence from East Carolina University. He enjoys spending time with his family, going to concerts, and being on the baseball field with his son.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Callie Niemann, BS, is a second year Doctor of Audiology student at the University of South Dakota. She received her undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She was an SD Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Trainee for the 2021-2022 academic year. She currently serves as the SD Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) graduate research assistant through a Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) grant.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Joseph Sakumura, AuD, CCC-A, received his Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of Kansas Medical Center. He completed his residency and training at The American Institute of Balance (AIB), with specialization in the evaluation and management of patients with dizziness and balance disorders. Currently, Dr. Sakumura serves as the AIB’s Director of Centers of Specialty Care and works closely with ENT, neurology, and audiology practices globally in the addition and implementation of neurodiagnostic and rehabilitative balance services. Dr. Sakumura is also a senior member of the AIB’s interdisciplinary education faculty, which certifies thousands of physical and occupational therapists annually in the institute’s Vestibular and Concussion Rehabilitation courses.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Sharon A. Sandridge, PhD, CCC-A, is currently retired and is Emeritus Staff at the Cleveland Clinic. Prior to retirement, she served as Director of the Audiology Clinic from 1995 to 2019 before assuming the position of Section Head, Allied Hearing, Speech and Balance Services in 2019. Her areas of expertise have included amplification, electrophysiology, hearing loss prevention, tinnitus, and precepting. She has been active in both AAA and ASHA, serving on a number of committees, convention chair for both ASHA and AAA, and most recently, as ASHA Vice President of Audiology Practice (2019-2021).

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Caitlin Sapp, AuD, PhD, CCC-A, is the head of Pediatric Audiology at UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill and the director of the Early Hearing Loss Lab. She completed her AuD training and her PhD at the University of Iowa. She has extensive experience in infant hearing assessment and case management and has collaborated with state EHDI departments on quality improvement efforts related to audiology services. Her research interests include examining the factors that improve language and social outcomes for children who are Deaf and hard of hearing, in particular malleable clinician factors like parent counseling.

Financial Disclosures:

• Salary from UNC Medical Center
• Two NIH sub-awards
• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

William Shapiro, AuD, CCC-A, has worked at New York University since 1984, where he has been involved with all aspects of diagnostic and rehabilitative audiology. He currently holds the title of Lester S. Miller, Jr. & Kathleen V. Miller Clinical Assistant Professor of Hearing Health in the Department of Otolaryngology, is Director of FGP Audiology, and is Supervising Audiologist at the New York University Cochlear Implant Center, a nationally recognized center of excellence in the field of cochlear implants.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

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