Bio

Dr. Kramer is currently a university research professor in auditory functioning and participation in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, at the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam. This prestigious appointment is a testament to the significant impact that Dr. Kramer has made on the practice and discipline of audiology in the Netherlands, and more widely at an international level.

Dr. Kramer completed her training in neuro-psychology and then her PhD in audiology at the VU University in Amsterdam. This set the scene for Dr. Kramer to bring together her interests in both psychology and audiology to develop new approaches to rehabilitative audiology for adults. Her pioneering work has focussed on the pyschosocial, occupational, and cognitive aspects of hearing impairment that has provided new and important insights into the experiences of people with hearing loss. She is well known for her pioneering use of pupillometry as an objective measure of listening effort.

Outside of her home country, where she is an active member of the Netherlands Audiology Association, she has also established herself as a leader within the European audiology community, with collaborative projects with colleagues in Denmark, Germany, Poland, Sweden, and Wales. Since 2008, she has been a member of the Steering Committee of the World Health Organisation International Classification of Functioning Core Set Project.

Between 2008 and 2011, Dr. Kramer has also been a member of the Steering Committee for the European Concerted Action AHEAD III (Assessment of Hearing in Elderly: Aging and Degeneration), has served as member of the Ida Institute Advisory Board and currently sits on the Ida Institute International Research Committee. She has collaborated beyond Europe as a highly respected international expert in rehabilitative audiology where she has helped shape the direction of audiology globally. Most notably, she has taken an international leadership role serving as the President of the International Collegium of Rehabilitative Audiology from 2011-2013.

Academically, Dr. Kramer has a well-deserved reputation as an outstanding researcher and has an impressive record of capturing research funding. She has mentored 20 doctoral students, 10 master’s students, and numerous post-doctoral fellow and research associates, and coordinates a Marie-Curie ITN European Industrial Doctorate Programme. She has served on the editorial boards for a number of journals (e.g., Trends in Amplification), and has published over 80 papers in peer-reviewed journals, written many book chapters, and co-wrote her book Living with Hearing Loss: The Process of Enablement with the late Dr Dai Stephens. Dr. Kramer is a wonderful communicator and has been tireless in the widespread dissemination of her research that has led to her being invited to give over 50 presentations world-wide, with 8 keynote lectures.

Her impact on global audiology is evidenced by outstanding contributions in all of the following areas—clinical, academic, research, and professional, making Dr. Kramer a truly worthy recipient of the Academy’s International Award in Hearing.