What is your background in audiology?
I came into audiology at a time when our thinking about how the auditory system works was being challenged by the evidence of outer hair cell motility and active cochlear processes. Coming from an undergraduate background in the humanities, I was fascinated by the paradigm shift underway in the field.
Through terrific clinical and faculty mentors at the University of Illinois, I fell in love with this profession that offered intriguing diagnostic thought, and the chance to improve the lives of those with whom we work. It may be the diagnostic challenge that has led me to work primarily with people with balance complaints and children with listening concerns.
Why do you volunteer with the Academy?
Professions have a limited number of ways to establish their identity and legitimacy; in audiology, we have defined our scope of practice, established guidelines for best practices within that scope, and created standards for educational programs to meet in preparing new professionals to enter the practice. In each case, these steps are undertaken by members of the profession who volunteer to advance these missions. I have felt strongly called to serve my chosen profession through this kind of activity. Perhaps because I have been around academic programs for most of my career, I am most drawn to serve in the process of audiology program accreditation. I care deeply about the quality of the work we collectively do in preparing our audiology students to enter professional practice equipped to serve their patients and their communities. I greatly appreciate the chance to make the accreditation process a the beneficial one.
What is one thing that you can say volunteering has done for you and your personal success as an audiologist?
The most gratifying effect of volunteering has been the way it has shrunk my audiology world; I have been able to get to know audiologists from around the country, to learn what drives them, what concerns them, the way their practices are like and different from my own. I am so very grateful for the connections volunteering has created for me—a network of professional colleagues and friends.
If you were in a band, what instrument would you play?
My first home instrument was the French horn. Today, I am more likely to be found with a guitar in hand, or at the piano. Music has always been a large part of my life, and creating new music thrills me like very little else.
If you could only listen to one genre of music, what would it be?
I am a big fan of progressive rock, but my most recent music purchases have been alternative folk, and my most recent concerts have been orchestral performances. To choose only one, I’d have to say late 60s/early 70s rock, although I’ll always have other genres playing in my head.
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