Audiology Advisory Council Candidate Member Statements
Ohio
Jeffrey J. Digiovanni, PhD, CCC-A
I would like the opportunity to serve a final term on the Audiology Advisory Council. Having served for two years and building contacts with Ohio legislators and their staff as well as becoming increasingly networked within the ASHA community within and outside of Ohio, I believe I am increasingly poised to serve in a more effective manner.
I have lived in Ohio and worked as an audiology faculty member for ten years. During that time, I have taught many of the classes, led recruitment, funding, and policy for the graduate program, and worked closely with other faculty and staff to ensure a breadth and depth in clinical practica. Moreover, I led our School through an accreditation site visit resulting in the continued accreditation of our programs.
I believe I am in touch with the issues facing audiology both nationally and at the state levels. I am committed to working to promote and lobby for issues to improve the profession and its service to our patients.
Oregon
Laura Polich, PhD, CCC-A/SLP
I am seeking the nomination to be Oregon’s representative to the Audiology Advisory Council in order in order to keep our Oregon audiology community represented in ASHA. I have been an ASHA member since 1980, and dually-certified since 1987. I believe audiology and speech-pathology are complimentary professions. Audiologists focus upon communication through hearing, and we are served well when we work with SLPs who focus on communication through multiple means (oral, signed, AAC). I believe we audiologists are also well-served by belonging to an association with 160,000 members. Audiologists have a second association with about 12,000 members that is audiology-only in focus. I believe it is beneficial for members of my profession to remain active in both associations. Many of Oregon’s audiologists have dropped their ASHA certification. As one of those who has retained the certification, I would like to represent my profession in the Audiology Advisory Council. I have been the Oregon representative to the AAC for the past two years.
South Carolina
Sharon F. Jenkins, MA, CCC-A
My name is Sharon F Jenkins and currently serve as the Audiology Advisory Council member from South Carolina, under the new governance structure of the ASHA. I’ve worked as an Audiologist since 1977 as an Audiology Instructor for the undergraduate Speech Pathology & Audiology Program for 33 years, before retiring in June 2010. I was awarded the Frank Kleffner Award in 2010 from the SC Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 2010. Since 2010, I’ve worked part time as the audiologist for the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic. I’m also a 2011 ASHA ACE Awardee. I hold membership in the American-Speech-Language Hearing Association, The SC Speech-Language Hearing Association and The SC Academy of Audiology. I served as: the Inaugural Editor of the SCSU SPA Departmental Newsletter, 2002 - 2009; Reader - Minority Leadership Essay Program – ASHA 2009; and as a Team Member working on the Eligibility Criteria Revision of Policies and Procedures for Children with Special Needs – Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children – Office of Special Needs, SC Department of Education; Parent Advisory Council for the Head Start Program in Orangeburg. I’ve made three convention presentations at the SC Speech-Language-Hearing Association. I’m both ASHA Certified and South Carolina Licensed to practice Audiology in South Carolina.
I believe in the new governance structure of this organization. As Audiologists and Speech Pathologists we work with the communication issues of the patients we serve. We may work on different sides of the communication spectrum but we demonstrate daily that we are two professions, one discipline.
Tennessee
Susan M. Amberg, MA, CCC-A
Being on the Audiology Advisory Council has made an impact on my professional life. I am an audiologist who’s been practicing for over 25 years and have seen a lot of changes in that time! My involvement on the AAC for the past five years has been a great education for me in how government works and in keeping up with changes in healthcare and support for our services. I have also enjoyed the opportunity to provide input for ASHA that helps them plan for our future. As a member of our state audiology and speech-language pathology organization, I am able to bring this information back to share with other audiologists in our state, as well as the students I work with. In addition, I have enjoyed the opportunity to learn and connect with other professionals in our field from across the country. I would be honored to serve another term as the Tennessee AAC representative.
Beth Humphrey, AuD, CCC-A
I was compelled to apply for this position because I truly enjoy teaming with others to address problems and make change. As a clinical faculty member at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center I have had the opportunity to be involved in many such tasks. In my career at UT, I have partnered with colleagues in clinical research projects, internal project development and improvements, philanthropic events, client focused initiatives, and professional conference development. Each of these experiences have expanded my professional repertoire and further encouraged my desire to be involved on a greater scale. It would be me my privilege to represent my audiology colleagues from Tennessee on the ASHA Audiology Advisory Counsel.
Texas
Tori J. Gustafson, AuD, CCC-A
Hello, my name is Tori Gustafson. I am an Associate Professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. I have been an audiologist in Texas for 20 years. Over the years I have learned what support professional organizations have provided for me and my chosen field. I have served my state organization on many levels. I started out in TSHA during 2004 as the audiology strand chair where I reviewed the call for papers for our annual convention. After 2 years, I served as the Programming co-chair for convention. Next, I served as the convention communication liaison. For the last 3 years I have served on the TSHA Executive Board as the Elect and then Vice President of Educational and Scientific Affairs. This position is in charge of developing everything for convention and CEUs. On the National level I first served ASHA as the Texas Audiology Advisory Committee representative for 2009-2010. For the last two years I have been on the ASHA PAC Board. I will be serving as Chair for 2013. In these times of changing healthcare policy, I feel that serving in professional organizations is even more important. Each state is being faced with very different issues. The fact that ASHA Advisory Councils bring together people from each state to discuss these concerns, is a valuable asset. I would like to represent audiologists in Texas as I feel my service with TSHA has given me insights into the concerns faced by audiologists in our state.
Wyoming
Amy M. Weaver, MS, CCC-A
I am very interested on serving on the Audiology Advisory Council for ASHA for Wyoming. I have 10+ years experience as a Wyoming native and received all of my higher education at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming.