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Please describe the specific qualifications and strengths you possess that make you the most qualified candidate for this office.
From 2002 through 2005 I served on the ASHA Board of Ethics (BOE) and as chair in 2004 and 2005. Additionally, I am currently in my 3rd year of service to the Council for Clinical Certification (CFCC). Service on the BOE and CFCC has provided opportunities to see firsthand how the Board and Council serve the ASHA organization, the ASHA membership, and the public who entrust audiologists and speech pathologists with their care. Moreover, the past 7 years have reinforced my position that ethical conduct/practice and rigorous clinical standards are two critical components of a profession/professional. Together, they enhance stature and credibility with other professions, with diverse professional colleagues, and importantly, with consumers of our professional services. To facilitate the work of the BOE and the CFCC in monitoring, maintaining, evaluating, updating, and advocating the Code of Ethics and Certification Standards, an individual who has been involved in an ongoing manner with each group is desirable.
In what ways have you been innovative and effective in your service on committees, boards, councils, and work settings?
My leadership style is collaborative and inclusive. The volunteers who commit to ASHA committees are talented, dedicated, and creative. As such, it is rare that one person has the best or only strategy. Therefore, it is essential to the progress of any group of individuals to encourage and obtain input from all members and stakeholders, and to subsequently strive for collaborative decisions. The result of developing solutions to critical issues through collaboration and effective communication is a high level of productivity.
In the past 17 years I have served as chair of one board (BOE), one joint committee (Joint Committee on Infant Hearing chair for 5 years), and three working groups in audiology related directly to the birth to 5 age group (Assessment Guidelines; Roles, Knowledge, and Skills of Audiologists; and Counseling Guidelines). Because I engaged in and promoted a collaborative style of leadership in these different roles, the outcomes achieved have benefited the Association, the membership, and consumers of our services.
What do you want ASHA members to know about you?
Over the course of 20 years, I have recognized the responsibility that comes with accepting a volunteer committee assignment. It is clear that, when individuals commit to the workload/responsibilities of a committee, they are obligating themselves to fellow colleagues, to the high expectations that come from National Office staff, and to the entire ASHA membership. Regular attendance at meetings and follow-through on all committee assignments is critical. It is even a greater responsibility to fulfill commitments, assignments, demands, and expectations of elected positions within the Association. My interest in ethics and standards is reflected in my 4 years of service to the BOE and my 3 years of service to the CFCC. The new governance structure of ASHA strengthens our future as audiologists and while I am grateful for my past opportunities with ASHA, I look forward to serving the audiology community as we refine and strengthen our roles and responsibilities in professional practice.
E-mail: adiefend@iupui.edu
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