AFA Names New Board, Advisory Members
The Audiology Foundation of America (AFA) has named four new directors to its board, as well as numerous new members to its Advisory Committee, as it continues to pursue its enhanced mission to empower audiologists to be independent and autonomous practitioners.
The new directors, Lori Gardner, Au.D., Coral Jud, Au.D., Mark Scoones, Au.D., and Edward Szumowski, Au.D., and the new advisory committee members assumed their duties as of Jan. 1, 2008.
 Lori Gardner, Au.D., has provided audiology services in the greater Richmond/Central Virginia area for the past thirty years. She established a private practice, Hear Virginia, six years ago and earned her Au.D. from the Arizona School of Health Sciences (ASHS) in 2006.
Dr. Gardner is an adjunct faculty member of the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department of Longwood University, volunteers as secretary to the Advisory Board of the Central Virginia Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, is an advisor to the Greater Richmond Association for Hearing Loss, and regularly staffs audiology services as part of "remote area medical expeditions" in the Appalachian areas of southwest Virginia. She is also a member of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA), the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), ASHA, and the Speech and Hearing Association of Virginia.
 Coral Jud, Au.D., began her career with Berry Hearing Aid & Audiology Centers in 1978 as manager, became a co-owner in 1987, and took over as sole owner in 1995. She has also been owner/manager of Fort Dodge Area Audiology Services since 1993. She earned her Au.D. in 2000 from the University of Florida. Dr. Jud is currently chairperson of the Iowa Board of Speech Pathology & Audiology, and is a member of ADA, AAA, the Iowa Association of Hearing Health Professionals, and the International Hearing Society.
 Dr. Scoones earned his Au.D. degree from ASHS in 2002, and has owned West Coast Hearing Clinic in Aberdeen, WA, for almost 20 years. Dr. Scoones is also a captain in the United States Navy Medical Service Corps where he currently serves as acting commanding officer at the Operational Health Support Unit in Bremerton, WA. He is a member of ADA and AAA.
 Dr. Szumowski earned his Au.D. from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, School of Audiology (PCO) in 2003. He has owned Western Michigan Hearing Services in Grand Rapids, MI, since 1985, and has particular interest in dispensing audiology, geriatric rehabilitation and tinnitus. He is a member of ADA, AAA and was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Michigan Academy of Audiology.
Also effective Jan. 1, 2008, Christine Ulinski, Au.D., is serving the AFA as vice chair, and Michael A. Thelen, Au.D., as its treasurer. Robert Gippin, Esq., David Goldstein, Ph.D., Claire Kilcoyne, Au.D., and Charlie Stone, Au.D., have fulfilled their terms and transitioned to the AFA Senior Advisors Council, with Dr. Goldstein serving as chair emeritus after 19 years of board service.
Doctors of Audiology Jason Aird, Jenifer M. Cushing, Kamal Elliot, Mary Frintner, Amit Gosalia, Mona Klingler, Andrea Lindahl, George A. Lindley, IV, Kurt T. Pfaff, Jody C. Pianin, Nancy Sickelka, Kathleen Sullivan and Lisa Wodzisz have all joined the AFA Advisory Committee. Advisory Committee members Lynn Lehman, Au.D., and Cynthia Earle, Au.D., have completed their terms of service.
Check Out Our Residential Graduate Survey #2 Results
In October 2007, the AFA conducted its Residential Au.D. Graduate Survey #2. The survey was sent to approximately 700 eligible residential graduates via email. There were 49 respondents representing 24 out of 70 programs. The survey asked questions regarding the availability of financial assistance, factors used in selecting a program, clinical and 4th-year externship experiences, and membership in organizations, etc. Click here for Survey Results!
AFA Announces 2007 Donation Results
Individual audiology practitioners and the hearing industry supported the Audiology Foundation of America (AFA) with almost $125,000 in financial support in 2007. Results were recently tabulated after a final end-of-year campaign drive. Financial support in 2007 included individual and corporate donations, corporate sponsorships, and memorial and scholarship donations. Click here for the full story.
"Au.D. News" Launches New "Career Corner" Stories
Every year, more and more audiologists are opening private practices and finding great joy and satisfaction in business ownership. With this new "Career Corner" forum, the AFA would like to share some of those stories with you. Jody Pianin, Au.D., opened her private practice in Florida almost one year ago (4/1/07).
 "I hope I can offer a perspective from someone who is still a little wet behind the ears when it comes to private practice. I have considered it a great joy -- quite a rollercoaster ride -- over the past year, but amazingly rewarding and "liberating" after working with ENT physicians for nine years. Private practice was always a goal of mine, but it was very scary to commit to making it a reality...but so worth it! My patient load has reached a steady stride at last, although it will be some time before I can say I am no longer worried about it. With the seasonality of the population here in Florida, I am particularly working to establish a strong relationship with physicians so that diagnostic income can hold me over during the off-season when hearing aid sales will likely slow down.
"One of my greatest "joys" of private practice is the autonomy to provide a level of patient care that meets my standards, which is a welcome change from being overbooked, under-equipped, and sorely underappreciated. I am no longer "the girl down the hall" but "Dr. Pianin," and everything I do is with the knowledge that my reputation -- and future success and position within our community -- is being built based on my expertise and efforts to ensure patient satisfaction. Opening a practice has helped me grow professionally and personally, and I see private practice as the practice model of the future for audiology."
If you are an audiologist in private practice, and would like to share some comments for a future edition of "Career Corner" please email them to Tracy@audfound.org. We'd love to hear your stories.
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