Laura Gaeta, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at California State University, Sacramento. Dr. Gaeta teaches courses in aural rehabilitation, patient communication, aging, and instrumentation. Her research is focused on aural rehabilitation with older adults and service delivery issues that impact underrepresented populations when accessing hearing healthcare services.

Steven Gianakas is an assistant professor and director of the Communication and Effort Lab (CandE Lab) in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences at Rush University Medical Center. The focus of his research is to better understand and address aspects of hearing loss and communication challenges that are not detected by standard audiologic measures. Specifically, his research focuses on how living with a cochlear implant or hearing loss can be an effortful and tiring experience for both children and adults. The goal of his work is to drive change in clinical care for children and adults with hearing loss and improve communication outcomes that are often overlooked by standard clinical assessments. Beyond research, Dr. Gianakas teaches courses in Rush's AuD program and continues to see patients clinically.

Lipika Sarangi is dedicated to advancing the field of audiology by focusing her research on developing and validating individualized patient-centered auditory rehabilitation protocols to improve real-world success with hearing aids. She is particularly interested in identifying the impacts of hearing aid technology as well as patient characteristics (self-efficacy, personality, emotion, etc.) on hearing aid success. Other than continuing her research endeavors, she also teaches amplification, counseling in audiology, and research methods and evidence-based practice.

Tran Do is an adult amplification audiologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She is committed to counseling patients on the role auditory stimulation plays in their overall well-being and the benefits of addressing untreated hearing loss. With a focus on patient-centered care, her goal is to create more accessible resources that empower individuals to embrace and manage their hearing health. Her passion is to ensure that every patient not only hears better but also feels supported and informed every step of the way.

Isabel Martin is an AuD/PhD student at The University of Memphis. Isabel is a Graduate Assistant in the Hearing Aid Research Lab and her interests include hearing aids and auditory rehabilitation.

Dr. Joseph Montano is a Professor of Audiology at Weill Cornell Medicine.  Dr. Montano is licensed as an Audiologist in NYS, holds CCC- A and is an ASHA Fellow.  He was awarded Honors of the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology. In addition to numerous presentations and publications, he is the co-editor of the book Adult Audiologic Rehabilitation 3rd Edition.  He is the current Chair of the ASHA Council for Clinical Certification(CFCC) and served as ASHA VP Standards and Ethic in Audiology, Past President of ARA, and the NYS Speech Language and Hearing Association.

Dr. Jani Johnson is an Associate Professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Memphis. Her research and teaching focuses on evidence-based practices in the provision of amplification and psychosocial adjustment to hearing loss, especially for older adults. Dr. Johnson directs the Hearing Aid Research Laboratory (HARL), producing high-quality evidence designed to improve diagnostic and rehabilitative procedures for individuals with hearing difficulties.

Carole E. Johnson is a professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and Director of the Hearing Evaluation, Rehabilitation, and Outcomes (HERO) Lab at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She received her PhD from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and her AuD from Salus University in Elkins Park, PA. Her clinical and research expertise is in auditory rehabilitation. She directs the United Way Hearing Aid Bank (UWHAB) specialty clinic in the John W. Keys Speech and Hearing Center in the College of Allied Health Clinics. The UWHAB provides entry-level, advanced digital hearing aids to adults with low incomes. Her current focus of research involves accessibility issues and obstacles to hearing healthcare for unserved and underserved populations. She has published 4 textbooks, 70 peer-reviewed articles, and made over 150 presentations at professional meetings. She attended her first Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology Institute in 1984 when it was held in Watts Bar Dam, Tennessee

Katharine Williams is an adult amplification audiologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her areas include educating anyone who will listen, about hearing loss and the benefit of treated hearing loss. She is also interested in educating hospitals and physicians in the value of falls assessments and treatment. Her goal in becoming president is to help make resources available for audiologists and students to better serve their patients with hearing loss. She currently serves on the AAA Health Care Relations Committee.

Karen A. Doherty, Ph.D. is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Syracuse University. She is also a member of the Aging Studies Institute and Faculty Affiliate of the Integrated Learning Majors in Neuroscience at Syracuse University. Dr. Doherty’s research focus is on early intervention of age-related hearing loss and investigating ways to maximize hearing aid use considering factors such as cognitive function, hearing handicap, speech perception in noise and hearing aid handling skills.

Kristin Dilaj, AuD., Ph.D, is Co-Director and Audiologist at the New England Center for Hearing Rehabilitation, LLC.  Her areas of clinical interest and research include cochlear implant programming strategies and outcomes, tools for evaluating functional listening in pediatrics, and pediatric aural (re)habilitation.