Where did you grow up?
I grew up in west central Illinois in a town called Macomb.
Where did you go to school?
I went to Macomb Jr./Sr. High school (Go Bombers!), Western Illinois University for my undergrad (Go Necks!), and to the University of Kansas Medical Center for my AuD. Why did you want to become an audiologist?
I started out studying forensic psychology. I was most interested in the clinical and rehabilitative applications. However, I quickly learned that the specific roles I was interested in are fewer and far between, and more time is spent as a researcher and analyst. I happened to see a documentary about two individuals who were born deaf. One of them decided to undergo cochlear implantation at 16, allowing him to hear his mother’s voice for the first time, while the other learned to dance by the vibrations of music and was trying for a spot on an NFL dance team, which she found difficult because of her hearing loss. The documentary showed how these individuals were able to navigate through life with hearing loss, and how they used different technologies with the help of their audiologists to hear and communicate better. The next day I set up a meeting with the audiologist at WIU and found exactly what I was looking for. What is your favorite area of audiology?
As mentioned, I most enjoy the clinical and rehabilitative aspects of audiology. I like identifying a problem or issue, and working with patients to try and solve that problem. I find more non-traditional amplification options like bone anchored systems and cochlear implants more interesting. And I especially enjoy pediatric audiology and being able to work with children. At what office(s) do you work?
For now, I work mostly at our Lakewood office in Lee’s Summit, Mo and at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, KS. Now some fun questions! What’s your favorite television show?
My all-time favorites are The Nanny and I Love Lucy. A more contemporary favorite is Schitt’s Creek. I also love true crime. If you could bring back any fashion trend, what would it be?
Oof. This one’s a toughie. This changes for me from day to day. I wish men wore suits again, even for their everyday look. Sometimes I wish we wore satin, silhouetted dresses and high-waisted skirts and pants like women did through the ‘30s-‘50s. I also really like shoulder pads and the monochromatic pant suits that were popular in the ‘80s-‘90s. Instead of bringing back a fashion trend, what I’d really prefer is a time machine so that I could go back to whenever and wherever I wanted.
If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
At a music festival with a line-up of artists (dead or alive) of my own choosing. Or spending time with my family, hanging out on the lake with my niece and nephew.
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