Guest Bios

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Guest Bios

Dr. Jack J. Wazen

Dr. Jack J. Wazen, MD FACS Otologist-Neurotologist & Surgeon, Silverstein Institute Director of Research, Ear Research Foundation 

Internationally Recognized Otologist- Neurotologist & Surgeon Over 20 years experience as a practitioner, professor and researcher. Silverstein Institute - Sarasota Ear Research Foundation - Sarasota Columbia University - New York Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center -New York 

Author, "Dizzy – What You Need to Know About Managing & Treating Balance Disorders" Drummer, "Doc & the Earignals", jazz band that performs and has made 10 CDs to support the Ear Research Foundation

Dr. Michael A. Harvey

Dr. Michael A. Harvey provides training and consultation on hearing loss, vicarious trauma and mental health issues.  In addition to a private practice in Framingham, Mass., he is an adjunct faculty at Boston University and a consultant faculty at Pennsylvania College of Optometry, School of Audiology, where he teaches on-line courses relating to the psychosocial aspects of hearing loss.  Dr. Harvey writes a regularly forHearing Loss Magazine, for Hearing Loss Association of America, in addition to over 40 articles, his publications include The Odyssey of Hearing Loss: Tales of Triumph, Psychotherapy with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons: A Systemic Model  (second addition), and a co-edited book entitled Culturally Affirmative Psychotherapy with Deaf Persons. His most recent book is Listen with the Heart: Relationships and Hearing Loss. 

Dr. Harvey is Co-Director of a private, non-profit organization, Dialogue Toward Change, dedicated to providing research, training and consultation services to alleviate the potentially negative impact of witnessing oppression.

Ellen Beer

Ellen Beer recently joined Cochlear Americas as a Consumer Marketing Manager, where she contributes her own recipient insights and marketing experience. She is an active member of the Cochlear Community, a network of recipients who share their hearing journeys together worldwide.

Esther Kelly

Author and award winning speaker, Esther Kelly, has developed and implemented numerous programs designed to meet the unique needs of her clients, presenting her acclaimed “Hearing Loss in Action – Beyond Methodology” to countless groups, organizations and community colleges. Ms. Kelly has given many workshops at Hearing Loss Association of America National Conventions.  Among her books, videos and DVDs are, “A Sign Signals Manual”,  and her award winning video, “You Should Hear What You Are Missing”. Her most recent 6-DVD series, “Solutions for People with Hearing Loss in Career and Education Environments,” is a contemporary classic utilized by Texas Vocational Assistive and Rehabilitative Services and available at all Texas Public Libraries. 

Esther Kelly runs a Hearing Loss Program and Technology Center at Deaf Action Center in Dallas Texas and serves as a Hearing Loss Resource Specialist for the Texas Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.  Esther is a tireless advocate for the Hard of Hearing and Late-Deafened.   Having lived with hearing loss from the time she was a child, and the recipient of a successful cochlear implant, Esther has life experience that has given her insight in the needs of those with hearing loss.

 

Gael Hannan

Gael Hannan is a writer, actor and public speaker who grew up with a progressive hearing loss that is now severe-to-profound. She is a director on the national board of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association and runs The Hearing Foundation of Canada’s award-winning Sound Sense hearing awareness program for elementary students across Canada. As a passionate advocate for people with hearing loss, her work includes speechreading instruction, hearing awareness workshops for youth and adults, and sensitivity training for corporations and community groups. 

Gael is a sought-after speaker for her humorous and insightful performances about hearing loss, including her signature shows Unheard Voices and EarRage! She has received several awards for her work, including the Consumer Advocacy Award from the Canadian Association of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists.

Jane R. Madell, Ph.D., CCC-A/SLP, Cert AVT

Jane R. Madell, Ph.D., CCC-A/SLP, Cert AVT is a renowned audiologist, educator, mentor and advocate. Her pioneering work in audiology, pediatric audiology, licensure and professional development has spanned four decades and lifted the field of audiology to the heights it is today. Her clinical practice and research include evaluation and management of hearing in infants and young children, management of hearing loss in children with severe and profound hearing loss, selection and management of amplification including hearing aids, cochlear implants and FM systems, assessment of auditory function, and evaluation and management of auditory processing disorders.

Judy Sexton

Judy Sexton is the Director of Clarke Pennsylvania Auditory Oral Center. Judy holds a Masters Degree in Education of the Hearing Impaired from Bloomsburg University. She also held a license as a hearing aid specialist in the state of Pennsylvania awarded 1987. She has spent her entire career of 31 years working in the field of auditory oral education. Her work experiences include ten years in the public school system intermediate units as an itinerant hearing therapist and resource room teacher in preschool, elementary, middle and high schools. In addition, Judy taught at Archbishop Ryan School for the Deaf from 1983 until 1997 in the capacity of classroom teacher in preschool, elementary and middle schools. Judy’s last five years at “Ryan School” were as principal.

Some of Judy’s other accomplishments include:

  • Newly appointed to the Infant Newborn Screening Committee in the state of Pennsylvania
  • Former President/Quota Club-women’s professional organization dedicated to hearing and speech needs of children and adults
  • Former President of the St. Bernadette Home and School Association
  • Presenter at a variety of conferences and conventions related to hearing loss
  • Committee chair at the A.G. Bell conference 1997
  • Officer of the PA Chapter of the A.G. Bell Association
  • Recipient of the Curriculum Quill Award for outstanding contribution to curriculum and instruction.

Judy’s interests include reading, quilting, walking, traveling with her family, gardening and refinishing furniture. She lives in Havertown with her husband, Tim, and three children Kevin, Patrick, and Julianne.

Ken Hollands

Ken Hollands is a graduate engineer with over 25 years experience in the communications industry. Currently the Commercial Director of a manufacturer of induction loop systems, he is responsible for the management of all technical and commercial training programs. He is a regular speaker at international events and has trained many hearing loop advocates how to evaluate the performance of loop systems in accordance with the international standard 

He is passionate about audio induction loop technology, knowing that where it is correctly specified and installed, it will make a real and positive difference to the lives of the hearing aid user.

Linda Kozma-Spytek

Linda Kozma-Spytek has been a research audiologist in the Technology Access Program of Gallaudet University for the last 12 years. She is the lead investigator on projects within the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Telecommunications Accessibility related to voice communication. She is also an investigator for the RERC on Hearing Enhancement on their projects related to hearing aid compatibility. She actively participates in standards development for hearing aid compatibility in digital wireless and cordless phones, and has published and presented extensively to consumer and professional groups alike on these and related topics. She has been recognized for her work in these areas with awards from the Hearing Loss Association of America, Inc. and the Telecommunications Industry Association.

Lise Hamlin

Lise Hamlin joined the Hearing Loss Association of America’s (HLAA) national staff as director of public policy and state development in April 2008. Her former employers include the League for the Hard of Hearing in New York City (LHH) and the Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons (NVRC). 

Ms. Hamlin is HLAA’s representative on the FCC’s re-chartered Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC) and the FCC’s Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC). She also represents HLAA on the ATIS Incubator Solutions Program 4 on Hearing Aid Compatibility with cell phones and on several coalitions working on issues impacting people with hearing loss, including the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Alliance (DHHA), the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Action Network (DHHCAN), the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT) and the Hearing Aid Tax Credit Coalition. She has also served on the Access Board’s Passenger Vessel Emergency Alarms Advisory Committee, Montgomery County (MD) Senior Citizen Fire Safety Task Force, the E9-1-1 Stakeholders Council. She is an instructor for TDI’s Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network (CEPIN) and was a member of CEPIN’s team that drafted and delivered the course, “Emergency Responders and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community: Taking the First Steps to Disaster Preparedness.” She has presented that course and emergency preparedness talks around the country alerting consumers and professionals alike to the needs of people with hearing loss in an emergency. In addition, Ms. Hamlin has presented numerous presentations and workshops on issues related to access for people with hearing loss. She has authored several articles for HLAA and TDI on both emergency preparedness and on access issues for people with hearing loss. 

Ms. Hamlin has been recognized with a national Oticon Focus on People award, a Spirit of SHHH award and the F. Michael Taff award from the Human Rights Commission of Rockville, MD.

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