IN THIS ISSUE - Academy of Dispensing Audiologists

educed reimbursements. We also will have to combat those
who believe the status quo is acceptable when it comes to the
education of future colleagues.
In the past, ADA and its members have been at the forefront
of audiology’s greatest successes. I want to see us to continue
to emerge as a prominent player in molding our path forward.
Our members have a wealth of experience and a vision for
audiology that needs a voice. This involvement will help us
avoid the mistakes of the past, while realizing the full potential
of the Au.D. and our profession.
The audiology community must unite together to solve our
shared issues and stand up against our common adversaries.
It will be more important than ever to institute a grassroots
movement that supports independence, professional
autonomy, and our position as the profession best educated
and suited to manage a patient’s hearing healthcare. We must
find a way to engage the ADA membership to become more
involved. We cannot afford to sit on the sidelines and let others
define us and control our destiny.
Anyone who knows me, knows I am passionate about education.
As my mother taught me, education holds the key to
your realizing your dreams for tomorrow. If selected for the
Board of ADA, one of my goals for the Board would be for
education, of both members and students, to be an objective.
I would like to see ADA lead the national discourse on creating
national standards regarding the scope and breadth of
the current Au.D. curriculum, expansion of the practicum
and externship opportunities to include more autonomous
professionals, and debunking the myth that certification is a
requirement for practice. I would like to expand our mentorship
opportunities to reach students across the country. And,
I want to explore opportunities for educating our membership
that empowers them to better compete in the ever changing
marketplace.
All of this is possible, with commitment and a willingness to
take risks. As leadership, we will have to communicate with
all of you a clear course for the future and provide you with
opportunities to get involved. And, most importantly, we have
to be transparent in our discourse and in our actions. It is you
who are ADA. We are just your representatives. Let’s create
an organization that truly represents the needs and will of its
membership, rather than the personal agendas of a few. Let’s
again, like we have done in decades past, lead our profession
towards a better tomorrow. n
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