Speaker Biographies:

April L. Ames, MSOH
April L. Ames, MSOH is employed as an environmental and occupational health consultant at Delta Environmental, Inc. in Perrysburg, Ohio. She is a graduate of the Medical University of Ohio in the MSOH program and continues to work at the university on research projects

Elliott H. Berger, M.S.
Elliott H. Berger, M.S., is the Senior Scientist for Auditory Research at E·A·R / Aearo Company, where for 30 years he has studied noise and hearing conservation, with an emphasis on hearing protection. He chairs the ANSI working group on hearing protectors, has been lead editor for two highly-regarded texts in noise and hearing conservation, served on a National Academy of Science committee evaluating hearing loss in the military, and has presented his research in numerous text book chapters and over 60 published articles.

Ester C. Biassoni, Ph.D.
Ester C. Biassoni, Ph.D., is a Dr. Psychology specialized on Psychoacoustics, Environmental Psychology and Hearing Conservation. Researcher of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina. Head of Research Department, Centro de Investigación y Transferencia en Acústica, National Technical University –Córdoba, Argentina. Professor at Grade and Postgrade Level

Samuel Bittel
Samuel Bittel is currently a doctoral audiology student and research assistant at Nova Southead.

Patricia Blessing
Patricia Blessing is director of NIDCD’s Office of Health Communication and Public Liaison, where she plans and directs media relations, community relations, public education, and dissemination of scientific information. She received her B.S. in nutrition research in 1981 from the University of Maryland and completed master’s coursework in science communication.

Carl Bohl, D.Sc.
Carl Bohl, Sc.D., is an industrial hygienist and served for many years as the director of the hearing conservation program for Monsanto. Dr. Bohl teaches in the Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences at Washington University and has published a number of articles on NIHL with Dr. Clark.

Margareth Bohlin, M.Sc.
Margareth Bohlin, M.Sc. was born in 1970. B.Sc. in Psychology at University West in 2002 and M.Sc. in Psychology at University West in 2003. Employed at University West since 2002. Admitted in the Graduate program in Psychology at Gothenburg University in 2004. Teaching psychology in areas of personality, gender, social and emotional development.

David Brown Ph.D.
David Brown Ph.D. is the Director of Audiological Research at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Assistant Professor in the Departments of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Cincinnati. He is interested in the screening and diagnostics for infants and noise exposure in children.

Joseph Cerquone
Joseph Cerquone has worked in communications for national non-profits in the Washington, DC area for more than 25 years. They include the U.S. Committee for Refugees, the National Hospice Organization, the Alliance for Aging Research, and the American College of Health Care Administrators. Currently, he is Director of Public Relations for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Rockville, MD. Over the course of his career, Cerquone has been a spokesperson before national and international media; directed advocacy campaigns concerning issues of national and international importance; and headed his own free lance writing and editing service with clients such as the U.S. Information Agency, MCI Corporation, the United Nations, and the National Academy of Public Administration. Cerquone has written award-winning articles and headed award-winning publications. He is a 1980 graduate of the graduate program of the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University. Cerquone is certified in association management by the American Society of Association Executives and a member of the Public Relations Society of America.

Kris Chesky Ph.D.
Kris Chesky Ph.D. holds degrees from Berklee College of Music (B.M.) and the University of North Texas (M.M.E., Ph.D.). Dr. Chesky is Director of Education and Research for the Texas Center of Music & Medicine. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Performing Arts Medical Association, the Scientific Review Board for the Medical Problems of Performing Artists Journal, and the Music Induced Hearing Loss task force of the NHCA. In addition to teaching within the UNT College of Music and being an active professional trumpet player, Dr. Chesky's conducts research related to the medical problems of musicians. Dr. Chesky is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Health Promotion in Schools of Music project.

William Clark, Ph.D.
William Clark, Sc.D., is Professor and Director of the Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine. He has a long-standing interest in noise-induced hearing loss and has published more than 50 peer-reviewed laboratory and field studies.

Noel Dice, Au.D.
Noel Dice, Au.D., is a recent doctor of audiology graduate from the University of Northern Colorado. She is presently employed as a clinical audiologist at Western Otolaryngology in Wheatridge, Colorado where she provides clinical audiology services to clients of all ages.

Roland Eavey M.D.
Roland Eavey M.D. is Director of the Pediatric Otolaryngology Service at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and he is Professor, Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School. He is boarded both in Otolaryngology and Pediatrics. His clinical care focus is pediatric otology and research interests are concerned with the pediatric ear.

John Eichwald, M.A., FAAA
John Eichwald is the Team Lead for the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program within the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities at the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia.  John has nearly thirty years experience as a pediatric clinical audiologist in public health, education, and the private sector.  He has published in several peer reviewed journals and made numerous presentations primarily concerned with the early identification of hearing loss in infants and children.

Kris English, Ph.D.
Kris English, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh.

Soly Erlandsson, Ph.D.
Soly Erlandsson, Ph.D. received her Ph.D. at the University of Göteborg 1990. Licensed psychologist 1991 in Sweden. A post doc position at Department of Psychology, University of Göteborg 1992-1998. Senior lecturer at University West 1999. Board member of the Foundation of Audiological Research (FAR) since and the Stinger Foundation.

Heather Ferguson
Heather Ferguson is the current President of The Hearing Foundation of Canada.

Brian J.Fligor, Sc.D., CCC-A
Brian J.Fligor, Sc.D., CCC-A is Director of the Diagnostic Audiology at Children’s Hospital Boston. His research interests focus on acquired hearing loss, particularly in children. His work on the potential for hearing loss from irresponsible use of personal stereo system headphones has been highlighted in the considerable media coverage of the topic.

Greg Flamme, Ph.D.
Greg Flamme, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI. His research interests focus on the epidemiology, prevention, and the evaluation of rehabilitative techniques for people with mild hearing impairment.

Robert Folmer, Ph.D.
Robert Folmer, Ph.D., currently serves as Clinical Neurophysiologist and Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at Oregon Health & Science University. In addition to his duties evaluating and treating patients in the OHSU Tinnitus Clinic, Dr. Folmer also develops, reviews and delivers hearing loss prevention curricula and programs for school-age children.

John R. Franks, Ph.D.
John R. Franks, Ph.D., National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, has worked on hearing loss prevention and standards development for more than 20 years. He has published/presented 70 papers and holds two patents. In 1981, he conducted one of the first studies of tinnitus among persons with normal hearing.

Barry A. Freeman, Ph.D.
Barry A. Freeman, Ph.D., Chair/Professor in the Audiology Department - Nova Southeastern University. Ph.D. in Auditory Science - Michigan State University. 1996-1997 president of the American Academy of Audiology; served on Academy’s Board of Directors six years; continues to serve on various academy committees. Founding member of the Florida Academy of Audiology; serves as Legislative Liaison for the Academy.

Susan E. Griest, M.P.H.
Susan E. Griest, M.P.H., is a Staff Scientist for the Oregon Hearing Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon. Ms. Griest is a researcher in the area of tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss. She is a member of the NHCA Task Force: Hearing Conservation Education for Children & Adolescents and has served on the NHCA Executive Council for the past 3 years.

Gail Gudmundsen, Au.D.
Gail Gudmundsen, Au.D., is director of sales and marketing at Etymotic Research.  She holds masters and doctoral degrees in audiology, and operated a multi-office audiology private practice for over twenty years.  Her experience includes teaching and research, and she has provided organizational leadership for numerous state and national audiology associations.

Andrew Haapapuro
Andrew Haapapuro earned an associates degree in Electronics Technology from DeVry Institute of Technology.  In the engineering department at Etymotic Research, his work has been instrumental in developing and refining the frequency response of directional microphones, high-fidelity insert earphones and high-fidelity hearing protection.

Lee Hager
Lee Hager brings nearly 20 years of experience to his position as Hearing Loss Prevention Consultant for Sonomax Hearing Healthcare, Inc., including consultation regarding the quality and integrity of hearing conservation programs. He has served as President of the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA); chair of the Noise Committee of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA); NIOSH National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Noise Team member; and with ANSI Working Group S12/WG11 on hearing protector evaluation and labeling issues. He presents and publishes regularly on noise and hearing topics, having received the AIHA Noise Committee Outstanding Lecture Award in 2003 and NHCA’s Threadgill Award in 2004. Most of all, he cares about your ears.

Gael Hannan
Gael Hannan is a renowned hearing loss prevention advocate with The Hearing Foundation of Canada, a not-for-profit organizations committed to eliminating the devastating effects of hearing loss on the quality of life of Canadians by promoting prevention, early diagnosis, leading edge medical research and successful intervention.

Howard J. Hoffman
Howard J. Hoffman, Director, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program, NIDCD/NIH is the Project Officer for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and other research studies in communication disorders. He has an advanced degree in mathematical statistics and has published over 185 scientific papers, plus several chapters, and two books.

Alice Holmes Ph.D.
Alice Holmes Ph.D. received her Ph.D. at Pennsylvania State University. Past President - Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology; Secretary & Treasurer - International Colloquium of Rhabilitative Audiology. Honors: 2003 Professional Achievement Award, Idaho State University, GN Resound 1999 Caring for the Profession Award, Florida Association Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists 1999 Clinician of the Year.

Linda Howarth
Linda Howarth is research associate in the Oregon Hearing Research Center at Oregon Health & Science University. She is the program coordinator for the Dangerous Decibels project, a hearing loss prevention program geared to school-age children.

Doryce B. Iverson, Au.D.
Doryce B. Iverson, Au.D. received her doctoral degree from Central Michigan University in August 2006. As part of her doctoral project she has created a hearing conervation website for parents to use as a resource when educating their children on the dangers of excessive noise.

Terri Ives, Sc.D., Au.D.
Terri Ives, Sc.D., Au.D. is Assistant Professor at PCO School of Audiology and Balance Center Director at Pennsylvania Ear Institute. Former positions include Manager of Clinical Research at Sound ID, Palo Alto, CA, and Chief of Audiology and Balance Center Director at the Hearing Institute for Children and Adults, San Jose, CA.

Cheryl DeConde Johnson, Ed.D.
Cheryl DeConde Johnson, Ed.D., recently retired from the Colorado Department of Education where she was the audiology consultant for 16 years. She is currently part-time faculty in three audiology doctoral programs and maintains an active consulting practice. Cheryl has also worked as an educational audiologist, hearing specialist, and deaf education program supervisor.

Brett E. Kemker, Ph.D.
Brett E. Kemker, Ph.D. is currently an Associate Professor of Audiology at Nova Southeastern University. He received his Ph.D. in 1999 from the University of Florida. Areas of expertise: Teaching: Clinical Audiology, Aural Rehabilitation, Counseling, Research areas: Auditory attention/distraction, Audiologic rehabilitation.

Chia-Wen Ko, Ph.D.
Chia-Wen Ko, Ph.D., is a Research Biostatistician in the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program, NIDCD/NIH. She has published 18 peer-reviewed papers. Her research has focused on clinical trials, survival studies, and the epidemiology of hearing loss, including long-term sequelae of early-onset, recurrent otitis media, age-related hearing loss, and familial deafness.

Annaliisa Koski
Annaliisa Koski is a senior at Riverdale High School in Portland Oregon. She was trained as a peer educator in the Dangerous Decibels program conducted by the Oregon Hearing Research Center at the Oregon Health and Sciences University. She is a freshman at Colby College in Maine in the fall of 2006.

Sharon G. Kujawa, PhD
Sharon G. Kujawa, PhD is an Associate Professor of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School and is Director of the Department of Audiology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston. She is on the faculty of the Harvard-MIT Program in Speech and Hearing Biosciences and Technology and is a Principal Investigator in the Eaton-Peabody Laboratory of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Her current research efforts are directed toward understanding the mechanisms by which normal cochlear function is compromised by aging and noise trauma. She studies how susceptibility to such compromise is shaped by genetic background, how it is altered by exposure history or by efferent activation, and how the compromise can be minimized or prevented using pharmacologic therapies.

William Lambert Ph.D.
William Lambert Ph.D. is a scientist and associate professor in the Oregon Health and Sciences University Center for Research in Occupational and Environmental Toxicology. He is actively involved in health promotion and disease prevention in several areas, especially in issues related to Native American Indians of the Pacific Northwest.

Lidia Lee, Ph.D., CCC-A
Lidia Lee, Ph.D., CCC-A, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education at Eastern Michigan University. She holds a Ph.D. in Audiology from Indiana University, Bloomington. She has utilized an academic service learning model in teaching hearing loss prevention to children in the local community. Other research interests include psychoacoustics, and the perception of sound quality in communication systems.

Brenda L Lonsbury-Martin, PhD
Brenda L Lonsbury-Martin, PhD is the Director (Chief Staff Officer) of Science and Research at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Among her other duties, she often serves as an expert resource for the media on hearing science and research issues. Also, she is a research professor in the Division of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, at Loma Linda University School of Medicine. Her research interests include the early detection of hearing loss using physiological measures of ear function, basic mechanisms of noise-induced hearing loss, the role of the cochlear efferent system in protecting the ear from noise damage, and cochlear plasticity. Over the past 20 years, her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health. She has been part of a team of investigators, who have conducted a number of research projects in the noise field, aimed at better identifying the onset stages of noise-induced hearing loss. These studies involving experimental models as well as patients suffering from noise-induced hearing loss typically have relied on a combination of behavioral and physiological approaches to investigate the effects of sound over-exposure on ear function. Much of this research is described in over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. She is a fellow of the Acoustical Society of America and a member of a number of professional societies that represent research in the basic and clinical sciences of hearing. Dr Lonsbury-Martin also serves on the editorial boards of a number of journals in the hearing science and audiology areas, and on the review panels of several private foundations that fund research on hearing loss and tinnitus. Dr. Lonsbury-Martin received her PhD in biopsychology from Oregon Health and Science University, and completed postdoctoral-fellowship training in psychobiology and physiology and biophysics at the University of California, Irvine and the University of Washington, respectively.

Ted Madison M.A., CCC-A
Ted Madison M.A., CCC-A is an audiologist with 3M Company, where he participates in the development of hearing protection products and hearing loss prevention education programs. He is a CAOHC Course Director and a frequent visitor to St Paul area schools where he teaches kids about hearing health using the Dangerous Decibels curriculum. Ted is a Past-President of NHCA and recipient of the 2002 NHCA Outstanding Lecture Award.

Genna Martin
Genna Martin is a sophomore photojournalism major at Boston University. She served as a research educator for the Dangerous Decibels project while she was a senior at Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon. She created Jolene as part of a summer internship in the Oregon Health and Science University Center for Research in Occupational and Environmental Toxicology. Jolene was used as an attention getter allowing Genna to ask curious participants about their practices and beliefs about using personal stereo systems.

William H. Martin, Ph.D.
William H. Martin, Ph.D. is a professor of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery and professor of Public Health & Preventive Medicine at the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon. He is also director of the OHSU Tinnitus Clinic and Research Programs, Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring Services and of the Dangerous Decibels® project. His research interests are in the neurobiology of tinnitus, auditory neurophysiology and noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus prevention.

Pam Mason, M.ED., CCC-A
Pam Mason has worked at ASHA as the Director, Audiology Professional Practices for the past five years. In this position she has coordinated the work of volunteer members in the development of ASHA policy documents that serve the profession of audiology and individuals with hearing loss. Mason has extensive experience working with print and broadcast media, serving as a resource on audiology issues such as hearing loss and noise. She has also been responsible for the development of consumer/patient educational materials, brochures and content coordination for professional development educational programs, and audiology expert sources to produce the newsletter, Access Audiology. Prior to her employment at ASHA, Pam directed the Audiology clinical program at the George Washington University Hospital, Washington DC for 16 years. This clinic provided a wide range of services that included complex diagnostic services for skull based surgical patients, dispensing digital amplification and in-service training for medical residents and clinical training for graduate students in audiology.

Mary B. Meikle, Ph.D.
Mary B. Meikle, Ph.D., Professor of Otolaryngology at OHSU, has conducted research into hearing loss and related disorders since 1969. Her special interest is evaluation, treatment and prevention of noise-induced tinnitus (ringing or other noises in ears or head) because it affects millions of Americans, many very severely.

Deanna Meinke Ph.D.
Deanna Meinke Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Audiology and Speech-Language Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado. In addition to teaching, she provides audiology consulting services to employers, hearing conservation service providers, the Marion Down Hearing Center and the Colorado Department of Health. Her research interests include distortion product otoacoustic emissions and the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss. She presently chairs the National Hearing Conservation Association Task Force on Children and Noise.

Sheryl A. Milz, Ph.D., CIH
Sheryl A. Milz, Ph.D., CIH is a certified industrial hygienist and epidemiologist, having been employed in each capacity before joining the faculty at the Medical University of Ohio. Her research interests are in the field of occupational and environmental exposure assessments, particularly for farm families. John R. Wilkins, III, BCE, DrPH is an environmental epidemiologist and environmental engineer who has been conducting research in the area of agricultural safety and health for more than 15 years, including studies of agriculture-related noise induced hearing loss. Melisa K. Witherspoon is a prospective June graduate of the MSOH program at the Medical University of Ohio. She also works full time as an environmental and occupational health consultant at Delta Environmental, Inc. in Perrysburg, Ohio and part time as a research technician at the Medical University of Ohio. April L. Ames, MSOH is employed as an environmental and occupational health consultant at Delta Environmental, Inc. in Perrysburg, Ohio. She is a graduate of the Medical University of Ohio in the MSOH program and continues to work at the university on research projects.

Shelby Myers-Verhage
Shelby Myers-Verhage is an instructor in the Department of English at Kirkwood Community College. She taught middle school English for 8 years, and then returned to school to earn an M.A.T. at the University of Iowa. Shelby's professional interests focus on curriculum development for public school systems.

Rick Neitzel, M.S., CIH
Rick Neitzel, M.S., CIH is a Research Scientist in the University of Washington (UW) Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, serves as Director of Communications for the National Hearing Conservation Association, and sits on the American Industrial Hygiene Association Noise Committee. He is a Certified Industrial Hygienist, and is also pursuing a PhD in Environmental and Occupational Hygiene at UW.  His research interests include assessment of noise exposure, noise controls, and hearing loss, as well as evaluation of vibration exposure and health effects.

Patricia Niquette M.A.
Patricia Niquette M.A. is an audiologist at Etymotic Research. Her professional experience includes pediatric and educational audiology, industrial hearing conservation, teaching and private practice. At Etymotic she provides project management, technical writing and product support.  She received her master's degree from the University of Iowa, and is working toward her AuD.

Cory Portnuff
Cory Portnuff is a graduate student in Audiology at the University of Colorado at Boulder, working on his Au.D./Ph.D. His research interests focus on noise-induced hearing loss across the lifespan, with a particular emphasis in children. Cory’s past research also includes epidemiologic research on auditory neuropathy/dyssynchrony. Brian J.Fligor, Sc.D., CCC-A is Director of the Diagnostic Audiology at Children’s Hospital Boston. His research interests focus on acquired hearing loss, particularly in children. His work on the potential for hearing loss from irresponsible use of personal stereo system headphones has been highlighted in the considerable media coverage of the topic.

Edwin W. Rubel, Ph.D.
Edwin W. Rubel, Ph.D. is the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Professor of Hearing Sciences at the University of Washington. He also holds appointments as Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Professor of Physiology and Biophysics, adjunct Professor of Psychology, and director of Research for the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Washington.  Dr. Rubel has studied development of hearing, of the inner ear, and of the brain pathways involved in hearing in laboratory animals since 1972.  He founded the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center at the University of Washington in 1989.  He has published over 230 scientific papers, edited 5 books and won many honors including the 2005 Award of Merit from the Association for Research in Otolaryngology.  Among Dr. Rubel's research contributions are a long series of studies on the role of experience on development of the lower brain pathways that process auditory information.  These studies have examined the critical role the neural activity plays during development of the auditory system.

Aneeta Samuel
Aneeta Samuel has 12 years of clinical experience in the field of audiology. Has taken several steps towards prevention of hearing loss. Involved in various research related to Neonatal Hearing screening and Noise Induced Hearing loss. Research work was presented at various international meetings. Considering that the prevention of hearing loss is integral part of the scope of audiology practice, have been actively involved in preventive measures in New Zealand and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Mario R. Serra, Ph.D.
Mario R. Serra, Ph.D. is a Dr. Eng. specialized on Acoustic. He is currently Head of Centro de Investigación y Transferencia en Acústica. National Technical University, Córdoba, Argentina. He is a Researcher of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council Researcher of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina. Professor at Grade and Postgrade Level. Secretary of Acoustics and Electroacoustics Comission of the Argentine Institute for Standards (IRAM).

Baker Y-B. Shi, M.D., Ph.D.
Baker Y-B. Shi, M.D., Ph.D., received his medical and doctoral degrees in China, was a Post-Doc Research Fellow at Temple University from 1992-94 and returned to become a Research Associate/Neurophysiologist there in 1997. He joined the faculty at the OHSU Department of Otolaryngology in 1998 and is an Assistant Professor. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. He specializes in tinnitus, voice disorders, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring and otoacoustic emissions, and is the Medical Director of the OHSU Tinnitus Clinic.

Sargunam Sivaraj, Ph.D. Candidate
Sargunam Sivaraj, Ph.D. Candidate. Presently enrolled as PhD candidate, the project title is Music and its effects on hearing with Massey University. For the past 4 Years, I have been working as the team leader for the audiological services of the CCDHB at the Wellington hospital. Before that I was serving as the head of audiological services with the government of United Arab Emirates. Conducted various research related to Neonatal Hearing screening and Noise Induced Hearing loss. Research work was presented at various international meetings. Considering that the prevention of hearing loss is integral part of the scope of audiology practice, have been actively involved and taken lead roles with the various national level preventive measures in New Zealand and United Arab Emirates (UAE). Was always involved in public and professional education on prevention of hearing loss.

Judith Sobel, Ph.D.
Judith Sobel, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the School of Community Health at Portland State University. She teaches in the field of media and health, and conducts research on noise-induced hearing loss prevention with the Oregon Hearing Research Center. She received her PhD at the University of Minnesota in Mass Communication Theory.

Carol Stephenson, Ph.D.
Carol Stephenson, Ph.D. is a Social Psychologist and Branch Chief for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). She earned her doctorate in applied social psychology and has interests in education and training effectiveness, health communication issues, social marketing, and program evaluation. Currently, she directs a portfolio of research investigating education and training interventions for many health and safety hazards in the workplace. Special emphasis areas include young workers, aging workers, and small businesses. Carol is also adjunct faculty at Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio) where she teaches undergraduate and graduate psychology courses. She also holds adjunct faculty status at Miami University (Oxford, OH) and has directed graduate student capstone projects through Central Michigan University. During leisure hours, she and her husband raise and train bernese mountain dogs.

Wendy Steuerwald M.S.
Wendy Steuerwald M.S. is the Clinical Manager of Audiology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has been practicing audiology for twenty years. Her interests include community education, student supervision, noise exposure in children and hearing aids.

Julee Sylvester
Julee Sylvester is director of public relations and marketing for the Sight & Hearing Association, a nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minn., dedicated to preventing vision and hearing loss through screening, education and research. She is a member of the National Hearing Conservation Association.

Anne Marie Tharpe, Ph.D.
Anne Marie Tharpe, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at Vanderbilt University/Bill Wilkerson Center.

Christa L. Themann, M.A., CCC-A
Christa L. Themann, M.A., CCC-A, Research Audiologist, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio. Her research includes epidemiologic studies (NHANES, AGES-Reykjavik, FELS Longitudinal Study, and NIOSH Farm Family Health and Hazard Survey) and she has also studied hearing protector attenuation and hearing conservation strategies for hearing-impaired workers.

Mona Thomas M.S.W.
Mona Thomas M.S.W. has served as director of media relations for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) since February 1992. She has conducted numerous workshops and teleseminars on using media relations for ASHA members as well as presentations at the American Society of Association Executives. Prior to ASHA, Thomas served as Director of Special Programs, and conducted public relations and legislative work for the Blinded Veterans Association for nine years. Thomas received her MSW from The Ohio State University and completed doctoral course work in sociology at the American University. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America.

Floyd Thurston, M.D.
Floyd Thurston, M.D. is a recently retired specialist in Occupational Medicine and former Adjunct Assistant Professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University whose interest in the possible risk to fetal hearing from external noise was stimulated by questions raised by several workers in noisy environments.

David Vermeullen & Students
David Vermeulen is a 15-year teacher of Civics in Montague Public Schools of Montague, Michigan. His student team earned a 1st place Superior Rating in the statewide Project Citizen competition, presenting their public policy suggestions to reduce teen hearing loss as related to personal music players. Their presentation title is: "Can You Hear Me Now?"

These seven middle school students come from Montague, Michigan.  They earned 1st place state honors in the "Project Citizen" competition, in which students present public policy issues to legislators.  Their concern is teen hearing loss as related to personal music players.  They are advocates for public service announcements and product warning labels as ways to empower consumers. Click photograph for larger version

Jacqueline Villnave M.Sc., M.P.H.
Jacqueline Villnave M.Sc., M.P.H. received her Master of Public Health degree in spring 2006 from the Oregon Master of Public Health program. She has a previous Master of Health Science degree from Johns Hopkins University. She has been working as a graduate research assistant with the Oregon Hearing Research Center.

Stephen E. Widen, Ph.D.
Stephen E. Widen, Ph.D. received his doctoral degree in Psychology at the University of Göteborg 2006. Title of the PhD-dissertation: “Noise and Music – a matter of risk perception”. Soly Erlandsson, Ph.D. is a senior researcher and lecturer in psychology. PhD thesis on tinnitus, psychological and psychophysiological aspects (1990). Tutor for Margareta Bohlin and Stephen Widen in their PhD studies in psychology. Interdisciplinary research on clinical management (therapy) for patients with tinnitus. Work with professor Alice Holmes, Univ. of Florida on cross-cultural studies on young adults attitudes and risks for NIHL.

John R. Wilkins, III
John R. Wilkins, III, BCE, DrPH is an environmental epidemiologist and environmental engineer who has been conducting research in the area of agricultural safety and health for more than 15 years, including studies of agriculture-related noise induced hearing loss.

Melisa K. Witherspoon
Melisa K. Witherspoon is a prospective June graduate of the MSOH program at the Medical University of Ohio. She also works full time as an environmental and occupational health consultant at Delta Environmental, Inc. in Perrysburg, Ohio and part time as a research technician at the Medical University of Ohio.