Starkey Blog

Authors

Vincent Santana

Vincent Santana is Sales & Customer Relations Manager for Starkey Australia. Vincent graduated from the University of Florida, Department of Communications Disorders in 1996. After completion of his University Degree, he worked for The Florida Easter Seals Society in his home town of Key West, Florida for 2 years. His passion for amplification led him to the hearing aid manufacturing side of the industry which he entered in 1998. Vincent’s introduction to the manufacturing industry began with Siemens Hearing Instruments where he participated in a management training program. Shortly after, Vincent moved to Australia and sought employment with Starkey Australia in 1999. During his time at Starkey, Vincent has filled many roles. First employed as a Customer Service Support Audiologist then as an Outside Sales Representative and now fulfilling his current role as managing the Sales and Customer Relations teams.

Jane Tabor

Jane Tabor is Regional Sales Manager Starkey Australia. Jane has spent five years working as a Paediatric and Educational Audiologist for the State of Washington providing diagnostic, treatment and counselling services to children and adults. She currently serves as a member on the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) as the Chief Audiologist for the Deaflympics.

Harvey Abrams

Harvey Abrams, Ph.D., is a leader in the audiology community. He is a Principal Research Scientist and formerly served as the Director of Audiology Research for Starkey Hearing Technologies until 2014. He has written many papers and book chapters on evidence-based practice, outcome measures, treatment efficacy, and patient quality of life, and has played a prominent role in organizations such as the American Academy of Audiology and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Abrams obtained his bachelor’s degree at George Washington University and both his master’s and doctorate degrees at the University of Florida. Most recently, Abrams was Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development at the VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines, Florida. Earlier positions include Director of Research at the Audiology and Speech Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and Chief of Audiology and Speech Pathology at the VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines. He has held academic appointments at the University of South Florida, the University of Maryland, Salus University and the University of Florida.

Sarah Bricker

Sarah Bricker joined the Starkey Hearing Technologies marketing and communications team as a Communications Specialist in March 2015. She is primarily responsible for all corporate social media, the Starkey blog, Innovations magazine, and other public relations and communication efforts. She has had hearing loss since she was 13 and wears Halo Made for iPhone hearing aids. Prior to Starkey Hearing Technologies, Bricker handled digital content marketing, social media and online advertising needs for B2B and B2C clients in St. Louis, and worked as a freelance reporter for the St. Louis Business Journal and the St. Louis Rams. She graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and received awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Missouri Press Association, Society of Professional Journalists and the Hermes Creative Awards.

Bruce Brown

Bruce brings 30 years’ experience in the electronics industry, most recently in the hearing aid sector. Bruce’s background includes a BSc in Applied Physics and a Master’s Degree in Information Systems. The first half of his career was devoted to engineering and product management roles within integrated circuit manufacturers in the UK and The Netherlands. Bruce also spent a year in California’s Silicon Valley, learning the latest manufacturing techniques. In 2000, Bruce moved into the hearing aid industry, joining a major European manufacturer of hearing aids. Initially working on the development and introduction of new hearing aid fitting software, his role quickly expanded into technical support for hearing aid fitting, audiological equipment and practice management software. He later became the manufacturer’s Key Account Manager for a major UK optical chain at the time of their entry into the private hearing aid market. Bruce also qualified as the UK equivalent of an audiometrist, and ran his own business before joining Starkey in 2014.

Sara Burdak

Sara Burdak, Au.D., joined Starkey Hearing Technologies as an audiologist on the Hearing Research and Technology team in May 1999. She is currently the Chief Audiology Officer and has presented at seminars worldwide on digital technology, advanced fitting strategies and product tutorials. Her clinical experience includes hearing aid dispensing, diagnostic testing and counseling. Burdak earned her B.A. in audiology and speech sciences from Michigan State University and a master's degree in audiology from Wayne State University. She recently received her Au.D. from the Arizona School of Health Sciences.

David Clayton

Designer of custom hearing products and hearing aids at Starkey Australia.

Jim Curran

James Curran, M.S., was one of the first dispensing audiologists in the industry. He opened his office in 1967 and then in 1970, joined a hearing aid manufacturer. Over the years he has authored many articles and textbook chapters, and has had extensive experience speaking and writing on industry topics. A member of many industry organizations and professional societies, Curran was elected to the board of the American Academy of Audiology and to the Executive Committee of the American Auditory Society. He also represented the industry in developing the initial FDA research protocols for establishing the efficacy of amplification. Today, Curran works in our Audiology Research department as a Hearing Aid Consultant.

Amanda Edwards

Amanda Edwards, Au.D., joined Starkey Hearing Technologies in July 2015 as an Education and Training Audiologist within the network department. Edwards is responsible for developing and presenting training materials to staff and fellow hearing professionals. Prior to joining Starkey Hearing Technologies, Edwards had a wide breadth of clinical, practical and academic experience in the fields of vestibular studies, diagnostic audiology, research and academic professorship. She earned her B.A. in speech and hearing disorders from Louisiana Tech University, an M.S. in audiology from Lamar University and an Au.D. from Arizona School of Health Sciences.

Amanda Edwards

Amanda Edwards, Au.D., joined Starkey Hearing Technologies in July 2015 as an Education and Training Audiologist within the network department. Edwards is responsible for developing and presenting training materials to staff and fellow hearing professionals. Prior to joining Starkey Hearing Technologies, Edwards had a wide breadth of clinical, practical and academic experience in the fields of vestibular studies, diagnostic audiology, research and academic professorship. She earned her B.A. in speech and hearing disorders from Louisiana Tech University, an M.S. in audiology from Lamar University and an Au.D. from Arizona School of Health Sciences.

Jason Galster

Jason Galster, Ph.D., is the Senior Manager of Audiology Research for Starkey Hearing Technologies. He investigates clinical outcomes of modern hearing aid features while ensuring that product claims are accurate and backed by supporting evidence. Galster has held a clinical position as a pediatric audiologist and worked as a research audiologist on topics that include digital signal processing, physical room acoustics, and amplification in pediatric populations with hearing loss.

Beth McCormick

Beth McCormick, Au.D., joined the Starkey Hearing Technologies team as an outside sales executive in June 2006. Her clinical experience includes diagnostic testing and counseling, fitting hearing aids, and tinnitus management. She received her bachelor’s degree from Ohio University, her master’s in audiology from Michigan State University, and her Au.D. at Salus University.

Carolyn Pinkerton

Carolyn Pinkerton, Au.D., joined Starkey Hearing Technologies in 2012 in education and training. She is a graduate of Northeastern University’s Doctorate of Audiology Program and completed residencies at several Ear, Nose and Throat offices in Massachusetts as well as the VA Hospital in Boston. Pinkerton's clinical experience includes newborns to geriatric not only in comprehensive audiological examinations and fitting of appropriate hearing technology, but also in vestibular, central auditory processing and advanced evoked potential diagnostics. Pinkerton now manages university and government services training.

Lindsay Prusick

Lindsay Prusick, Au.D., was part of the education and audiology team at Starkey Hearing Technologies as an Educational and Training Audiologist until early 2015. Formerly, Prusick worked as a Research Associate for the Speech Perception Laboratory at the University of Iowa and as a PRN Audiologist in the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Iowa’s Hospitals and Clinics. She earned her B.A. from the University of Iowa and her Au.D. from Purdue University. Prusick is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology.

Dennis Van Vliet

Dennis Van Vliet, Au.D., is the Senior Director of Professional Relations for Starkey Hearing Technologies Education and Audiology team. He has worked as an audiologist in medical, educational and private practice settings. Professional activities have included formation of the Independent Hearing Aid Fitting Forum, a volunteer study group that developed a comprehensive hearing aid fitting protocol for nonlinear hearing aids. He has been invited as a speaker in the U.S., Canada and Germany to present information on a variety of hearing aid technology topics and other professional issues. Van Vliet earned a B.S. from the University of California, Irvine, his master's in audiology from California State University and an Au.D. from Central Michigan University.

Archive