AUDIOLOGISTS WIN MAULDIN AWARDS
CHICAGO-Beltone Electronics awarded the Larry Mauldin Award for Excellence in Education to Dr. Joseph Smaldino and Dr. Juliëtte Sterkens at AudiologyNOW! 2111, held here April 6-9. Mauldin Award honorees are nominated and selected by their industry peers.
“Beltone is proud to present this award to Dr. Sterkens and Dr. Smaldino,” said Todd Murray, president of Beltone North America. “Their extraordinary contributions to the field of audiology and the hearing care industry are profound.”
Smaldino has spent most of his career working in higher education, teaching future audiologists. His recent research and writings have focused on classroom acoustics and the impact of acoustics on listening and learning.
Born and raised in the Netherlands, Sterkens is co-owner of the Fox Valley Hearing Center, with offices in three towns in Wisconsin. She serves on the Hearing Loss Association of America-American Academy of Audiology “Get in the Hearing Loop” Joint National Task Force. For almost 30 years, her passion has been helping persons with hearing loss. Her efforts have resulted in more than 50 large hearing loop installations throughout Wisconsin, a number expected to double in 2011.
FIVE WIN PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR HONORS
MADISON, WI–Dr. Indira Alvarez of Tampa was named the 2010 National Hearing Professional of the Year by Rayovac on April 7. The well-respected audiologist was one of five American hearing professionals honored for “unparalleled commitment to their patients and hearing health.”
Also honored in the battery manufacturer’s first National Hearing Professional of the Year program were four other regional winners: Earl Gentile, Fairview Park, OH; Dr. Gail Brenner, Bala Cynwyd, PA; C. Scot Frink, Salem, OR; and Jeff Grama, Hollywood, CA.
The competition recognizes practitioners for exceptional service and commitment to their profession. The patient-nominated award, which drew thousands of entries, spotlights the difference that hearing professionals make in the lives of their patients. The competition encourages patients to share their experiences and tell how their hearing professional goes above and beyond the call of duty. The award is judged by an independent panel of industry experts.
Rayovac donated $500 in each regional winner’s name to the charity of his or her choice. As the national winner, an additional $1000 will be donated in Dr. Alvarez’s name. The benefiting charities include Hugs for Kids, West Lake Village, the American Tinnitus Association, Healing the Children, and the Hearing Loss Association of Los Angeles.
Entries for next year’s honorees can be submitted at <www.hearingprofessionaloftheyear.com> now through September 30, 2011.
