Presenter Bios

René H. Gifford, Ph.D., is the director of the Cochlear Implant Program at the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center in the Division of Audiology as well as the director of the...René H. Gifford, Ph.D., is the director of the Cochlear Implant Program at the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center in the Division of Audiology as well as the director of the Cochlear Implant Research Laboratory. Dr. Gifford’s National Institutes of Health-funded research investigates basic auditory function and spatial hearing abilities for individuals using combined electric and acoustic stimulation (EAS), hearing preservation with cochlear implantation and speech perception for adults and children... Read More >

Richard Einhorn is a music producer and engineer, a composer, and a hearing technology consultant. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Columbia University in music. Einhorn has produced...Richard Einhorn is a music producer and engineer, a composer, and a hearing technology consultant. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Columbia University in music. Einhorn has produced and engineered hundreds of recording sessions and over 30 albums of classical music. He was awarded a Grammy for Best Instrumental producing Yo Yo Ma’s Bach Cello Suites. He has also produced Voices of Light, a silent film that became... Read More >

RJ graduated from Indiana University with a degree in telecommunications, and worked in the advertising industry in Chicago for 10 years. After learning about the difficulties people have in senior...RJ graduated from Indiana University with a degree in telecommunications, and worked in the advertising industry in Chicago for 10 years. After learning about the difficulties people have in senior living communities with accessing hearing aid batteries through visits to his grandmother, he co-founded hearOclub with Bob and Ben.     Read More >

Rob Jackler, M.D. was raised in Waterville, Maine, attended college and medical school in Boston, and moved west to the University of California, San Francisco for residency in Otolaryngology-Head &...Rob Jackler, M.D. was raised in Waterville, Maine, attended college and medical school in Boston, and moved west to the University of California, San Francisco for residency in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. After taking a Neurotology fellowship at the House Ear Clinic (1985), Dr. Jackler joined the faculty at UCSF where he remained until 2003 when he became the Sewall Professor and Chair of the Department at OHNS and professor... Read More >

Ronnie Adler has been an HLAA member since 1988 and was involved with three HLAA Chapters in New York and Connecticut. She joined the staff of HLAA in 2006 working...Ronnie Adler has been an HLAA member since 1988 and was involved with three HLAA Chapters in New York and Connecticut. She joined the staff of HLAA in 2006 working to develop the new Walk4Hearing program. Ronnie is a leader of the HLAA All Generations Chapter in Pennsylvania. In 2007, was recognized with a national Oticon Focus on people award for her advocacy to create awareness about hearing loss in... Read More >

Roxana Rotundo is the CEO of VIP 2000 TV, a films and content distribution company whose catalog includes more than 300 films and 3000 hours of series. Roxana is the...Roxana Rotundo is the CEO of VIP 2000 TV, a films and content distribution company whose catalog includes more than 300 films and 3000 hours of series. Roxana is the Board Chair for the Worldwide Audiovisual Women’s Association, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting women in the audiovisual industry. Roxana is the recipient of two cochlear implants. She serves on the Board of Directors of Hearing Loss Association of America and... Read More >

Samuel Trychin, Ph.D. has served as the HLAA mental health/rehabilitation advisor for more than twenty years. He has worked with hundreds of people who have hearing loss and with their communication...Samuel Trychin, Ph.D. has served as the HLAA mental health/rehabilitation advisor for more than twenty years. He has worked with hundreds of people who have hearing loss and with their communication partners, has written numerous books, chapters, and articles on coping with hearing loss. Sam has a hearing loss resulting from military service. Dr. Trychin also has a private practice in which conducts on-line and self-study classes for people who have... Read More >

Dr. Sara Burdak joined Starkey Hearing Technologies as an audiologist on the Hearing Research and Technology team in 1999. Over the last 20 years, she has worked to bring impactful...Dr. Sara Burdak joined Starkey Hearing Technologies as an audiologist on the Hearing Research and Technology team in 1999. Over the last 20 years, she has worked to bring impactful programs to their global customer base. In her current role as chief audiology officer, she is responsible for developing and aligning Starkey’s global audiology strategy as it relates to world-wide education and training programs, clinical research, the U.S. Department of... Read More >

Scott Michael Robertson, Ph.D., is an autistic adult and a senior policy advisor in the Office of Disability Employment Policy in the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). He spearheads ODEP’s...Scott Michael Robertson, Ph.D., is an autistic adult and a senior policy advisor in the Office of Disability Employment Policy in the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). He spearheads ODEP’s $3.8 million Partnership on Inclusive Apprenticeship (PIA) in his role as the federal project manager. Dr. Robertson also advances work to propel support for neurodiversity in workplaces and improve access to gainful employment and career paths for job seekers on... Read More >

For 20 years, Scott Smith has worked as an EMS for Rincon Valley Fire District in Arizona, as an EMT instructor for Coconino County Community College, and as a Captain and Paramedic...For 20 years, Scott Smith has worked as an EMS for Rincon Valley Fire District in Arizona, as an EMT instructor for Coconino County Community College, and as a Captain and Paramedic in Flagstaff, Arizona. Scott also has a degree as an electronics engineer, developing software for court reporting and captioning industries. Scott, working with his wife, Deanna Baker, provides assistance to the many CART reporters at the annual Convention of the... Read More >