Presenter Bios

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 >

Shahrzad Cohen Au.D., FAAA, is the lead audiologist and founder of Hearing Loss Solutions, an audiology clinic that strongly focuses on patients with tinnitus. She is board-certified and a fellow...Shahrzad Cohen Au.D., FAAA, is the lead audiologist and founder of Hearing Loss Solutions, an audiology clinic that strongly focuses on patients with tinnitus. She is board-certified and a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and the Academy of Doctors of Audiology. Dr. Cohen is a member of the California Academy of Audiology and currently is serving on the advisory board of California Speech and Hearing Association, District 7,... Read More >

Shana Lucius is a speech language pathologist and certified auditory verbal therapist (LSLS Cert. AVT). She has specialized in hearing loss and cochlear implants her entire career. She graduated with...Shana Lucius is a speech language pathologist and certified auditory verbal therapist (LSLS Cert. AVT). She has specialized in hearing loss and cochlear implants her entire career. She graduated with her master’s in speech pathology from Ohio State University in 2008 then went on to train at the University of Michigan Cochlear Implant Program and Hearing Rehabilitation Center. From 2011 to 2022 she led the speech pathology team at the... Read More >

Shari shares her skills, along with her own personal experiences, throughout different aspects of the Heroes With Hearing Loss program. Her passion for working with veterans and their families comes...Shari shares her skills, along with her own personal experiences, throughout different aspects of the Heroes With Hearing Loss program. Her passion for working with veterans and their families comes quite naturally as she is the daughter, wife and daughter-in-law of Marine veterans. Having grown up with a great understanding of the very real challenges veterans and their families encounter, Shari is driven by a desire to find healthy solutions... Read More >

Shari Eberts is a nationally recognized hearing health advocate, author and speaker. She is the founder of LivingWithHearingLoss.com, a blog and online community for people living with hearing loss and...Shari Eberts is a nationally recognized hearing health advocate, author and speaker. She is the founder of LivingWithHearingLoss.com, a blog and online community for people living with hearing loss and tinnitus. Shari has an adult-onset genetic hearing loss and hopes that by sharing her story she will help others to live more peacefully with their own hearing issues. She serves on the Board of Directors of Hearing Loss Association of... Read More >

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