2024 Industry Roundtable

Susan Scollie
PhD

Dr. Scollie is a Professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and the Director of the National Centre for Audiology at Western University, in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Dr. Scollie’s research focuses on development of fitting and verification algorithms and procedures for high technology hearing aids, evaluation of outcomes, and knowledge translation of evidence to clinical practice, hearing aid prescription, and early hearing detection and intervention.

Brian Taylor
AuD

Brian Taylor is a Doctor of Audiology and Senior Director of Audiology for Signia. He is also the editor of Audiology Practices, a quarterly journal of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology, editor-at-large for Hearing Health and Technology Matters and adjunct instructor at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Taylor has authored several peer reviewed articles and textbooks and is a highly sought out lecturer. Brian has nearly 30 years of experience as both a clinician, business manager and university instructor.

Dana Helmink
AuD

Dana earned her Master of Arts in Audiology from Northern Illinois University and her Doctor of Audiology degree from Salus University. She worked in clinical audiology in Illinois, where she also served more than 10 years on the board of directors of the Illinois Academy of Audiology. With more than 15 years in global product management, Dana applies her experience in user-centered design and usability testing to develop innovative training programs. She loves creating educational experiences that make it easy for professionals to embrace new technology and provide patients with access to the best hearing care solutions. She is a proud Chicago native and currently resides in the northwest suburbs with her family.  In her spare time she attempts to train her Boston Terrier to do cute tricks.

Dave Fabry
PhD

Dave Fabry is Chief Hearing Health Officer at Starkey, where he has worked since 2009.  He has also held several other industry positions, as well as academic positions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, and the University of Miami Medical Center.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Auditory Society and is a Past President and Board Member for the American Academy of Audiology.  He is a licensed Audiologist in Minnesota, Florida and Rwanda.

Jessica Dancis
MA

Jessica Dancis is a Senior Marketing Manager at Sonova. She manages the Sennheiser Hearing portfolio, an innovative line up of early entry devices. Jessica is an experienced clinical audiologist. She has more than 16 years of experience in various roles at Sonova, including her previous role as National Key Account Manager. Jessica is passionate about audiology and a fervent proponent of HCPs. She enjoys making a difference in the life of people by giving them access to technology that allows them to hear the world. 

Jessica Lovell
VP, BA

Jessica Lovell, VP, Client Marketing for Synchrony Health and Wellness and Audiology lead. She leads marketing relationships with clients, partners, and associations to develop and implement marketing and communication strategies that align with patient, provider, business, and financial goals. Jessica has 15+ years of marketing experience at companies such as Synchrony, Citibank, and The PGA TOUR. Jessica obtained her BA in Marketing from Auburn University while lettering on Auburn’s golf team.

Steve DeMari
MS

Steve earned his MS in Audiology from Syracuse University and has been an Audiologist for over 35 years and has served in a variety of leadership roles. Most recently, he was Vice President of Sales and Account Management and Director of Audiology for United Healthcare Hearing. Previously, he was Director of Government Services and Business Development for Phonak, Starkey, and Sivantos as well as clinical audiologist and manager for a wide demographic of medical and private practice clinics in Los Angeles and Chicago.

Steve was instrumental in launching the state’s first Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program in Illinois.  Steve is a member of the American Academy of Audiology, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, IHS and Illinois Academy of Audiology. He stays highly involved in the industry through continuing education seminars, conferences and social networks and professional blogs.

Natasha McDougald

Graduating in Management Information Systems, Natasha McDougald began her career as a system analyst working with tech companies in the Silicon Valley. Personal circumstances became a catalyst for career change; transitioning from desktop based computers to tiny embedded biomedical computers known as cochlear implants. Natasha has worked at Cochlear Americas for over 11 years partnering with clinicians and surgeons at the University of Miami, UCSF, Stanford, UC Davis and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital of Oakland to bring cochlear and bone conduction implants to pediatric and adult patients. Currently the Director, Product Marketing for Cochlear Americas, Natasha is professionally and personally invested in the implantable hearing industry and strives to forward the cause of those affected by hearing loss. She has presented numerous talks and courses on hearing loss, multiple disabilities, advocating skills and cochlear implantation to audiences in the medical-technology, educational, special needs and family support sectors.

Laurel Christensen
PhD

Dr. Christensen leads Global Audiology for GN Hearing, based in Ballerup, Denmark. Global Audiology is responsible for GN Hearing's activities related to product development and launch, including trials, regulatory activities, audiology support to product marketing, and training and education subsidiaries worldwide. Dr. Christensen holds adjunct faculty appointments at Northwestern and Rush Universities in Chicago. She served as an Associate Editor for both Trends in Amplification and the Journal of Speech and Hearing Research. She has presented well over 250 talks worldwide, mainly on hearing aid signal processing, and has many publications, including book chapters on hearing aid technology.