McLean, VA -- With membership surpassing 7,000 and Convention 2000 proving to be the most successful show to date, the American Academy of Audiology is thriving. With these and other achievements in mind, President Robert G. Glaser, Ph.D., announced plans to take the Academy into the next phase of growth as an Association. ''We've outgrown the label of ''young'' association by accomplishing some very respectable goals in membership and with the convention,'' said Glaser. ''We've firmly established ourselves as a full fledged association, and the members feel it's time to take The Academy to the next level.''
Since The Academy was formed in 1988, membership numbers, convention attendance, and the scope of services provided by the association have steadily increased. In just twelve years, The Academy has grown from a handful of audiologists who felt that the profession deserved its own association to an active organization comprised of over 6,000 audiologists and more than 1,000 student members. In essence, The Academy has met and exceeded all of its goals as a young, newly formed association. This next phase of growth calls for The Academy to realize its full potential.
''It's all part of the natural progression,'' explains Glaser. ''The Academy was formed under the watchful eye of management consultants. Former Executive Director Carol Fraser Fisk helped us break away and establish our own independent organization. And now, we're ready for new leadership - a catalyst - to take The Academy to next level.''
As a result, The Board of Directors has established a Search Committee to identify the professional who shares our ideals and is prepared to lead The Academy in this next phase of development. Carol Fraser Fisk, the Academy's Executive Director since 1998, left this month to pursue other interests. Cheryl Kreider Carey, Academy Director of Conventions, will serve as the Acting Executive Director until the new Executive Director is hired. Carey has ten years of association and management experience and an excellent command of The Academy's goals and accomplishments.
Search Committee members include Glaser, Academy President; David A. Fabry, Ph.D., President-elect; Academy Board Members Alison Grimes, M.A., Angela Loavenbruck, Ed.D., and Brad Stach, Ph.D; and Acting Executive Director, Carey. The Search Committee will interview candidates over the summer and plans to make their final selection by Fall 2000.
The American Academy of Audiology, the world's largest professional organization of audiologists, is dedicated to providing quality hearing care services through professional development, education, research and increased public awareness of hearing disorders. To learn more about the audiology profession and how audiologists are helping the 28 million Americans who suffer from hearing loss, please visit the Academy's web site at www.audiology.org
