Amlyn Amlani, PhD
Featured Speaker
Session: Audiology Reform: A Brave New World
Amyn M. Amlani, PhD, is President of Otolithic, LLC, an independent consulting firm that provides market analysis, financial services, professional development, and technology assessments in the hearing care space. Dr. Amlani has been in hearing care for 30 years, with extensive professional experience in the independent and medical audiology practice channels, as an academic and scholar, and in industry. Dr. Amlani also serves as section editor of Economics for Hearing Health Technology Matters, and as President-Elect of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology.
Disclosures: Financial and Non-Financial Disclosures- Dr. Amlani is President of Otolithic, LLC, an independent consulting firm that provides market analysis, financial services, professional development, and technology assessments in the hearing care space. He also serves as section editor of Economics for Hearing Health Technology Matters and as President-Elect of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology.
Tony Solari, PhD - NCAA Lobbyist
Session: Legislative Update
Anthony Solari received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Rutgers University and his master’s and Ph.D. in political science from Duke University with focuses in American Government and Politics, Political Economy and Legislative Politics. From 1998 to 2007 he was the policy analyst and lobbyist for North Carolina’s Smart Start Program. While there he helped produce the first Economic Impact Analysis of the Child Care Industry in North Carolina and consulted extensively with other states in their effort to replicate the Smart Start initiative. From 2009 to 2016 he was the Director of Government Relations at the Department of State Treasurer, serving under Treasurer Janet Cowell. Today, he is the president of Solari Government Solutions and is very proud and happy to be representing the North Carolina Audiology Association at the General Assembly!
Disclosures:
Financial - Mr. Solari is a paid lobbyist representing the North Carolina Audiology Association.
Non-financial - Mr. Solari has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.
Debra Conrad - Lobbyist
Session: Legislative Update
Debra Conrad received her BS degree in Medical Technology from Wake Forest University. She served as Forsyth County Commissioner from 1994-2012 and was a member of the NC State House for four terms from 2013-2020. She is a former trustee of Novant Health, former president of Forsyth County Republican Women, as well as former president of Conrad Marketing Specialists. She has also served as board member of W-S Chamber of Commerce, Piedmont Triad Partnership, Winston-Salem Business INC, Forsyth Tourism Development Authority, Piedmont Triad Film Commission, Bethabara Park, Forsyth County Library System, and numerous NCACC and NACo state and national committees. She currently holds the position of president of Conrad CapioLink LLC and State Lobbyist 2021.
Disclosures:
Financial - Ms. Conrad is a paid lobbyist representing the North Carolina Audiology Association.
Non-financial - Ms. Conrad has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.
Hillary Steel, AuD
Session: Leadership in Audiology
Session: Profitability Beyond Price
Dr. Steele is active in professional service and served on the Board of Trustees to the American Academy of Audiology Foundation (AAAF), has been a subject matter expert for the International Hearing Society and Audiology Practice Standards Organization and served as Chair of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) Membership Engagement/Leadership Development Council.
Hilary Steele, AuD is the Director of Quality and Safety for the Division of Audiology and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology. She is a clinical and research audiologist with over 25-years of experience educating and training hearing healthcare professionals.
Dr. Steele received a Master of Arts in Audiology and Hearing Science from Northwestern University, and Doctor of Audiology from the University of Florida. Prior to becoming a prominent consultant for the hearing industry, Dr. Steele was an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences at Rush University in Chicago and recently, she held the position of Director of Professional Development for Miracle Ear, Flagship (Amplifon Americas).
Disclosures:
Financial - Dr. Steele is a full-time employee of University of Miami. She has no other financial disclosures.
Non-financial - Dr. Steele has no non-financial disclosures.
Gordon Fletcher, AuD
Session: The History of Audiology in North Carolina
Dr. Fletcher received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Audiology degrees from the University of South Carolina. He completed a post graduate residency at Duke University Medical Center and received his Doctorate in Audiology from the University of Florida. He has practiced in North Carolina since 1978 in ENT, hospital, and private practice settings. He is currently senior audiologist at Viewmont Audiology, his private practice in Hickory, NC.
Dr Fletcher has served on the board of directors of the North Carolina Speech Hearing and Language Association and is a past president of the Audiological Resource Association. He has also served on executive council boards of the American Academy
of Audiology-North Carolina Chapter, and the advisory board of the Audiology Foundation of America as well as other professional and hearing industry organizations. In 1988 he represented the Audiological Resource Association at the Conference on Professional Education for Audiology, which called for Audiology training to move to a doctoral level. He has presented at state and national conferences on various topics but has a special interest in best practices, clinical protocols and professionalism in Audiology.
Disclosures: Dr. Fletcher has no financial relationships to disclose.
Johnnie Sexton, AuD
Session: The History of Audiology in North Carolina
Johnnie Sexton, Au.D., has worked with children who are deaf and hard of hearing and their families for 48 years. He received his B.S. (1977) and M.S. (1979) degrees from East Carolina University and his Au.D. Degree (2010) from A. T. Still University/Arizona Health Sciences. Dr. Sexton owns a private practice in Educational Audiology Services in NC, providing services to over half of NC school systems with a staff of 15 Audiologists. He served as the Audiologist on the NC Department of Health and Human Services Team that designed the newborn hearing screening program for the 93 NC birthing hospitals in 1999-2001 and currently serves as the Chair of the NC Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Advisory Board.
Dr. Sexton is the Founder and Executive Director of The CARE Project, a nonprofit organization devoted to providing emotional support for families with children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, The CARE Project has partnered with state newborn hearing programs in the country and is recognized as the official Family Based Organization for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services EHDI Program and one of the top family support organizations in the U.S.
In 2018, Dr. Sexton was named the #1 Audiology Practitioner in the United States by the Oticon Focus on People Awards. Dr. Sexton was awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine by the Governor of North Carolina in May 2024 for his decades of service to children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing and their families as well as his system development in Educational Audiology, Newborn Hearing Screening and Family Support.
Disclosures: Dr. Sexton has no financial relationships to disclose.
Terry Delagrange
Session: The History of Audiology in North Carolina
Terry Delagrange, AuD, has worked as a clinical audiologist for 54 years in a variety of settings: university setting, public schools, U.S. Army, Greensboro ENT, The Ear Center of Greensboro and High Point ENT. He received his B.S Ed. in Audiology/Speech Pathology and M.A. of Audiology at the University of Akron. He was a Ph.D. Candidate (ABD) Kent at State University and received his Au.D. from the University of Florida. He served as an adjunct Professor at UNG-G and Arizona School of Health Sciences, and served 12 years as an audiologist for the NC Board of Examiners. He has received “Honors of the Association” from the NC Academy of Audiology, “Audiologist of the Year” from the Audiological Resource Association and “Student Audiologist of the Year” from the University of Akron. He has published work in the “Audiology Forum” magazine, NCSHLA “Communique“ and “Audiology Today” on a variety of audiology topics including auditory processing, noise induced hearing loss, eye color as related to noise induced hearing loss and audiology as a career. Dr. Delagrange has also presented to over 150 groups/meetings on a variety of audiology topics.
Disclosures: Dr. Delagrange has no financial relationships to disclose.
Djenne-amal Morris
Session: Beyond the Booth: Child and Family Life Throughout the Lifespan
Djenne-Amal Morris is a passionate advocate, trainer, and motivational speaker renowned for her ability to infuse humor and real-life experiences into her work. As a dedicated mother of a son with CHARGE Syndrome, Djenne’s journey fuels her commitment to creating a world of support and empowerment for families, children, and professionals in the disability community. Professionally, Djenne serves as the Family Faculty/Multicultural Advisor for the NC-LEND program at UNC-Chapel Hill. She brings a wealth of expertise to her role, with a BA in Psychology from Clark University and certifications in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University and Trauma-Informed Care. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Deaf Education, Djenne continuously expands her knowledge and skills to serve her community better. Beyond her institutional work, Djenne is the co-author of "The Art of Collaboration: Lessons from Families of Children with Disabilities" and owns a successful consulting business. She empowers individuals and organizations to embrace diversity and foster inclusive environments through workshops, training sessions, and coaching. Djenne and her husband, Michael, share a fulfilling family life with three accomplished children: Imani Sojourner (29), Malik-Asante (28), and Zakiya-Mali (23). Together, they enjoy travel, serving others through their consulting business, and savoring quiet moments as empty nesters. To learn more about Djenne’s impactful work and inspiring journey, visit her website at www.todaywithdjenne.com.
Today with Djenne has been in business since 2012. We have the resources and expertise to design and develop the training services that deliver results for every member of your staff. Our in-house team comprises highly educated, diverse disability-related specialists with the training and expertise to deliver results. Djenne-Amal, a published author (The Art of Collaboration), Family Faculty at NC LEND at UNC Chapel Hill, and an international presenter for over 30 years, is a recognized leader in her field. Her dynamic presentations and training, rooted in personal experience as a parent of a son who is deaf-blind with CHARGE Syndrome, have earned her numerous accolades. In 2019, Djenne was honored with the distinguished “Parent Leader of the Year award” from the national EHDI program, a testament to her dedication and expertise.
Disclosures: Today with Djenne, LLC is committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in all our interactions and engagements. In keeping with this commitment, we would like to disclose that Djenne and the team do not have any financial relationships that could be perceived as potential conflicts of interest about our services. We are driven by a shared passion for supporting individuals with disabilities and their families. Our motivation and dedication are rooted in our professional expertise and personal experiences, and we are not influenced by any financial incentives from external organizations or stakeholders. We are dedicated to fostering collaborative partnerships and prioritizing the best outcomes for those we serve. Our focus remains on delivering high-quality training and support driven by evidence-based practices and a genuine commitment to making a positive impact. Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information regarding our non-financial disclosure.
Caitlin Sapp, AuD, PhD
Session: Audibility-Based Counseling Up and Down the Audiogram
Caitlin Sapp is the head of Pediatric Audiology at UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, NC and the director of the Early Hearing Loss Lab. She completed her Au.D. training and her Ph.D. at the University of Iowa. She has extensive experience in infant hearing assessment and case management and has collaborated with state EHDI departments on quality improvement efforts related to audiology services. Her research interests include examining the factors that improve language and social outcomes for children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, in particular malleable clinician factors like parent counseling.
Disclosures:
Financial - Dr. Sapp is a paid employee of UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine, paid consultant for Akouos, receives research support from the NIH/NIDCD, and is a member of CI PATH
Non-financial - Dr. Sapp has no non-financial disclosures.
Richard Roberts, PhD
Session: Dizziness Symptom Profile and Vestibular Migraine
Richard A. Roberts is Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Clinical Operations for the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Other leadership roles include Director of the Division of Audiology and Co-Director of the Division of Vestibular Sciences. His primary research interests include assessment and management of vestibular dysfunction. Dr. Roberts has served on the Board of Directors of the Alabama Academy of Audiology, the American Academy of Audiology, and as a Trustee of the American Academy of Audiology Foundation. In 2021, he was recognized by the American Academy of Audiology with the Clinical Excellence in Audiology award. In 2022, he was honored as Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Disclosures:
Financial - Dr. Roberts is employed by Vanderbilt University Medical Center/Vanderbilt University.
Non-financial - Dr. Roberts has no non-financial disclosures.
Patricia Johnson, AuD
Session: Let's Talk About Wax, Baby!
Dr. Patricia Johnson is an associate professor and clinical audiologist in the UNC School of Medicine. She teaches several courses in the UNC graduate program and provides adult hearing and tinnitus services around the Triangle. Dr. Johnson specializes in hearing technology, aging, and community outreach. She serves as a Member At Large on the NCAA executive board and is acting webmaster.
Disclosures:
Financial - Dr. Johnson is a faculty member in the UNC school of Medicine.
Session: Holistic Audiology: Helping Patients Harness the Power of Breathing to Change their Perceptions
Lisa Fox-Thomas, Ph.D. is a PT Professor of audiology at the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG). She servers at the Assistant Director, Director of Audiology Services, and clinical audiologist at the UNCG Speech and Hearing Center. She also is a clinical preceptor for doctor of audiology students. Dr. Fox-Thomas specializes in auditory processing, tinnitus, and sound sensitivity disorders (hyperacusis and misophonia). She is a Certified Health Coach (CHC) and Certified HeartMath Interventions Practitioner.
Disclosures:
Financial - Dr. Fox-Thomas has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.
Non-financial - Dr. Fox-Thomas receives a salary from UNC Greensboro
Lindsey Joregensen, AuD, PhD
Session: Sound Decisions: A New Perspective on Audiology Ethics
Lindsey E. Jorgensen is a Professor and serves as Department Chair and Clinic Director in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at the University of South Dakota; she also holds a position as a Research Audiologist for the Department of Veterans Affairs. At the University of South Dakota Lindsey teaches, conducts research, and provides clinical services in the area of hearing aids and hearing assistive technology. Her research focuses on how to best personalize hearing technologies for patients’ individual cognitive, psychological, physical, and social needs.
Disclosures:
Financial - Dr. Jergensen has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.
Non-financial - Lindsey Jorgensen holds various relationships with hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturers of verification systems for the purposes of research
Dakota Sharp, AuD
Session: Pediatric Grand Rounds
Electric Acoustic Stimulation in a Pediatric Patient
Dakota M. Sharp, Au.D., CCC-A is a clinical assistant professor in the Dept. of Otolaryngology at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill and pediatric cochlear implant audiologist at The Children’s Cochlear Implant Center at UNC. Outside of mentoring audiology students and serving pediatric patients, Dakota also hosts On The Ear: An Audiology Podcast.
Disclosures: Dr. Sharp has no financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Anna Wichlinksi, AuD
Session: Pediatric Grand Rounds
The Importance of Cross-Check Principles and Electrophysiology in Pediatric Audiology: A Case Study
Dr. Wichlinski is an audiologist at Duke University Health where she works solely with the pediatric population at the Duke Children's Health Center. Her services include diagnostics, electrophysiology, hearing aids, and cochlear implants. Dr. Wichlinski earned both her bachelor's and Doctorate of Audiology from Purdue University in her home state of Indiana.
Disclosures: Dr. Wichlinksi has no financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Elizabeth Rooney, AuD
Session: Adult Grand Rounds
Cognitive Screening in Hearing Aid Care: Patient Case
Dr. Rooney is an audiologist practicing at Duke University Medical Center since 2017. She earned her Doctorate in Audiology from Northeastern University and is a proud Bostonian. Dr. Rooney's practice focuses mostly on adult vestibular and hearing evaluations and hearing aid care. She currently serves on the NC Audiology Association leadership as Past President.
Disclosures: Dr. Rooney has no financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Caitlyn Whitson, AuD
Session: Adult Grand Rounds
(Mostly) Hidden Hearing Loss in a Patient with Significant TBI History
Caitlyn Whitson joined the UNC Hearing and Communication Center in 2019 and currently serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor and Clinic Manager. A double graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics in 2013 and her Doctorate in Audiology in 2019. Her clinical duties include graduate student precepting, diagnostic hearing evaluations, adult hearing aid fittings, and facilitation of the aural rehabilitation program.
Disclosures:
Financial - Dr. Whitson is a faculty member in the UNC school of Medicine.
