Exemplary Audiologists Recognized at AuDacity 2023

ADA President, Dr. Dawn Heiman, presented Sarah Curtis, Au.D., with the Leo Doerfler Award to commemorate the outstanding clinical services that she has provided in her community throughout her career.

“Dr. Curtis is a most deserving recipient who exemplifies outstanding clinical services and the very best in patient care,” said Dr. Heiman. “Over the course of her career, she has consistently demonstrated outstanding efforts to meet patients where they are, and to deliver the highest standard of clinical care for every patient, even when they cannot afford to pay for care.”

Dr. Heiman presented Erica Person, Au.D., the Joel Wernick Award, which recognizes an outstanding educational contribution within the profession of audiology or the field of hearing science.

“Dr. Person is widely recognized for her expertise in the areas of unbundling,” noted Dr. Heiman. She is a generous teacher who is always willing to share her knowledge with colleagues in formal and informal venues. AUDIOLOGY PRACTICES n VOL. 15, NO. 2 47 Dr. Person is humble and always willing to lean into new opportunities to educate and inform. Audiology is lucky to have such an excellent educational leader!”

Dr. Heiman presented Sam Vaught, Au.D. with the Craig W. Johnson Audiology Advocate Award, which was established to honor the memory and accomplishments of Craig W. Johnson and to recognize an individual who has made significant contributions to the profession of audiology through federal and/or state advocacy.

“Dr. Vaught is a tireless advocate for the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act, and has worked diligently to advance the legislation over many Congresses, said Dr. Heiman. “He goes out of his way to engage other audiologists and patients in advocacy efforts and, as a member of the ADA Advocacy Steering Committee, he is always willing to volunteer to do whatever it takes to accomplish ADA’s advocacy goals.”

Dr. Heiman presented D’Anne Rudden, Au.D. with the President’s Award to recognize her longstanding accomplishments and dedication to ADA and its mission.

“Dr. Rudden has contributed so much to ADA and to the profession of audiology,” stated Dr. Heiman. “She is a global philanthropist who seeks out opportunities to help people hear around the world and in her own community. She has dedicated her time and talent to advance ADA’s advocacy efforts nationally and in Colorado. Dr. Rudden also seeks out opportunities to help disseminate important information to the audiology community through her Hearing Journal podcast.”