Audiology

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Faculty and Staff

The Audiology Department has a strong and cohesive group of full-time faculty with areas of expertise covering a wide variety of the topics within the scope of practice of audiology. The faculty have a long history of developing and refining the Au.D. curriculum at ATSU and supporting students throughout their academic and clinical experiences.

The department is committed to the interdisciplinary model and recognizes its significance in maintaining the quality of graduate education for healthcare professionals. Although the majority of the program’s course offerings are discipline-specific and will be taught by the department’s full-time faculty, students also will receive substantial instruction from experts and qualified practitioners in affiliated disciplines. The department’s adjunct faculty and ATSU core faculty include educators and professionals with advanced degrees and expertise across a range of affiliated disciplines, including human anatomy, speech-language pathology, manual communication, medical imaging, statistics and experimental design, pharmacology, and business administration.

Audiology Departmental Faculty

Tabitha Parent Buck, Au.D.
Professor and Chair, Audiology
tparent@atsu.edu

AUD 520  Neurology

Dr. Tabitha Parent Buck was appointed as Chair of the Department of Audiology in July 1999. She received promotion to the rank of professor in July 2011.  Dr. Parent Buck obtained her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Audiology from Purdue University and her Doctor of Audiology degree from Baylor College of Medicine. She has practiced in a variety of clinical settings and has worked as a sales representative and trainer in the hearing aid industry for AVR Sonovation. She provided academic and clinical instruction as Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of New Mexico, where she was recognized for teaching excellence. Dr. Parent Buck has published in the areas of hearing aid technology, otoacoustic emissions and pharmacology. She has conducted numerous presentations on the Au.D. movement, otoacoustic emissions, pharmacology for audiologists, the use of web-based educational tools, frequency compression hearing aids, neuroanatomy, genetics and embryology.  Dr. Parent Buck is currently the Past-President of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology. She served on the board of the Audiology Foundation of America from 1996-2003.  She is also a member of the American Academy of Audiology (since 1991) and has served on the Convention Special Events Subcommittee and the Task Force on Licensure and Payment Issues of Audiology Externship Students.  In addition, she served on the Task Force for the Arizona audiology licensure revision from 2005 to 2007. 

Rebekah F. Cunningham, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator, Audiology
rcunningham@atsu.edu

AUD 614  Pediatric Audiology
AUD 626  Auditory Processing Disorders I
AUD 636  Auditory Processing Disorders II
AUD 645  Amplification III

Dr. Rebekah Cunningham is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Audiology at A.T. Still University, the Arizona School of Health Sciences (ASHS). She is the Clinical Coordinator at ASHS and instructs residential as well as transitional students in a variety of topics, including OAEs, Evoked Potentials, Pediatric Audiology, Newborn Hearing Screening, Auditory Processing and Cochlear Implants. She has practiced privately and as the coordinator for the pediatric program at a large hospital. She has also worked at several Children's Hospitals and a Center for Developmental Delays, where she served as Audiology Director. She served for seven years on the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) Task Force on the Early Identification of Hearing Loss in Infants and Young Children. In addition, she served on the AAA Education Committee, chaired the Membership Committee of AAA for 3 years, and is currently on the AAA Board of Directors. Dr. Cunningham has designed, taught, and presented courses, as well as published, on the topics of assessment and management of children with hearing loss and/or auditory processing difficulties.

Thomas G. Rigo, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Audiology
trigo@atsu.edu

AUD 514 Auditory Science
AUD 524 Essentials of Audiology I
AUD 534 Essentials of Audiology II
AUD 535 Speech Perception
AUD 611 Counseling in Audiology
AUD 644 Occupational and Environmental Hearing Conservation

Dr. Thomas Rigo was appointed to the Department of Audiology in May 2002. He received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Communicative Disorders and Audiology from The Florida State University. Prior to his appointment at ASHS, Dr. Rigo was an Associate Professor of Audiology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he formulated and directed an accredited graduate audiology program for 18 years. He has extensive teaching experience in applied science and clinical coursework. During this time, Dr. Rigo also served as audiologist and clinical supervisor at the UL Lafayette Speech, Language, and Hearing Center. He was recognized at UL Lafayette for outstanding teaching and academic advising. Dr. Rigo has published in numerous scholarly journals and presented extensively in the areas of auditory processing disorders, aural rehabilitation, and multi-modal perception of speech.

Andrea Ruotolo, Au.D.
Assistant Professor, Audiology
aruotolo@atsu.edu

AUD 531  Embryology and Genetic Conditions
AUD 545  Amplification I
AUD 615  Amplification II
AUD 621 Audiological Rehabilitation for Adults
AUD 722  Advances in Audiologic Care

Dr. Andrea Ruotolo was appointed to the Department of Audiology in April 2010. She received her B.A. and M.A. in Speech and Hearing Sciences and Audiology from Indiana University and her Au.D. from A.T. Still University-Arizona School of Health Sciences. She has an extensive background in pediatric assessment and amplification, neurodiagnostics, vestibular evaluation, and adult assessment and amplification. Her professional experience includes hospital and medical settings, school settings, and private non-profit facilities. She has participated as an off campus preceptor supporting local programs throughout her career and has frequently in-serviced nurses, physicians, and support staff on audiology related issues. She provided clinical and academic instruction as clinical faculty in the Communications Department at Portland State University, where she was recognized for teaching excellence.  She has presented courses on amplification, pediatric audiology, vestibular disorders, educational audiology, and seminars on professional issues.

Les R. Schmeltz, Au.D.
Assistant Professor, Audiology
lschmeltz@atsu.edu

AUD 513  Professional Roles and Responsibilities
AUD 711  Educational Audiology
AUD 725  Amplification IV    
AUD 732  Screening and Monitoring Programs in Audiology
AUD 743  Ethics and the Health Care Delivery System
AUD 834  Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Dr. Les Schmeltz received his B.S. degree from Northern Michigan University, M.S. from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point and Au.D. from A.T. Still University-Arizona School of Health Sciences. He has an extensive background in early identification and has presented on numerous topics related to newborn hearing screening, early intervention, data management and clinical techniques. He also serves as the Technical Assistance Network audiologist for the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management at Utah State University, providing technical assistance and support to EHDI programs in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Dr. Schmeltz has conducted Pediatric Audiology Training workshops conducted by NCHAM in Iowa, California and Illinois.

Henry P. Trahan, Au.D.
Assistant Professor, Audiology
htrahan@atsu.edu

AUD 521  Anatomy and Physiology of the Auditory-Vestibular System
AUD 523  Infection Control and Cerumen Management
AUD 533  Acquired Auditory-Vestibular Disorders
AUD 546  Otoacoustic Emissions
AUD 616  Auditory Evoked Responses
AUD 624  Tinnitus: Evaluation and Treatment
AUD 637  Vestibular Assessment and Treatment I
AUD 717  Vestibular Assessment and Treatment II

Dr. Henry Trahan was appointed to the Department of Audiology in December 2001. Dr. Trahan received his B.S. in Speech and Hearing from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, M.C.D. in Audiology from The Louisiana State University Medical School, School of Allied Health, and Au.D. from The University of Florida. He has an extensive background in neurodiagnostics, vestibular assessment and rehabilitation, hearing aid fitting and dispensing, and business. His professional experience includes 17 years as owner and director of the ACI Hearing and Balance Center in Lafayette, LA. During this time, Dr. Trahan was an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and served as a clinical supervisor and externship supervisor for several graduate audiology programs. Dr. Trahan’s scholarly contributions include publications and professional presentations on such topics as vestibular assessment and rehabilitation, hearing aid technology, otoacoustic emissions, and pediatric assessment.

ATSU Core Faculty (teaching in multiple programs)

R. Curtis Bay, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
cbay@atsu.edu

HS 522  Research Methods and Design
HS 532  Methods of Data Analysis

Dr. Curt Bay was appointed as Associate Professor of Biostatics in August, 2005. He received his Ph.D. in Psychology (quantitative emphasis) from Arizona State University in 1991. Dr. Bay has extensive experience as a statistical consultant for a number of public and private agencies. Formerly, Dr. Bay was the Director of the Office of Medical Research and Chair of the IRB at Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ. His past academic experience includes an appointment as Faculty Research Associate in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University. Dr. Bay has published extensively in medical and health care scholarly journals. His specific expertise and interests include statistics, biostatistics, structural equations, and models for clustered data. 

Elton L. Bordenave, M.Ed., CHC
Assistant Professor, Audiology and Physical Therapy
ebordenave@atsu.edu

AUD 633  Practice Development I
AUD 723  Practice Development II
 
Mr. Elton Bordenave received his B.B.A. (Bachelor in Business Administration) from Baylor University and his M.Ed. from Grand Canyon University. Mr. Bordenave teaches health care administration and regulation core courses at ASHS. He has earned an Advanced Certification in Health Care Compliance. His areas of professional activity and expertise are health care finance, regulatory compliance, health care information systems, and risk management. Prior to Mr. Bordenave’s appointment to ASHS, he was a health care consultant in private practice and formerly managed a large physical therapy practice. His past educational and scholarly contributions include in-services, professional presentations, and seminars to statewide educational and professional organizations.

Kellie Huxel Bliven, Ph.D., ATC
Assistant Professor, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
kbliven@atsu.edu

HS 511  Human Anatomy for Audiologists

Dr. Kellie Bliven was appointed as Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Athletic Training in July 2008. She received her B.A. degree from Denison University, M.S. degree from Indiana University, and Ph.D. degree (Kinesiology) from Temple University. Prior to her appointment at ATSU, Dr. Bliven was an Assistant Professor of Athletic Training at Indiana State University, where she directed an accredited undergraduate program and taught in an accredited graduate program for 3 years.  Her research interests include neuromuscular control, specifically as it pertains to dynamic restraint of the shoulder, and exercise associated muscle cramps.

Rupal S. Vora, M.D.
Associate Professor, SOMA
rvora@atsu.edu

AUD 710  Basic Principles of Medical Imaging

Dr. Rupal Vora was appointed to the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (SOMA) in 2007 and has served as an adjunct instructor for the Department of Audiology since 2004. She completed her undergraduate studies at UCLA, graduating summa cum laude with a B.S. in Biology. She subsequently completed her medical training at the UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles. She completed residency training in Internal Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, CA and is board-certified in Internal Medicine. In addition to teaching AUD 710 Basic Principles of Medical Imaging, Dr. Vora is a contributing lecturer or co-instructor for AUD 520 Neurology, AUD 523 Infection Control and Cerumen Management, and AUD 531 Embryology and Genetic Conditions. 

Audiology Adjunct Faculty

Shalini Arehole, Ph.D.
Adjunct Faculty, Audiology
sarehole@atsu.edu

AUD 734  The Aging Auditory System

Dr. Shalini Arehole is an Associate Professor of Communicative Disorders at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she has served as a faculty member for the past 20 years. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Dallas. Dr. Arehole’s research areas of interest are auditory electrophysiology, auditory processing and pediatric audiology. Her more recent publications pertain to the auditory processing abilities of learning disabled and gifted children. She has taught a variety of courses during her academic career, including Anatomy and Physiology of the Auditory System, Neurophysiology, Auditory Electrophysiology, Medical Audiology, Pediatric Audiology, Psychophysics of Hearing, Hearing Management, Introduction to Communication Science and Auditory Processing Disorders.

Beth Ehrlich-Smith, Au.D.
Adjunct Faculty, Audiology
behrlich@atsu.edu

AUD 813  Professionalism and Leadership

Dr. Beth Ehrlich has been the Audiologist/Owner of The Hearing Center in Castro Valley, California for 27 years. She was awarded her Au.D. from A.T. Still University-Arizona School of Health Sciences in 2001. She received her Master’s of Audiology degree from San Jose State University in 1977. Dr. Ehrlich has been active in audiology organizations such as the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA). She served as their journal editor, board member and on the convention committee. She is a founding member of the California Academy of Audiology. She was awarded the Leo Doerfler Award for Clinical Practice Excellence in 2006 from ADA. Dr. Ehrlich is also an active member of Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce.

Feigi Halberstam, Au.D.
Adjunct Faculty, Audiology
fhalberstam@atsu.edu

AUD 730  Speech and Language Disorders in Adults

Dr. Feigi Halberstam is the director of Omni Rehabilitation Center, a prestigious and comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facility in Brooklyn, New York. She obtained her M.S. degree in audiology from Brooklyn College and is dually certified in both speech-language pathology and audiology. Ms. Halberstam has practiced in a variety of private practices and public settings. She is an adjunct professor at Touro College as well as the Long Island University Graduate Program. She serves also as a clinical preceptor to numerous audiologists and speech language pathologists.

Andrea J. Kosko, Au.D.
Adjunct Faculty, Audiology
akosko@atsu.edu

AUD 620  Manual Communication I

Dr. Andrea Kosko graduated from Arizona State University in 2008 and started working at Banner Desert Medical Center after completing her 4th Year Externship at Central Institute for the Deaf (CID) in St. Louis, MO. Dr. Kosko has had first-hand experience with Deaf Culture as her younger brother has congenital profound hearing loss and communicates using Total Communication. She has also taken four semesters of college level American Sign Language (ASL) and one semester of graduate level Survival Sign Language.   

Sonya J. Romero, M.A.
Adjunct Faculty, Audiology
sromero@atsu.edu

AUD 640  Manual Communication II

Ms. Sonya Romero received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Minnesota State University Moorhead and M.A. in Deaf Education from Gallaudet University. She has taught Deaf and hard of hearing students grades K-12 in the public school systems since 1997, most recently running the Mesa Public Schools Hearing Impaired program. She has extensive experience with children from the entire spectrum of hearing loss, communication methods, and special needs in addition to deafness. Ms. Romero has taught American Sign Language to teachers, parents, special educators, and children; presented at workshops for students who are hard of hearing; and provided training to teachers on mainstreaming deaf students. She also served on the board for the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing as a Hard of Hearing Representative.

Ann Eshenaur Spolarich, Ph.D.
Adjunct Faculty, Audiology and ASDOH
aspolarich@atsu.edu

AUD 540  Pharmacology

Dr. Ann Spolarich was appointed to the Department of Audiology in June, 2006.  She is a registered, licensed dental hygienist specializing in the care of medically complex patients, and practices part-time in geriatrics. She graduated summa cum laude from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, and received her PhD in Physiology from the University of Maryland at Baltimore. Dr. Spolarich is an internationally recognized author and speaker on pharmacology. In addition to teaching AUD 540 Pharmacology, she teaches Clinical Medicine and Pharmacology at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, and pharmacology at the USC Dental School in Los Angeles.

Carla M. Zimmerman, M.N.S.
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Audiology
czimmerman@atsu.edu

AUD 510  Acquisition and Development of Communicative Skills
AUD 530  Communication Methodology for Hearing Impaired Children
AUD 822  Speech and Language Disorders in Children

Ms. Carla Zimmerman received her Master of Natural Science degree Speech-Language Pathology from Arizona State University. Since 1988, she has owned and operated a private practice dealing exclusively with hearing-impaired individuals. Ms. Zimmerman is also the Birth to Three Coordinator at Desert Voices Oral Learning Center. She has delivered a number guest lectures and professional presentations concerning service delivery to hearing impaired children and cochlear implants. Ms. Zimmerman has served as a clinical supervisor to speech-language pathology students since 1988. She is fluent in Signed Exact English and trained in Cued Speech.

Departmental Staff

Melanie A. Kropp
Program Manager, Audiology
mkropp@atsu.edu

Ms. Melanie Kropp was appointed to the Department of Audiology in August of 2002. She assists the Chair and faculty with the administration of both the Entry Level Doctor of Audiology Program and the Transitional Doctor of Audiology Program. Ms. Kropp’s first priority is to see that the needs of the Au.D. students at the Arizona School of Health Sciences are being met. Among her many other duties, Ms. Kropp coordinates all of the special events pertaining to the Audiology Department including the White Coat Ceremony, and the Graduation Dinners.

Jennifer C. Apel
Administrative Assistant, Audiology
jcapel@atsu.edu

Ms. Jennifer Apel was appointed to the Department of Audiology in January of 2006. She assists the Chair and faculty with administrative needs of both the Entry Level and Transitional Doctor of Audiology Programs. Ms. Apel works closely with Ms. Kropp to assist students during the course of their professional studies.