Callie Boren

Why are you interested in joining the national SAA Board of Directors?

I was nominated by someone else—I do not know who. But if someone thinks I can add value to the team, I want to give it a try. It is not so much that I hope to gain anything—I am so grateful to be a part of the audiology community, and I am always looking for ways to give back. If I make connections and strengthen the unity of the field along the way, that would certainly be an added bonus.

What unique traits or skills will you bring to a leadership position with the national SAA?

Having served my local chapter in two vastly different capacities, what I would bring to the table of national SAA is a robust understanding of everything that goes into running a local chapter. Having spent substantial time as a student leader helps me have my finger on the pulse of what student leaders in their local chapters need in terms of support from the national organization.

If you could change one thing about the profession of audiology, what would it be?

I would like to make us more accessible. It is sometimes more due to luck than anything else that people are able to get the referrals they need, get the care they need, and be able to afford it. I would like to see more community outreach (i.e., more screenings), more affordable and accessible treatment options, and more public awareness about who audiologists are and how they can be helpful.