Becoming a New Professional: Q&A Panel

The Q&A Panel will be hosted by the national SAA Michigan State Ambassador and State Ambassador Mentor courtesy of the national SAA State Ambassador Program and national SAA Virtual Education Series. Comprised of panelists from across the country practicing a wide array of specialties, audiology students will be provided an opportunity to receive helpful tips and information as they transition from student to early career professional.

Questions can be submitted to the panel via the registration process prior to the live event. Registrants can also submit questions during the panel.

Register

Hosts

Kaylee Knowles, BA
National SAA Michigan State Ambassador

Kaylee Knowles is a second-year doctor of audiology student at Central Michigan University. She received her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Maine, Orono. She is the Vice President of the Central Michigan University’s SAA chapter in addition to serving as the Michigan state ambassador. Her main areas of interest include pediatric audiology, cochlear implants, and auditory processing.

Rachel Fryatt, AuD
Clinical Audiologist, University of Michigan Cochlear Implant Program
National SAA Michigan State Ambassador Mentor

Rachel Fryatt, AuD, is a clinical audiologist at Michigan Medicine specializing in implantable devices and hearing aids for pediatric and adult populations. She received her bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University, and her masters and audiology doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Fryatt is the clinic lead of the Adult Bone Conduction Device program as well as the UM Cochlear Implant Peer Mentor Program. She is state and national organizations, and serves on the board of directors for the Michigan Audiology Coalition.

Panelists

Kaitlyn Kennedy, AuD
Audiologist
Mercy Health

Kaitlyn M. Kennedy, AuD, PASC, is a pediatric audiologist with the Mercy Health system in St. Louis, Missouri. She recently obtained her Pediatric Audiology Speciality Certification (PASC) from the American Board of Audiology. Prior to her current position, she worked in an otology office completing the full scope of audiology practice including implantable devices, vestibular evaluations, and facial nerve testing. Dr. Kennedy currently serves as a member-at-large for the American Academy of Audiology board of directors. When not doing something audiology related, she is probably playing frisbee with her dog.

Dakota Sharp, AuD
Clinical Assistant Professor
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Dakota Sharp, AuD, CCC-A, is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, where he works with students and pediatric patients at the Children’s Cochlear Implant Center at UNC. He received both his undergraduate and Doctor of Audiology degree from James Madison University, and completed his externship with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. His passion for educating led to the creation of On The Ear: An Audiology Podcast, where he interviews a wide variety of experts across the spectrum of communication.

Molly Smeal, AuD
Audiologist, Division of Audiology
University of Miami

Molly Smeal, AuD, CCC-A is a clinical audiologist in the Division of Audiology at the University of Miami. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology and was the first post-doctoral audiology fellow at the University of Miami Ear Institute. Dr. Smeal practices as a clinical audiologist specializing in diagnostics, auditory implants, and single-sided deafness. She has led and participated in several subcommittees focused on clinical quality control. She is a published author and invited national and international presenter. Dr. Smeal is involved in several national audiology organizations and is a participant of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance State Champions.

Natalie Hayes, AuD
Audiologist
Boston Children’s Hospital

Natalie Hayes, AuD, is a pediatric audiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital. She joined the Boston Children’s team in 2021 following graduation from the Doctor of Audiology program at Washington University in St. Louis. She completed her externship at the University of Michigan hospitals with a special focus in pediatrics. Her current areas of clinical focus are comprehensive pediatric diagnostics, amplification, and evaluation of central auditory processing. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and dog and trying out new restaurants. Natalie is a Michigander at heart, born and raised in Grand Rapids!

Emily Venskytis, AuD
Director of Clinical Education
Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
MGH Institute of Health Professions

Emily Jo Venskytis, AuD, is Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor for the Doctor of Audiology program within the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the MGH Institute of Health Professions. Additionally, she serves as a clinical audiologist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear in the Charlestown office. She enjoys training the next generation of audiologists in mindful, patient-centered and evidence-based practice.

Dr. Venskytis received her doctorate in audiology at Arizona State University. Prior to moving to Boston, she worked at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on a variety of specialty teams, including those focused on congenital ear anomalies and cochlear implants. Her areas of interest include diagnostics for difficult-to-test patients, electrophysiology, and the audiologic management of cochlear implants, bone anchored devices and hearing aids.

Resources

• Getting Comfortable Introducing Yourself as “Doctor”: Transitioning from AuD Student to New Professional
• Tips on Transitioning From Undergraduate to Graduate Student; Student to Audiology Professional
• Resources for New Audiologists
• Fellow Up! Program