National SAA Past President Interview: Joshua Huppert, AuD

Celebrating 15 Years of National SAA!

Over the past decade and a half, the national Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) has accomplished so much as an organization, building a strong foundation for the future of the audiology profession. The success and growth of national SAA is contributed to largely in part to the vision and leadership of its past presidents. To honor and reflect on their hard work, the national SAA communications committee conducted an interview series with several national SAA past presidents.

Our next interview is with Joshua Huppert (he/him/his) who earned his AuD at Pacific University in Oregon. Dr. Huppert served as national SAA president between 2016-2017.

Why did you originally join the national SAA?

It became apparent to me very early in my audiology career that there were many areas of opportunity in which audiology could not only improve, but elevate itself to the profession we needed it to be to push the practice and scope of audiology forward. While there were parallels to the areas of opportunity within the student and professional community, there were also many that were unique to the student side of things that I felt only a student voice could successfully unveil and ultimately help improve. I felt that beginning this activism early would only make my transition to activism as a professional easier/more seamless. The rest was history.

How long did you serve on the national SAA Board of Directors or as a volunteer for national SAA?

Two Years. I initially served as a volunteer on the Education Committee, then I was elected to the Board as the advocacy chair, and then elected as SAA president the following year.

What is the most valuable lesson you learned from being a member of national SAA?

Collectively, students have a great deal more influence than they realize as they hold the “key” to the profession’s future. When you rally together, build a strong case, and come ready and willing to execute how you aim to elevate and enhance the profession so that you can make it better than it was upon stepping in, the professionals who matter and see your value will champion you. I think our SAA Board saw this firsthand with Dr. Ian Windmill as Academy president. I have such deep respect for Dr. Windmill and the members of the 2016 Academy Board of Directors as I know I and the other SAA Board Members were relentless in fighting for the student voice and its place at the Academy Board table, as well as the profession at large. Never once were we seen as petty, overzealous, or combative—they saw our passion, dedication, and desire to make things better as a sign that the future would be in very capable hands and they lifted us every time, without question. That meant the world to us and it fueled our fire to serve. 

What is your favorite memory from your term as national SAA President?

The creation, launch, and overwhelming success of the inaugural Student Leaders in Audiology Conference (SLAC) at AAA 2017 in Indianapolis.

Where are you working now?

I’m an inpatient pediatric audiologist at Cook Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) in Fort Worth, TX. As an inpatient audiologist, I’m essentially the hospitalist version of an audiologist; that is, I provide audiologic care for admitted patients within the hospital. In this role, I’m largely a diagnostician, as I do not fit or provide follow-up care/maintenance for amplification or implantable technologies, perform any specialty services within audiology (e.g., CAPD, vestibular, etc.), or provide extensive management for patients, as all of these services are available through our outpatient service lines. Much of the testing I perform is via electrophysiologic measures (i.e., ABR), as most of the patients I see are infants or sedated; however, we also perform booth testing for those inpatients of age/physically able to participate in VRA, CPA, and/or traditional response methods of testing. Additionally, I perform a great deal of ototoxic monitoring for inpatients undergoing medical treatment for a plethora of different cancers and I also perform all post-operative integrity measures (e.g., IFT/NRT, eCAPS, etc.) for patients who receive cochlear implants. I work/interact regularly with almost every medical specialty within the hospital as I spend most of my days throughout the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PACU), various procedure rooms, and the Operating Room (OR) – spaces where multidisciplinary medical teams managing the patients’ care round daily.

In what ways did being involved in national SAA influence your career?

Serving as a board member and then as president gave me the opportunity to gain deeper insight into my strengths and weaknesses as a person, professional, and leader; in other words, my tenure serving the national SAA was an invaluable lesson in developing self-awareness—a lesson I’m not sure I would have ever gained to that capacity in any other experience at that time. As a result, I feel that I am better able to influence outcomes, make wiser decisions, and have greater self-confidence. My involvement in the SAA was also instrumental in fostering connection/community with some of the best students and professionals in the industry, which not only yielded life-long friendships, but also, opened doors to job opportunities and professional collaborations that may not have been opened otherwise.

Are you currently involved with the American Academy of Audiology?

I’m not currently and haven’t been for some time.

What’s one piece of advice you would like to share with current SAA members?

Discomfort is the only pathway forward toward growth. Trust and embrace this, even when it may not feel “right” in the moment. Remember, nothing worth having was ever had easy.

This interview was completed by Eliana Dachman, a third-year audiology student at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York, NY. Eliana is a member of the SAA Communication Committee.