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calling all northeast ohio audiologists

* No food/beverage will be provided for this event by oaa

What an amazing weekend!

It has been a very busy weekend for the Ohio Academy of Audiology. On Saturday 11/2/19 the Ohio Academy of Audiology held its third “Mapping Audiology’s Future in Ohio” (MAFO) event in conjunction with its fall face to face planning meeting in Dublin, Ohio.

The Mapping Future Leaders in Ohio (MAFO) conference focuses on encouraging and mentoring young audiologists to become involved in their state professional association. Applicants must have 3-10 years of experience as an audiologist. Applicants are not required to be members of the Ohio Academy of Audiology but had to be nominated by a current member. Self nominations were also accepted.

HISTORY OF MAFO

In March 2010, The Ohio Academy of Audiology hosted its first future leader’s conference entitled “Mapping Audiology’s Future in Ohio” (MAFO). The objective of the conference was to encourage students and young practitioners to become involved in the profession early in their careers. The conference was designed to provide a comfortable forum for discussion and leadership skills training, while allowing opportunities for networking with current state and national leaders.

Fifteen young professionals and students attended presentations and participated in group activities during the inaugural conference. Participants learned about advocacy, state regulatory issues, leadership strategies, and clinical research. Because of the overwhelming positive comments from attendees, and with more than 90% of attendee’s committing to a leadership role in the state association, a second MAFO conference was convened in February, 2013 in conjunction with the Ohio Audiology Conference.

The second MAFO conference focused on student leadership development. OAA hosted 14 students from the four Ohio AuD programs. These students, along with past and current OAA leadership, engaged in an afternoon and evening of leadership training and networking. The students learned the importance of committing time and energy to the profession of audiology beyond their responsibility to patient care.

The Ohio Academy of Audiology remains committed to fostering leadership development in Ohio audiology students and young professionals who are living and/or practicing in the state. This unwavering commitment from OAA is an effort to solidify and advance the profession of audiology in the state of Ohio.

Several exciting topics were covered at the Ohio Academy of Audiology's fall face to face planning meeting including the Ohio Academy of Audiology’s financial support of the Governmental Affairs Coalition (GAC).

The Governmental Affairs Coalition continues to be the leading voice for audiology in Ohio. Our lobbyist and GAC affect change at the state level all the time. Recently, OAA’s representatives provided critical input into the development of recently introduced HB 243, requiring insurance coverage for children’s hearing aids, without which audiologists may not have been included as providers! This bill has bipartisan support and OAA and parents support the passage.  Our voice is important because if we don’t speak up, someone else will, and we need to speak into the microphone.  Almost 50% of your dues for the Ohio Academy of Audiology go directly to the critical effort of funding our voice at the legislative level.

 We would like to highlight some of the important work in 2019 that GAC has performed to support you as audiologists in the state of Ohio and the patients you serve:

• Met with representatives of the newly elected DeWine administration to discuss GAC and our priorities;
• Met with advocates of the LEAD-K movement to explain our concerns with possible legislation;
• Participated in a conference call with Susan Adams of ASHA regarding LEAD-K;
• Organized and led a coalition of 35 organizations to explore recommendations for Medicaid procurement of managed care contracts;
• Successfully advocated for renewal of OHAAP, protection of special education weighted funding formula and continuation of Medicaid expansion in biennial budget bill;
• Met with representatives to discuss the possibility of a hearing aid insurance mandate bill, which led to the introduction of HB 243;
• Met with the occupational therapy association to discuss a memorandum of understanding related to the Medicaid Schools Program;
• Participated in a call with ASHA and the Council of State Governments on state compact legislation, and followed up with names of Ohio legislators who may be interested in participating in a summit on the issue;
• Met with the sponsor of HB 129 to suggest revisions to his legislation which would allow motorcyclists to wear hearing protection in both ears while riding;
• Presented testimony to Ohio Medicaid on its telemedicine rule, 5160-1-18, requesting that the rule’s scope be broadened to include SLP and audiology services;
• Participated in press conference on hearing aid insurance mandate bill, HB 243;
• Participated in a conference call with OSHPB regarding audiology assistants;
• Met with a legislator to discuss outreach to ODE for release of the final report from the School Workforce Shortage Taskforce;
• Reviewed revisions to the Medicaid provider eligibility rule and the ODH Universal Newborn Hearing Screening rules; and
• Agreed to participate in a January 2020 ASHA webinar segment regarding the importance of advocacy.

As you can see the GAC is YOUR voice when it comes to issues directly impacting you and your patients in the state of Ohio. We urge you to continue to pledge your financial and professional support for the GAC by continuing your membership with the Ohio Academy of Audiology and through your continued donations to the GAC. Together as a team we can protect the scope of practice in audiology in the state of Ohio and continue to fight for what our patients need in terms of hearing and balance healthcare!

Click here to donate to the OSHPAC to continue to support GAC and their important mission!

Have questions about the GAC? Your GAC representatives for OAA are:

Gina Hounam
Nationwide Children's Hospital
700 Children's Drive
Columbus, OH
43205
e-mail: [email protected]

Christina Roup
110 Pressey Hall, 1070 Carmack Road
Columbus, OH
43210
e-mail: [email protected]

Members you asked for it! We listened! You got it!

Another important topic discussed was moving the Ohio Academy of Audiology Conference (OAC) from a biannual event to an annual event. The board voted to make the Ohio Academy of Audiology Conference (OAC) an annual event! Starting in 2021 the OAA will host its first annual OAC! The board is still finalizing when and where the annual conference will take place. Preliminary ideas are to move the OAC to different regional locations each year and alternating between a central meeting in the greater Columbus area every other year.

The board also discussed plans for the upcoming 2020 OAC in Dublin, Ohio. Planning committees have begun forming. President elect Ursula Findlen provided updates for the planning of the 2020 OAC. Dr. Findlen and Dr. Gail Whitelaw (who once again has undertaken the role of the OAC program manager) have already done an amazing amount of hard work for the 2020 OAC!  If you are interested in volunteering for the 2020 OAC planning committee please contact your president elect, Ursula Findlen at [email protected] 

The Ohio Academy of Audiology is very excited about this upcoming year and the 2020 OAC! Stay tuned for further details! We again would like to thank you, our members, for your continued support and membership!

Sincerely,

The Ohio Academy of Audiology

Renewals are now open! Renew today!

Click here to renew your membership!

Dear Audiology Colleague:

The Ohio Academy of Audiology wants you! The OAA membership year begins on July 1.  If you are currently a member, thank you for your dedication to the future of our practice and we look forward to another year with you! For those who are not yet members, now is the time to join an organization which works to provide you with the resources you need to succeed in your career!

Renew your membership now or join OAA at https://ohioacademyofaudiology.com/join.php.

Your membership enabled us to accomplish so much this past year, including:

• The Ohio Audiology Conference (OAC) in October 2018, where audiologists learned from nationally acclaimed speakers and earned up to 20 continuing education units (CEU), including 11 Tier 1 hours, without leaving Ohio. Members of OAA enjoyed reduced registration fees for this great event.

• The Governmental Affairs Coalition continues to be the leading voice for audiology in Ohio. Our lobbyist and GAC affect change at the state level all the time. Recently, OAA’s representatives provided critical input into the development of recently introduced HB 243, requiring insurance coverage for children’s hearing aids, without which audiologists may not have been included as providers! This bill has bipartisan support and OAA and parents support the passage.  Our voice is important because if we don’t speak up, someone else will, and we need to speak into the microphone.  Almost 50% of your dues go directly to the critical effort of funding our voice at the legislative level.

• Our social media and internet presence provides members with accurate, up to date information in a secure and easy to navigate system. Information on our website (ohioacademyofaudiology.com) includes legislative updates, ‘Find an Audiologist’ feature and news. OAA also has a strong social media presence to share awareness of Audiology and current issues. Check out Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
• Outreach PowerPoint templates available to support your community education endeavors in your area.

For 2019-2020 we are excited to introduce:

• “Mug Club” social events to meet fellow audiologists in your area and to discuss current hot topics. At least one board member from OAA will be at each event.
• Journal Clubs, offering CEU and networking opportunities around the state.

We are stronger with you!  We have fun, make positive impacts and you are wanted!  We can only continue this work if Ohio audiologists support it. A one year membership is only $80 and a two year membership is only $130. That’s only $5.42 per month to make sure your voice as an Ohio audiologist is heard. You can’t afford not to be a member! Join today at https://ohioacademyofaudiology.com/join.php to gain access to the Member’s Only section of the website and to support Ohio audiology. Questions? Please contact us at [email protected].

Thank you for your continued support of audiology in Ohio,

Holle Aungst, AuD

President, Ohio Academy of Audiology

Michelle Shannon, AuD

Membership Chair, Ohio Academy of Audiology

Problems with renewing online?

If you are having difficulties renewing your membership online you download the paper renewal form here

Click here to view the latest job postings in our classifieds section!

WELCOME TO OAA!

The Ohio Academy of Audiology (OAA) is dedicated to advancing the profession of audiology, and supports audiologists in their mission to provide expert hearing and balance care in Ohio.

Please explore our website – take a look at our events and keep up-to-date with the Academy news; read about our Award winners in the honors and awards section. Learn more about our members in the member spotlight; and don’t forget to join the Academy! If you’d like to become involved in the Academy, please email us at [email protected]

OUR MISSION

The Ohio Academy of Audiology, as the leading authority, supports audiologists in their mission to provide expert hearing and balance care in Ohio.

OUR VISION

The Ohio Academy of Audiology is dedicated to advancing the profession of audiology

contact usPlease contact us anytime with questions or for more information on Events, Membership, News and more. Feel free to use the contact information or fill out the short form on the contact page and we’ll be back in touch as soon as possible. Thank you very much for your interestThe Ohio Academy of AudiologyP.O. Box 596

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