WINTER2019
NEWSLETTER PEI NEWS Our new audiologist, Amanda Ayars, will begin seeing patients in February. Dr. Ayars brings extensive experience in adult hearing loss and amplification in addition to clinical interests that include tinnitus and auditory processing.
Upcoming Events at PEI For the Love of Hearing: From January 1st through February 14th, join us for our “For the Love of Hearing” celebration. We want you to love life again through the gift of hearing. To sweeten the deal, PEI will include a complimentary accessory with the purchase of a pair of hearing aids (up to a $500 value). Spring Open House: Join us on Saturday, April 27, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., where you will have an opportunity to meet our audiologists, learn about new hearing technology, receive complimentary hearing screenings and more!
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Abigail Possinger For Abigail Possinger, Au.D., class of 2021, all it took was one class for her to fall in love with audiology. Originally studying communication sciences and disorders for her undergrad at East Stroudsburg University, it wasn’t until her third year that she took an audiology class that instantly changed her life. She knew from that moment on that it was the career she wanted for the rest of her life. When she started her search for the right audiology graduate school, location was her top priority. She applied to three schools in Pennsylvania, but Salus University’s proximity to Philadelphia – and home – made it her top choice. Along with the countless opportunities that the school holds within the health care industry, she also wanted to stay close to her mother who, due to a heart condition, receives treatment at the University of Pennsylvania. Now, as a second-year student in the University’s Osborne College of Audiology and completing a clinical rotation at the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI), she feels like she has been given the opportunity to narrow her skills early on and prepare for her career. “These are real patients, these aren’t actors, they’re real people and what you say and what you write in your report affects their lives,” she said. With an innate passion for volunteerism, she is also always looking for a way to become more involved and make a change in other peoples’ lives. Because of her passion, she feels especially drawn to pediatrics and special populations. Her empathy for children with hearing loss is her driving force to help in any way she can. Her goal is to give children the opportunity to do everything that they might not be able to do if they have a hearing loss – from participating in sports to pursuing a health care profession of their own one day.
Pennsylvania Ear Institute | 8380 Old York Road, Suite 1200, Elkins Park, PA 19027 Phone: 215.780.3180
8380 Old York Road, Suite 1200 Elkins Park, PA 19027 215.780.3180 SalusUhealth.com/PEI
IN THIS EDITION Faculty Focus - Dr. Rebecca Blaha PEI News Upcoming Events at PEI Student Spotlight - Abigail Possinger
FACULTY FOCUS Dr. Rebecca Blaha Dr. Rebecca Blaha is the lead audiologist at PEI, and her clinical interests include hearing instruments, aural rehabilitation, tinnitus management and practice management. She earned her Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of Florida. Prior to pursuing a career in audiology, Dr. Blaha studied music for 14 years, earning a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Master of Music degree from The Ohio State University. “I was an orchestral musician. I played the flute and also the baroque recorder, and I studied music for many years,” she said. Dr. Blaha has always had an interest in the art of hearing, but it wasn’t until later in her studies that she decided to make it a career. “The most rewarding aspect is being able to solve the ‘riddle’ for my patients,” she said. “Each patient has different needs, which gives me the chance to be creative in identifying certain issues and formulating individualized treatment options.” Outside of the office, Dr. Blaha enjoys travelling, salsa dancing and running, in addition to one of her newer hobbies – powerlifting. “My trainer introduced me to powerlifting through a CrossFit gym and I’ve really gotten into it,” she said. “I can deadlift about 175 pounds – it’s a really great workout.” Pennsylvania Ear Institute | 8380 Old York Road, Suite 1200, Elkins Park, PA 19027 Phone: 215.780.3180