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Douglas S. Brungart, PHD
Chief Scientist
Dr. Doug Brungart is currently the Chief Scientist at the Audiology and Speech Center at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The Center is currently working with the U.S. Army Public Health Command in a major effort to conduct clinical and field studies to support the objectives of the U.S. Army Hearing Program, including an initiative to develop new “Auditory Fitness for Duty” standards for military personnel.
Dr. Brungart obtained his PhD in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1998. From 1993 to 2009, he worked at the Battlespace Acoustics Branch at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Since 2009, he has been the Chief Scientist at the Audiology and Speech Center at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Dr. Brungart has published many peer-reviewed journal articles on auditory perception, and holds more than 10 U.S. patents related to auditory perception and speech communication. In 2009, he was designated as a “Fellow” by the Acoustical Society of America. Since 2011, Dr. Brungart has served as the Interim Director of Research for the HCE, where his scientific research and subject matter expertise is being utilized to support the HCE mission.
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Tanisha Hammill, MA, MPH, CRA, PMP
Senior Research Administrator
Mrs. Tanisha Hammill currently provides support as the contract Senior Research Administrator for the Defense Hearing Center of Excellence at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. In this position, Mrs. Hammill coordinates a global research effort to support the military’s Hearing Health Program, which includes the administrative coordination of a regional team of administrators, a portfolio coordinator, and targeted project teams. She coordinates various work stream group efforts, including the HCE’s Collaborative Auditory/Vestibular Research Network and Pharmaceutical Interventions for Hearing Loss Working Groups. Mrs. Hammill also conducts organizational coordination and development, grantsmanship activities policy and SOP development and implementation, academic and industry outreach and collaboration activities, and scientific steering and road mapping contributions and coordination.
With a Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies and Ethics from the Point Loma Nazarene University and a background as an ethics instructor for the El Cajon Community College, Mrs. Hammill began her military support career with the Navy Medical Center San Diego serving as the Human Subjects Protections Specialist and Research Assistant to the ENT Department. After completing a Master of Arts in Public Health with a focus in Administration from the San Diego State University in 2005, Mrs. Hammill took on the position of Departmental Research Administrator for NMCSD ENT. In 2011, when the HCE stood up in San Antonio, Texas, Mrs. Hammill transitioned from the Navy to HCE support role. She began a PhD program in Translational Science at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio in August 2014 and maintains professional certifications as a Clinical Research Administrator and Project Management Professional.
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Kia Brooks
National Capital Region Research Coordinator/Administrator
Ms. Kia Brooks is the contract National Capital Region Research Coordinator/Administrator for the Defense Hearing Center of Excellence at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Center (ASPC). Ms. Brooks oversees research activities for the ASPC including, but not limited to, tracking projects, protocol implementation, assisting with collaborative efforts, marketing, grant proposal submission assistance, research portfolio management, and regulatory oversight.
Ms. Brooks received her Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology and Physiology from the University of Maryland. After transitioning from the laboratory as a Molecular Biologist, Ms. Brooks moved to New York City where she spent nine years managing research projects. She is currently seeking a Master of Science degree in Clinical Trial Sciences at Rutgers University.
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Kari Buchanan, MA, MPH
Program Manager
Ms. Kari Buchanan is the contract Program Manager for Auditory Fitness for Duty for the Defense Hearing Center of Excellence and liaison to the Office of Naval Research Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Program. In this position, Ms. Buchanan manages the programs and projects supporting the Auditory Fitness for Duty work stream, including coordinating the AFFD Working Group and efforts to develop a standard assessment method for auditory situation awareness factors with hearing protective devices, conducting research related to AFFD, and working with DoD and service representatives.
Ms. Buchanan is a retired Navy Industrial Hygiene Officer with 20 years of active duty military experience. During her varied career, Ms. Buchanan served aboard two hospitals, a submarine tender, and an aircraft carrier, and with a Marine Wing, and an environmental and preventive medicine unit. She was a staff officer on the Chief of Naval Operations staff and the Navy Warfare Development Command. In addition, she was the first Navy Medical Service Corps fellow concentrating on chemical, biological, and radiological defense. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Medical Technology from the University of Connecticut, a Masters of Public Health in Environmental Health Sciences from Columbia University, and a Masters of Art in National Security and Strategy from the Naval War College.
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Elsa Camou, MPH
Regional Research Coordinator
Ms. Elsa Camou currently serves as a contract Regional Research Administrator for the Defense Hearing Center of Excellence at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. In this position, Ms. Camou supports grantsmanship activities, quality and process improvement initiatives, proper implementation of research-related operating policies and procedures, and coordination of research protocols and outreach activities.
Ms. Camou began her military research support career in 2007 as a Behavioral Research Assistant at the 711th Human Performance Wing at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas. In 2009, Ms. Camou became a Project Director at Brooke Army Medical Center, in the Center for Nursing Science and Clinical Research. During her time at BAMC, Ms. Camou worked on a variety of research studies ranging from nanotechnology to smoking cessation. After completing a Master’s in Public Health in 2012 at the University of the Texas School of Public Health San Antonio Regional Campus, Ms. Camou became a Regional Research Administrator at HCE.
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Genny Krackau
Research Coordinator
Genny Krackau is a contract Research Coordinator for the Hearing Center of Excellence, at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. In this position, Ms. Krackau supports The Prevalence and Objective Verification of Central Auditory Processing Disorders in Blast Exposed Warfighters research study. Ms. Krackau supports this study by recruiting, instructing, and coordinating research subjects at both Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, TX and the Troop Medical Clinic, SAMMC, Ft. Sam Houston, TX. She also provides administrative support for research protocols.
Ms. Krackau has over 25 years of experience in academic, administrative and military research. As a Health Systems specialist she retired from the U.S. Army Medical Command, Ft. Sam Houston, TX. Ms. Krackau held contract research and clinical trial positions with the Department of Veterans Affairs and University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, as well the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, SAMMC, Ft. Sam Houston, TX
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Kathryn E. Marshall, PHD
Pacific Northwest Regional Clinical Research Coordinator/Administrator
Dr. Kathryn Marshall is the contract Pacific Northwest Regional Clinical Research Coordinator/Administrator for the Defense Hearing Center of Excellence positioned at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington. In this position, Dr. Marshall serves as the point of contact for HCE to implement research objectives out to the Pacific Northwest research facilities. In addition, she heads the research program for the ENT and Audiology clinic at MAMC where she manages the pre- and post-award administration for sponsored programs and internal DoD projects.
In 2009, Dr. Marshall completed her PhD in the Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy at the Medical College of Wisconsin specializing in Developmental and Molecular Biology. She went on to complete her post-doctoral fellowship with the Department of Energy at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory where she specialized in developing biosensors to detect explosives in marine environments. With her strong background in biomedical research, Dr. Marshall aids in advancing the research objectives at MAMC and the Pacific Northwest region.
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Sara Murphy, MPH
Pacific Southwest Regional Clinical Research Coordinator/Administrator
Mrs. Sara Murphy serves as a contract Regional Research Coordinator/Administrator for the Defense Hearing Center of Excellence Mrs. Murphy facilitates auditory and vestibular research collaborations in the Pacific Southwest, including grantsmanship activities, protocol development, and study oversight. She oversees a robust clinical research program at Naval Medical Center San Diego, as well as facilitating research in the region.
With a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of San Diego, Mrs. Murphy began her research career with Veteran’s Medical Research Foundation. There she served as a Research Associate on a prospective study examining the psychological, social, and genetic factors related to alcohol dependence. In 2009, she took on the position of Project Coordinator for a related collaborative study investigating the genetics of alcoholism.
After completing a Master of Public Health with a focus in Health Promotion from San Diego State University in 2010, Mrs. Murphy transitioned into the private sector as a Clinical Research Coordinator of pharmaceutical interventions for a wide variety of central nervous system disorders. In 2012, Mrs. Murphy assumed the position of Research Administrator for HCE.
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Aries Okungbowa-Ikponmwosa, MPH
CLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR
Ms. Aries Okungowa-Ikponmwosa is currently a contract Clinical Research Coordinator for the Hearing Center of Excellence, at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. She is responsible for recruiting and consenting research subjects and the administration of research studies. In addition, she coordinates and implements research study protocols and maintains data collection integrity. Ms. Okungbowa-Ikponmwosa earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences from University of Michigan, Flint Campus. She also earned a Master’s Degree in Public Health, Health Administration at the University of Michigan, Flint Campus.
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Andrew J. Fallon, AUD
Research Audiologist
Dr. Andrew Fallon currently serves as a Research Audiologist for the Defense Hearing Center of Excellence. Dr. Fallon is currently collecting hearing and traumatic brain injury (TBI) data on military members in San Antonio. This data will help facilitate new testing protocols for our service members with Central Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD).
Dr. Fallon earned his Doctorate in Audiology from the University of Florida at Gainesville. His undergraduate degree a Bachelor's of Science in Communications disorder is from Stockton State University and his Masters of Science, in Audiology is from Lamar University.
Prior to coming to work for the DoD, Dr. Fallon has served previously as both a Clinical Audiologist with extensive experience in diagnostic studies and exams and as a program director for an adult cochlear implant program. He has also held the position as Northeast Regional representative for MED-EL cochlear implants where he worked on both sales, technical training and troubleshooting for difficult patient populations.
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JR Stefanson
Southeast Regional Research Coordinator/Administrator
Mr. JR Stefanson is the contract Southeast Regional Research Coordinator/Administrator for the Defense Hearing Center of Excellence, as well as an Associate Investigator for the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory. Mr. Stefanson serves as HCE’s administrative contact for coordination and collaboration initiatives concerning auditory and vestibular projects for DoD within the Southeastern US. He also serves as an administrative lead for the Pharmaceutical Interventions for Hearing Loss working group, and is a member of a number of DoD working groups including the Collaborative Auditory and Vestibular Research Network Allied Neurosensory Warrior Related Research working group, and the Auditory Fitness for Duty working group.
While serving the HCE’s mission, he also serves the Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory’s mission by developing and conducting studies in the areas of auditory protection, hearing protection device attenuation analyses in field and laboratory environments, hearing conservation, and auditory localization and situational awareness. Mr. Stefanson recently took on the role of Research Program Coordinator for the USAARL Auditory Protection and Performance Division, in which he works closely with the division director to assist in the project management of all ongoing studies for the division.
Prior to working for HCE, Mr. Stefanson worked as a contract research investigator for General Dynamics Information Technology at the Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory.
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Sarah C. Sullivan, MA
North Central Regional Research Coordinator/Administrator
Ms. Sarah Sullivan is a contract Regional Research Coordinator/Administrator for the Defense Hearing Center of Excellence. Located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, Ms. Sullivan serves the North Central region of the United States. She facilitates collaborations between DoD, VA, academic, and industry researchers; provides general administrative support for the HCE; and hosts a monthly teleconference on the topic of Sound Exposures for the Pharmaceutical Interventions for Hearing Loss working group. Ms. Sullivan also supports the Air Force Research Laboratory under the 711th Human Performance Wing as the Research Laboratory Manager for the Battlespace Acoustics Branch. She supervises the branch’s on-site subject panel, manages study documentation, assists with data collection, and provides weekly experiment progress reports.
Ms. Sullivan earned a Master of Arts degree in Cognitive and Perceptual Psychology from the University of Texas – Austin and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Washington State University. Ms. Sullivan has 15 years of experience in research administration and acoustics research in military, academic, and medical settings. Prior to joining the HCE, Ms. Sullivan was a Research Program Manager at the University of Arizona and a Research Technician at Boys Town National Research Hospital.
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Victoria Tepe, PHD
Research Portfolio Manager
Dr. Victoria Tepe supports the Defense Hearing Center of Excellence as the contract Research Portfolio Coordinator to advance scientific and technical objectives in the clinical care and prevention of hearing and balance injuries. Dr. Tepe works closely with other DoD/VA scientific and technical program managers to surveil and shape directions in research and development. She supports the HCE’s ongoing efforts to specify critical gaps in scientific knowledge and technical capability, and steer appropriate expertise and resources to meet emerging needs and priorities.
Dr. Tepe has more than 25 years of experience in academic, medical, and military research settings. She holds a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience from Northwestern University. She began her professional career at the Chicago Institute for Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch and has supported numerous military medical research programs.
Dr. Tepe’s published works address problems in cognitive psychophysiology, human factors, stress and resilience, human performance, and traumatic brain injury. Dr. Tepe has edited several books, including A Warrior’s Guide to Psychology and Performance (Potomac Books, 2010). She is also interested in military women’s health concerns, including brain and neurosensory injuries.
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Quintin Hecht, AUD
Research Audiologist
Dr. Quintin Hecht is currently a contract Research Audiologist for the DoD Hearing Center of Excellence. He is the chief audiologist for “The Noise Study” at Joint-Base San Antonio, in collaboration with the Dept of Veteran’s Affairs and the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research. Dr. Hecht also reviews, composes, and consults research protocols for future studies alongside our Research Coordinators.
Dr. Hecht earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Disorders as well as a Clinical Doctorate in Audiology from Illinois State University. He is a graduate of the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium and has served as a staff audiologist and as the Chief of Audiology Services during his assignment at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Lackland AFB, TX. Immediately preceding his work at the DoD Hearing Center of Excellence, Dr. Hecht served as the Air Force Hearing Conservation Program Manager, located at USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
Dr. Hecht is a licensed and board certified audiologist as well as a CAOHC certified Course Director and Professional Supervisor of the Audiometric Monitoring Program. He has presented at numerous professional conferences and meetings, to include AMSUS, NHCA, JDVAC, and CAVRN. Dr. Hecht’s research interests include the relationship between noise exposure and hearing loss and tinnitus, ototoxicity, musician hearing care, and hearing protection device fit-testing.
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Tina Penman, AuD
Regional Research Administrator
Dr. Tina Penman serves as a contract Regional Research Administrator for the Hearing Center of Excellence (HCE) at the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR) in the VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon. In her role, Dr. Penman promotes research collaborations between the Department of the Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) and serves as a liaison to other stakeholder groups. Additionally, she provides administrative support to the HCE through writing grants, disseminating research findings, and educating stakeholders. Lastly, she augments research efforts at NCRAR and continues to function as an audiologist in the VA Portland Audiology Clinic. She also serves as faculty in the Speech and Hearing Sciences Department at Portland State University as an Adjunct Assistant Professor.
Dr. Penman is a licensed and board certified audiologist and she received her BS in Behavioral Neuroscience (2006) and Clinical Doctorate in Audiology (2010) from Northeastern University. The long-term goal of the position is to better serve Military Personnel and Veterans through the application of research findings to clinical practices, the real world, and combat-related settings.
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Natasha Gorrell, MSPH, CPH
Research Coordinator
Ms. Natasha Gorrell serves as a contract Research Coordinator for the Hearing Center of Excellence at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland, Texas. Ms. Gorrell provides research project management to various ongoing studies, coordinates the auditory and vestibular funding programs, administrates the Collaborative Auditory/Vestibular Research Network, and provides general research and scientific inputs.
Ms. Gorrell earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from Rice University, and a Master of Science in Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University. Ms. Gorrell has nine years’ experience working in the research field, in topics including cytogenetics, protein engineering, cell biology, vaccines, occupational epidemiology, and health communication and injury prevention.
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Charla Levy, AUD
Research Audiologist
Dr. Charla Levy serves as a contract Research Audiologist for the Hearing Center of Excellence. She assists the Research Directorate by administering audiological research with the guidance of the Research Coordinators. Dr. Levy earned her Bachelors of Science degree, with honors, in Communication Disorders from Texas State University. She completed her Doctorate of Audiology at the University of North Texas and completed her externship at The University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada.
Dr. Levy has been a part of several studies covering a wide range of topics such as hearing aid affordability, brain plasticity in Dementia/Alzheimer’s disease, hearing aid algorithms, hearing amplification technology, hearing in noise, CAPD testing, and pediatric audiological testing. She has been published in several research papers and has presented at the American Academy of Audiology’s national conference twice.
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Nina Pryor, AuD
Regional Administrator
Dr. Nina Pryor is a contract Regional Research Coordinator/Administrator for the Defense Hearing Center of Excellence. Located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, Dr. Pryor serves the North Central region of the United States. She facilitates collaborations between DoD, VA, academic, and industry researchers; provides general administrative support for the HCE; and assists with research efforts at the Air Force Research Laboratory under the 711th Human Performance Wing as a Research Audiologist for the Battlespace Acoustics Branch.
Dr. Pryor earned a Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of Utah and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Toledo. Prior to joining the HCE, she was a Doctoral Fellow at the Dayton VAMC in Dayton, Ohio.
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Veotria “Veda” Byrd
Research Coordinator
Ms. Veotria “Veda” Byrd serves as a contract Project Director and provides support for Hearing Fitness for Duty (FFD) developments at the Department of Defense Hearing Center of Excellence (DoD HCE) at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC).
She has over 12 years’ experience in research, and has worked in various healthcare and academia environments. She has worked in several research disciplines and capacities to include oncology, occupational health, general surgery, anesthesiology, pain medicine, substance abuse, and education. Assignments were with Georgetown University Medical Center Lombardi Cancer Center (Washington, DC), Washington Occupational Health Associates (Washington, DC), Westat (in support of) The National Cancer Institute and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (Rockville, MD and Hampton Roads, VA), The Geneva Foundation (Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA), Duke University Medical Center, and the Durham VA Medical Center (Durham, NC).
Ms. Byrd graduated from Columbia Union College where she earned a B.S. in Healthcare Administration. She earned her Master’s in Public Health from Walden University and is currently completing dissertation requirements for her PhD in Public Health/Epidemiology
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Kelly Watts, AUD
Northeast Regional Research Coordinator/Administrator
Dr. Kelly Watts serves as the contract Northeast Regional Research Coordinator/Administrator for the Defense Hearing Center of Excellence at the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory (NSMRL), Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut. In this capacity, she provides input to scientific manuscripts and protocols, provides audiological monitoring to support warfighter performance research activities, and acts as a project manager for a hearing preservation and auditory injury intervention effort. In supporting the HCE’s Comprehensive Hearing Healthcare Program, she has participated in hearing conservation community outreach.
Dr. Watts obtained her doctorate in audiology from Arizona State University. Her undergraduate degree, a Bachelor’s of arts in Brain and Cognitive Sciences, was obtained from the University of Rochester. Prior to joining the HCE, she was a research audiologist at the James H. Quillen VAMC in Mountain Home, Tennessee.