NCRAR Conferences

The NCRAR hosts an international conference every two years in Portland, Oregon, bringing together clinical researchers and practicing audiologists in an interactive format with the goal of translating research findings into practice.

The first conference took place in 2003. It was titled “Auditory Rehabilitation: A Multidimensional Approach” 
The proceedings are published in Seminars in Hearing, 26(2) and 26(3) 2005.
                                                                                                                   
The second conference took place in 2005. It was titled “The Aging Auditory System: Considerations for Rehabilitation”
The proceedings are published in Seminars in Hearing, 24(4) 2006. 

Videos/DVDs of the meetings are available on request from Christine Kaelin: Christine.kaelin@va.gov

Conference organizers Christine Kaelin, Carolyn Landsverk, Dawn Konrad-Martin and Gabrielle Saunders with NCRAR Director Stephen Fausti

The third NCRAR conference "Hearing Therapies for the Future" took place on September 27th & 28th 2007 in Portland OR. One hundred sixty five individuals from 30 states, the UK, New Zealand and Germany attended. On September 26th, seventy five people also attended a one-day pre-conference workshop run by Drs. Theresa Schultz, Col. David Chandler and Kyle Dennis titled "Best Practices in Hearing Loss Prevention."
These two complementary meetings tackled the subject of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and traumatic brain injury (TBI)  from both research and clinical perspectives. In keeping with the NCRAR’s mission to promote translational research, Dawn Konrad-Martin (Program Committee Chair) and her Program Committee (Drs. Jim Jerger, Brenda Lonsbury-Martin, and Al Ryan), put together the highly interesting program while, Gabrielle Saunders, Conference Chair, Christine Kaelin and Carolyn Landsverk organized the conference logistics.

A roundtable discussion panel moderated by Dawn Konrad-Martin

During the meeting scientists, researchers, and clinicians shared their expertise and viewpoints. The meeting benefited in particular from the mix of military, VA, academic and clinical personnel. The poster session, accompanied by pizza, gave attendees an additional opportunity to socialize with their colleagues more informally, while continuing to learn more about NIHL/TBI issues. Posters were presented by scholarship winners, as well as other invited presenters.

Such a comprehensive program wouldnot have been possible without thesupport of our generous sponsors (Interton, NIDCD, Phonak, Siemens, Starkey, and VARR&D),so we would like to again acknowledge the generous sponsorship of these organizations.
The conference sessions will be broadcast by VA Employee Education System via V-tel in the coming year. Schedule information will be available at www.ncrar.research.va.gov.  

Conference participants enjoying the outdoor terrace during the poster session

Ken Pugh discussing his poster with Student Scholarship winners Anna Diedesch and Kelly Watts terrace during the poster session