Minnesota Academy of Audiology

2026 Speakers

	Joshua Courter, Pharm.D. earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from The Ohio State University and has completed a residency and fellowship with a focus in pediatric infectious diseases at Connecticut Children's Medical Center. He has worked at Cincinnati Children's for 23 years, precepting pharmacy students and residents for the past 15 years. He has several publications related to adverse events, pharmacokinetics, and quality improvement. Dr. Courter's wife is an audiologist, and he has presented on pharmacology and ototoxicity to audiologists and Au.D. students.
	Kelsey Dumanch, Au.D. is a Pediatric Audiologist at Children’s Minnesota. Previous and current areas of clinical work or interests include electrophysiologic testing (ABR, ASSR, and CAEP), hearing aids, cochlear implants, and interdisciplinary collaboration, especially cleft lip and palate. Previous and current areas of research include characterization and serial measurement of ototoxicity in pediatric cancer treatments, ensuring timely cCMV testing and follow-up, and intervention and management for medically-complex infants and children with hearing loss. Dr. Dumanch has given presentations at various national meetings as well as published several peer-reviewed articles. She also serves on various committees, in addition to reviewing manuscripts for several academic journals.
	Ashley Hughes, Au.D. works for e3 Diagnostics as a National Field Trainer. Prior to joining e3 Diagnostics, Dr. Hughes worked clinically, then as a research audiologist, and most recently as a support and training audiologist for a diagnostic equipment manufacturer. She has served as an invited speaker at state and national conferences and is an author of multiple published articles and posters on topics including real-ear measurements, subjective outcome measures, advocacy, mentorship, negotiations, and more.
	Jessica (Jesi) Novak, Au.D., CCC-A, PASC is a licensed audiologist with a specialty certification in pediatric audiology. She is the audiology supervisor at Children’s Minnesota. Jesi’s interests include electrophysiology, hearing aids and cochlear implants, as well as treatment and follow-up with patients who have had ototoxic exposure. She strives to be family and child centered, focusing her treatment to meet the family's goals, no matter what they may be. Jesi is a member of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
	Juliëtte Sterkens, Au.D. has over four decades of experience in audiology, hearing rehabilitation, and assistive listening. Since 2012, she’s been on her encore career as an assistive listening advocate with the Hearing Loss Association of America. Her efforts have resulted in a 1000-plus Wisconsin hearing loop installations, as well as many more nationwide. She has been recognized for her work with the American Academy of Audiology Presidential and Wisconsin Audiologist of the Year awards. She serves on the board of HEAR-in-the-Fox Cities, a nonprofit that helps cover the cost of hearing aids for children in Northeast Wisconsin.
	Melony Winchester is the Regional Managing Director overseeing 51 retail clinics, and 115 employees in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, and Arizona. She is also a hearing instrument specialist licensed in three states. Melony has been with Starkey for more than 27 years serving in many departments throughout her tenure. In addition to her role as a Regional Managing Director, she chairs the Employee Rewards & Recognition Committee for Audibel Retail. She holds a certificate of Executive Leadership and a Certificate of Performance Leadership from Cornell University.
	Matthew Winn, Au.D., Ph.D. is an associate professor of audiology at the University of Minnesota, and former VA audiologist. Although his AuD and PhD are from the University of Maryland, Minnesota is the place that feels most like home. His lab focuses on listening effort in people with hearing loss – especially those with cochlear implants. He is highly involved with the American Auditory Society and is funded by the National Institutes of Health.