Laurel Carmen Horne, Au.D, CCC-A, joined the Division of Audiology in March as Visiting Clinical Instructor. Dr. Horne returns to the Division, having done her externship at UI in 2011-2012, then a three-month stint as Clinical Instructor of Audiology. She was involved in the Hearing Assessment Reformation Project (HARP) during her time at UI. She will be in charge of the hearing aid and tinnitus programs for the Division, and Dr. Horne has noticed changes for the better in the Division. “There’s a much larger presence of ENT patients now, and the cochlear program has definitely grown,” said the suburban Chicago native. “It’s great to be back. There’s such an ENT presence here.” Dr. Horne did her doctoral training at Arizona State University, and did research work at its Cochlear Implant Laboratory. She earned her BS degree in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University.
Brooke Pieczara, Au.D., joined the Division of Audiology last December. While her work in the Division covers all patient groups, Dr. Pieczara is focused on vestibular diagnosis and treatment, along with work on Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA), including with pediatric patients. “There’s a very broad range of patients here,” she said. “I like the meatier, challenging cases.” Her work over the first few months has involved collaboration with Miriam I. Redleaf, M.D., head of Otology/Neurotology, and physical therapists, among others, particularly on vestibular cases. She added that working with children, especially in BAHA cases, has “really opened my eyes.” A Chicagoland native, Dr. Pieczara came to UI from a suburban Chicago ENT practice. During her doctoral training at Indiana University, she also trained at Resurrection Medical Center and St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago, as well as St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital. She earned her BS degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Purdue University.