Meet the experts

M. Samantha Lewis, PhD, is an associate professor in the School of Audiology at Pacific University in Hillsboro, Oregon. She also maintains appointments with the Veterans Affairs (VA) Rehabilitation Research and Development Service (RR&D) National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR) at the VA Portland Health Care System and with the Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery at the Oregon Health & Science University. Both of these institutions are located in Portland, Oregon. 

Prior to joining the School of Audiology at Pacific University, M. Samantha Lewis, PhD, enjoyed an almost 15-year career in auditory research at the VA RR&D NCRAR. She’s been involved with the Noise Outcomes in Servicemembers Epidemiology (NOISE) Study since its inception. The NOISE Study began as a Department of Defense (DoD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program Investigator-Initiated Research Award (#PR121146) and is now funded via a Joint Warfighter Medical Research Program Award (#JW160036). It is worth noting that Dr. Lewis also served as a co-investigator on two VA RR&D Merit Review grants exploring the relationship between blast exposure and performance on measures of central auditory function (#B5067R; #C7755-1). She’s also been involved with the VA/DoD (C)APD Working Group.

Taylor Van Gerpen is in her fourth year of the Doctorate of Audiology program at the University of South Dakota. She is currently completing her externship at the Sioux Falls VA Medical Center, with a focus on hearing aids and hearing assistive technology.

Cindi has been employed with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for over 19 years. She holds a Masters’ degree in Occupational Therapy and has an extensive background in restaurant management. As an Occupational Therapist with the VHA, Ms. Wilson has experience providing treatment to Veterans in a wide variety of care settings, including inpatient, outpatient, mental health, home-based care, long-term care, and residential programs. In 2011 as the VHA Office of Patient Centered Care & Cultural Transformation (OPCC&CT) was being established, Ms. Wilson joined the team as one of the first Field Implementation Consultants for Whole Health System implementation. In this role, Cindi is responsible for providing support to VHA facilities in implementing Whole Health. She is a member of the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR) workgroup integrating Whole Health concepts and material into the Progressive Tinnitus Management (PTM) clinical program. Ms. Wilson maintains Occupational Therapy credentials, is certified in VHA Coach-Mentorship, IHI Improvement Coaching, and PROSCI Change Management. Ms. Wilson works virtually out of her Port Saint Lucie, FL home.