AFA Executive Director Susan Paarlberg (right) and AFA Founder David P. Goldstein (second from right) present the David P. Goldstein, Ph.D. Outstanding Audiologist Award to Linda and Richard Burba in their Glen Ellyn, Ill, office.

The Audiology Foundation of America’s (AFA) fourth annual David P. Goldstein, PhD Outstanding Audiologist award has been presented this year to Linda Burba, AuD, and her husband and business partner Richard Burba, MBA. The award was presented during a surprise October visit to Burba’s Glen Ellyn, Ill, office by Susan Paarlberg, AFA executive director, and Goldstein, AFA chair emeritus.

The award recognizes the accomplishments of individuals who have made significant contributions to the profession of audiology by promoting its transformation to a doctoral profession with the AuD as its distinctive designator. The award also holds as core values the importance of setting an example for future audiologists as well as excellence in providing quality patient care. Previous winners were David Cieliczka, AuD, Nancy N. Green, AuD, and Larry R. Engelmann, AuD.

The award honors Goldstein, founding chair of the AFA, for his devotion to the improvement of education for future audiologists and the promotion of the AuD degree. His leadership of the AFA, Lafayette, Ind, for its first decade shaped the profession’s ideas about how the transition to doctoring status could be achieved for working professionals, as well as career entrants. Goldstein is professor emeritus at Purdue University.

Linda Burba, a private practitioner, received her AuD in 2001 from the Arizona School of Health Sciences. She has worked on licensure efforts in Illinois, and with the Illinois Academy of Audiology, and has served on the board of directors of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology. Richard Burba has long worked side-by-side with Linda in their audiology practice to run the business side of the practice. From 2000 to 2005, he served the AFA as director and treasurer, and currently sits on the AFA’s senior advisors council.

[Source: AFA]