American Academy of Audiology appoints new executive director: Patrick Gallagher

Gallagher’s track record includes positions with the U.S. General Accounting Office, the American Medical Association, and most recently the Illinois Health and Hospital Association. Currently based in the Chicago suburbs, Gallagher and his family will now relocate to the area of Reston, Virginia, where the AAA has its HQ, just some 37km from the US capital, Washington, DC.

Gallagher replaces current AAA ED Tanya Tolpegin, who has served the Academy for six years, overseeing development of strategic partnerships with audiology professional organisations, the Hearing Industries Association, and other stakeholder groups, while the Academy also experienced widespread growth in volunteer engagement and strong student membership growth. Tolpegin cultivated a solid financial foundation to weather COVID-19 and to support members in unprecedented times, says the AAA in its announcement of the appointment.

“The search committee worked diligently to select the best candidate for this position, Patrick Gallagher, from a group of nearly 100 applicants. Gallagher’s innovative vision, leadership skills, and broad experience in health-care legislative, regulatory, and public policy issues position him well to lead the Academy forward,” said AAA President Angela Shoup.

Gallagher himself said, “I am very excited to join the Academy team to work on furthering its mission of promoting quality hearing and balance care during these times of rapidly changing health care.”

“Academy members provide essential health-care services that help patients become more fully engaged with the world around them, and I am committed to meeting the needs of members so they can better serve their patients,” he added.

Source: AAA