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Our Audiologists

Our staff is made up of highly trained experienced clinicians. All of our audiologists have earned a Doctor of Audiology Degree from an accredited University. They also hold California Audiology/Dispensing Licenses; Certificates of Clinical Competence from the American Speech & Hearing Association; and membership in the American Academy of Audiology. Our hearing aid dispenser holds a B.A. in Communication Disorders and is a Licensed Hearing Aid Dispenser. Together our staff has over 90+ years of experience that they bring to helping you find the right solutions for your communication problems!

All of our professional staff keeps up on new products and testing procedures by attending many continuing education classes and meetings every year. They also have advanced training in digital hearing aids and digital hearing aid programming.



Mary Ann Gilbert Au.D., FAAA, CCC-A

Doctor of Audiology

Dr. Gilbert earned her Doctor of Audiology in 2006 from A.T. Still University, School of Health Sciences. She also has a B.A. and an M.A. in Communication Disorders with an Emphasis in Audiology from the University of California, Fullerton. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech & Hearing Association.

She is a member of the American Academy of Audiology, the Academy of Doctor's of Audiology, and the California Academy of Audiology. She is licensed by the State of California as an audiologist.

After completing her Master's Degree Mary Ann became a staff audiologist at the famous House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles. During that time she did diagnostic audiology, rehabilitative audiology and was instrumental in developing a pediatric test program and in designing a pediatric test facility for them.

In 1983 she joined the staff of Whittier Hearing Center. She was the first audiologist in Whittier to provide both clinical/diagnostic services as well as rehabilitative audiology. Over the years many of the local hospitals and clinics have contracted with Whittier Hearing Center because of Dr. Gilbert's expertise and reputation.

Dr. Gilbert has considerable experience working with difficult hearing losses. According to her "I enjoy the challenge and satisfaction of solving difficult problems. There is nothing better than the smiling faces of a patient and their family when we finally get them hearing well again."

Mary Ann has two grown children and two grandchildren. She is active in a variety of local civic organizations. When she is not playing with the grandchildren you can find her curled up in her room reading a good book.

 


Oscar Narro Au.D., FAAA, CCC-A

Doctor of Audiology

Dr. Oscar Narro earned his Doctor of Audiology in 2007 from the A.T. University School of Health Sciences. He also has a Masters Degree in Communication Disorders and a Bachelors in Speech Pathology. In addition to his formal education, he also holds the American Speech & Hearing Association's Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology; is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology; is a Fellow of the Academy of Doctor's of Audiology; and is licensed by the State of California as an audiologist.

Dr. Narro has been helping those with hearing problems for over 29 years. He started in 1981 when he was still an undergraduate student by working as an audiometric technician for a prominent Ear-Nose-Throat physician in Monterey Park. He joined Whittier Hearing Center in 1983 and has made it his home ever since.

Oscar really enjoys the people aspects of this profession. He really enjoys improving people's lives with hearing instruments When he is asked what he does for a living he answers, "I change people's lives, I bring families closer together, and I've even been accused of saving a marriage or two." Oscar is also fluent in Spanish and is happy to see Spanish speaking patients for both diagnostic testing and for hearing aids.

Dr. Narro is married with the children who both attend local universities. He is active in the Whittier Host Lions Club and has served as their hearing committee chairman for several years. He is a Laker and Dodger fan, and he enjoys playing the guitar and attending live music events.


Carole Maa Au.D., FAAA, CCC-A

Doctor of Audiology

Dr. Carole Maa earned her Doctor of Audiology in 2007 from the A.T. Still University, School of Health Sciences. She is licensed by the State of California as an Audiologist . She also holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech & Hearing Association and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology.

Dr. Maa joined the staff at Whittier Hearing Center in 1991 while she was a graduate student at California State University, Long Beach. She was very interested in helping people to hear better and wanted more hands on experience with hearing aids. She loved it so much that she stayed on. She has now been with the practice for over 15 years.

Carole really enjoys the challenge of working with difficult hearing losses. "I love the way people's faces light up when I finally fit them with the right hearing aids for their hearing loss and listening needs." She has considerable experience with the very tiny, virtually invisible, CIC aids that many patients prefer.

Carole has a husband and two school-aged children. She works part-time and when she is not in the office you can find her on the basketball court or in the classroom helping her children and their teachers.


Lana Hamburger B.A., Communication Disorders

Licensed Hearing Aid Dispenser

Lana Hambuger is a licensed hearing aid dispenser with 23 years of experience. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communicative Disorders in December 2007.

Prior to coming to Whittier Hearing Center, Lana worked for a major hearing aid chain. She was disappointed that the advertising dollar and sales commission greatly affected the cost of the hearing aid. She says, "It is refreshing to work for an ethical company whose motto is 'You will never find a hearing aid salesman, but individuals that are committed to finding the best solutions to solving your listening needs.'" Lana especially enjoys counseling patients on how better to communicate with their loved ones. She really understands that hearing aids are only part of the solution.

Lana is married and has three grown sons and two grandsons. When she is not working, you can find her enjoying time with her family, watching the Laker games, and traveling.


Cathy Musulli Au.D., FAAA, CCC-A

Doctor of Audiology

Dr. Musulli earned her Doctor of Audiology from A.T. Stills University School of Health Sciences in 2007. Prior to this she had earned a B.A in education and an M.S, in Communication Disorders with an emphasis in Audiology. Dr. Musulli is licensed in California as an Audiologist. She also holds the American Speech & Hearing Association's Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology.

Dr. Musulli entered audiology after teaching elementary school for eight years and raising three daughters. She chose audiology because of the difference she could make in people's lives. Cathy perfected her professional skills while working at UCLA Audiology Clinic for nine years. During that time she worked with both adults and children. She helped start their newborn hearing screening program and worked with deaf children who needed cochlear implants. She worked very closely with the physicians at UCLA and excels at diagnostic audiology. There is almost no hearing problem that she has not seen. We feel honored to have her on our staff!

While Cathy is very good at diagnostic audiology she is even better at hearing aids. Her patients love her calm and caring manner. They appreciate that she never rushes them and takes all the time they need to answer their questions and insure that they are comfortable with the decisions being made about their hearing healthcare. Perhaps that is the teacher coming out in her!

Cathy says that her joy comes in working with people, whether they are newborns or 100+ years old. She enjoys learning from them and helping them find the right solutions for their personal hearing problems.

Cathy is married and has three grown daughters. When she is not working she likes to sing, cook and work in her garden. She also loves to go shopping with her daughters.


Kim Ortega Au.D., FAAA, CCC-A

Doctor of Audiology

Dr. Kim Ortega earned her Doctor of Audiology from the University of Florida in 2009. She also holds a B.A. in Communication Disorders from California State University, Fullerton and an M.A. in Audiology from California State University, Los Angeles. She is licensed in California as an Audiologist. She holds the American Speech & Hearing Association's Certificate of Clinical Competence and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology.

Dr. Ortega originally wanted to be a teacher. In 2002 she was working as an Assistant Teacher at a school for the hearing impaired. That is where her passion for audiology began. Although she was very close to completing her degree in teaching, she changed majors and began working toward a degree in Audiology. While this cost her quite a bit of extra tuition, and time, she has never regretted the decision. She LOVES being an audiologist.

Dr. Ortega says that there is no greater joy then helping to improve people's ability to hear. It does not matter whether it is a young child who can now hear and learn to speak; a working person who can now keep their job; or a retiree who can now hear their grandchildren; she loves making a difference in each patient's life!

Kim works in our office about 4 days per week. We wish she was here full time, but she already has a full time job at home with a husband and two small children. When Kim does catch a few minutes for herself she is an avid reader and also enjoys an occasional trip to the gym (when she can fit it in).


Learn more about our AudigyCertified Professionals.