Get to Know AAS
Dave Fabry, PhD, AAS Board Member Posted: July 31, 2025
 How long have you been affiliated with AAS?
Dr. Fabry: I have been attending AAS since I received my Master’s degree in Audiology in 1984. I was attracted to AAS at an early professional “age”, as I was interested in translational research almost immediately, as I worked as a “chinnie tester” ion David Nelson and W. Dixon (Dix) Ward’s laboratory, but also worked with Wayne Olsen, Darrell Rose, Chris Buach and others Mayo Clinic-Rochester. I presented the results of my Master’s Thesis at AAS and ultimately published an article in Ear and Hearing in 1988 with my mentor and academic advisor at the University of Minnesota, Dianne Van Tasell. That work led directly to my Dissertation topic, which focused on the use of noise reduction in hearing aids. How time flies, and it is hard to believe that I have been a member for more than 40 years.
What is one of your favorite things about AAS?
Dr. Fabry: It's impossible to pick ONE thing - I love the Carhart Lecture & poster sessions at the Annual Convention, and I love that there are designated Board positions for Audiology, Hearing Science, Otolaryngology AND Industry, and I am proud to have served two terms on the Board.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting out in their career (auditory science or not), what would it be?
Dr. Fabry: My advice comes from Steve Jobs: "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” I doubt that I would go to Jobs for quotes on parenthood, but I agree with his philosophy regarding letting OTHER people’s opinion drown out your own inner voice. I have been blessed to have many outstanding mentors during my career, but ultimately my career choices have been mine, and I am fortunate to have had a 40+ year career in the same discipline, doing a variety of different things. I LOVE everything about Audiology: the clinical, research, and educational aspects.
What is one fun fact about you that we might not know?
Dr. Fabry: Pick one: I swam Alcatraz a dozen years ago on my birthday — the day that I outlived my Dad, even though I had never swam in open water before. I was also the dorm chugging champion at Middlebrook Hall during my my Freshman year at the University of Minnesota in 1977.
Any other things you would like to share?
Dr. Fabry: Join AAS, attend the conference, read the journal, and support the profession by donating to the AAS. It is a small, but mighty organization that is worthy of your support!
Rachael Frush Holt, PhD, AAS President Posted: March 13, 2025
As we start to curate content and discussions in our Mentoring Community, we thought it might be fun to start a Get to Know AAS Series. To kick off our series, AAS Student and Mentoring Committee Chair, Tina Grieco-Calub, had a short Q&A with our President of AAS, Rachael Frush Holt. Thank you, Rachael, for sharing with us!!
How long have you been affiliated with AAS?
Dr. Frush Holt: I have been attending the AAS meeting for over 20 years. I started coming as a doctoral student and presented my first podium presentation as a post-doc in 2005.
What is one of your favorite things about AAS?
Dr. Frush Holt: I have two equally favorite things. They are that the scientific content of the AAS meeting is always high quality such that I learn something new from all the talks and posters, and that the people who attend our conference and are members of our society are some of the most collaborative and welcoming scientists, clinicians, and professionals in our field. Together, these two things make AAS my favorite society in which to be involved.
If you could give one piece of advice to a student entering the field of auditory science, what would it be?
Dr. Frush Holt: Find a team of people who can mentor you from diverse perspectives. No one person can provide all the mentoring that one individual needs; assembling a team that can support you in different ways is important for your success. These people don’t need to be, nor should they all be, academics. You are a multidimensional person and your mentoring team should reflect that.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting out in their career (auditory science or not), what would it be?
Dr. Frush Holt: In addition to assembling a mentoring team as discussed above (everyone needs mentors), my advice for early career folks is really basic and practical: create a writing group. This can take multiple forms, but the part that I think is most critical is that it has an accountability component – group members who you tell your writing goals to and who you must fess up to every week or every other week as to whether you met those goals or not. I have a writing partner (we used to be a group, but it’s just down to the two of us) that I have shared my writing goals, achievements, and failures with for almost 20 years. It has been one of the best ways to keep me honest and on-track with writing when other work responsibilities and life gets in the way…..because they both will and your writing group can help keep you honest and support you.
What is one fun fact about you that we might not know?
Dr. Frush Holt: As a child and teen, I was a competitive gymnast and played in the International Floor Hockey Tournament twice as a defenseperson. I’m guessing you didn’t even know there was an international floor hockey tournament! It’s held annually in Battle Creek, MI.
Any other things you would like to share?
Dr. Frush Holt: No, because I’m an introvert!!
Darla Eastlack, AAS Executive Director Posted: April 8, 2025
Although the name, Darla Eastlack, is likely very familiar to you, we had an opportunity to learn more about the amazing Executive Director of AAS.
 How long have you been affiliated with AAS?
Darla Eastlack: I’ve been affiliated with AAS for 12 years. Drs. Harvey Abrams, Carmen Brewer, Linda Hood, Anil Lalwani, and Beth Prieve were members of a management search task force that hired me as Executive Director in 2013.
What is one of your favorite things about AAS?
Darla Eastlack: My favorite thing about AAS is the people. Our membership and conference attendees have such a great sense of camaraderie! Witnessing the collaboration and support is inspiring, and I love meeting new attendees and catching up with regulars at our conferences.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting out in their career (auditory science or not), what would it be?
Darla Eastlack: Embrace continuous learning and adaptation. Changes and challenges are going to arise…view those instances as an opportunity for learning and development.
What is one fun fact about you that we might not know?
Darla Eastlack: I was born and raised in the Garden State and I'm a farm girl at heart. My family sold Christmas trees from our historic farmhouse…former colleagues were always surprised to see me driving a John Deere and using a chainsaw to cut trees. My focus has moved to gardening, and I’ve become quite the pumpkin farmer!
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