Vanderbilt University B.A., cum laude 1962

Northwestern University M.A., V.A. Fellowship 1963

Bill Wilkerson Hearing and Speech Center, Nashville, TN 1963-1965

Northwestern University Medical Center, Auditory Research Lab 1965-1966

Assistant Director, Siegel Institute for Communication Disorders

Michael Reese Medical Center 1966-1989

National Association for Perinatal Addiction Research and Education, Project Director, 1989-1992

Head of Audiology, The Hearing and Speech Center, Chattanooga, TN., 1992-1994

Consulting Audiologist Children's Memorial Hospital and University of Chicago 1994-1996

State License Examiner, Illinois Department of Public Health;

Audiologic Diagnostician/Counselor, Preschool Institute for the Deaf

Licensure: Illinois Department of Professional Regulation

Fellow American Academy of Audiology and Illinois Academy of Audiology

Ava Howard came to Advanced Hearing Services in 1997, continuing her career in business management and her interest in communication disorders. A native Southside Chicagoan currently residing in Calumet City, IL, Ava is married and the mother of a daughter. She cherishes family time, enjoys reading and shopping and states her hobby as "parenting."

Ava began her career at Michael Reese Medical Center in 1980 where she worked as a patient coordinator and finance assistant in the Siegel Institute for Communicative Disorders and later in the Department of Ophthalmology until 1996. Ava had direct contact with patients and also managed the introduction of computers into the department. She was not only a member of the Medical Center family but followed several other family members who were employed at Michael Reese. Ava found time to learn sign language and she served on the Board of Directors of the Michael Reese Credit Union. Ava's areas of expertise include office management and patient service.

At Advanced Hearing Services, Ava is the first contact by phone and in person. She manages all appointments, insurance claims, tracking of hearing aid orders and repairs, battery sales and the Assistive Listening Device Center in the office. She adds her own warm touches to her job - she greets you at the door, holds your coat and sees to your comfort in her own special way. Ava is dedicated and focused on satisfying patients of AHS where, according to Ava, 'understanding, patience and compassion are the most important aspects of good service to patients'.