Stockwell, Elizabeth, Marie

“I decided on a career in medicine at an early age, as I have always loved the anatomy and physiology of the human body,” says Alexa Rozycki, Au.D. Originally interested in speech pathology, she shifted to audiology after finding it a more interesting topic. “It was in my undergraduate career where I learned about the anatomy of the ear that kickstarted my career focus in audiology.” A graduate of Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. Her Doctorate of Audiology is from University of Wisconsin—Madison. In her role, Alexa diagnoses and treats hearing loss for patients, from children to adults. “My philosophy as a provider is to treat every patient who comes in my door as a family member or friend, meaning I will treat everyone with the same patience and excellence as I would someone I love,” she says. Alexa sees medicine as a constantly growing filed and believes that in order to provide the best care for patients, she must always push herself to learn new techniques. In addition to keeping up with her evolving field, she encourages her patients to overcome hearing loss. “When working with those who have a hearing loss, learning how to hear again can seem like an overwhelming task,” she says. “I want to teach every patient who comes to see me that it is never too late to take control of their life, and that I will be by their side every step in that process.” In her own words… Who is or was the most influential people/role models in your life? My mother is the most influential person in my life. What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it? My first job was as a server at Notre Dame. I remember having to learn to balance huge trays of food on my shoulders to serve the staff members. What is your favorite food? Movie? My favorite food is queso and chips for sure, especially if I can enjoy it with my friends and family! My favorite movie is Titanic; it is a classic! What was your best/worst subjects in school growing up? My best subject in school was always science, and my worst subject in school was English and spelling. If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why? I would sit down with my great grandmother. She passed when I was young, but some of my fondest memories revolve around her. I would love to know what she thinks about the person I am today and soak in any advice she may have for me. In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about? I am passionate about taking care of my mental and physical health, whether that means eating some ice cream or taking a walk! What are your hobbies, interests? I love spending time outside (especially on the water), reading, and trying out new places to eat. Do you have pets? I have two dogs, Luna and Papi, who are both Chihuahuas. What is something most people don’t know about you? Something that most people don’t know about me is that I love to sing, but have a terrible singing voice. (So, feel free to pass me the mic at karaoke, but you may regret it!)

About Elizabeth Stockwell With a love of science, Elizabeth Stockwell, Au.D., knew in high school she wanted a career in health care. The specific path became clear to her during her undergraduate course work. “I chose a major in speech language pathology and those classes introduced me to audiology,” she says. Elizabeth graduated from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN, with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Language Pathology. She then earned her Doctorate of Audiology at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI. She has worked at clinics specializing in ear, nose, throat, speech, language and hearing care. Her philosophy as a provider is to deliver patient-centered care. “I want to ensure that patients feel comfortable with the care that they are receiving and that their care will help them reach their goals,” Elizabeth says. Being flexible and creative is an important part of working with patients, she says, adding that it is common for her to change her treatment plans to better meet the goals and needs of the patients. “I understand that no two patients are the same and I want them to feel confident in their goals and the plan to meet those goals,” Elizabeth says. One of the most important lessons she has learned from her patients is the importance of communication. Elizabeth says, “As an audiologist, assessing communication skills is an important part of my job, and my patients have shown me that communication is what connects us to others.” In her own words… Who is or was the most influential people/role models in your life? My mom is one of the influential people in my life. She is a teacher and seeing the way she cares about her students has impacted the way I interact with my patients. What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it? My first real job was as a Helpdesk Consultant for Information Technology at Saint Mary’s College. This job taught me a lot about technology, persistence and patience. What is your favorite food? Movie? Favorite food: everything bagels Favorite movie: Lady Bird What was your best/worst subjects in school growing up? Best subject: English Worst subject: chemistry If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why? I would love to sit down with Taylor Swift, because her music has been a large part of my life since childhood. In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about? I am passionate about music and the arts. I had a dance minor in undergrad and I enjoy watching live performances when I am able to. What are your hobbies, interests? I enjoy reading, crocheting and spending time with my friends, partner and cats. Do you have pets? I have two cats, Auggie and Benji. What is something most people don’t know about you? I lived in Ireland for four months.

About Dr. Courtney Hart After taking a few audiology courses as an undergraduate student, Dr. Courtney Hart, AuD, found her career path. "I was hooked," she says. Dr. Hart earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees: one in Communication Sciences and Disorders and one in English Literature, both from Saint Louis University in St. Louis, MO. Her Doctor of Audiology was earned at University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY. In explaining what she does as an audiologist, Dr. Hart describes her role as diagnosing, managing and treating hearing and balance disorders. She believes that appropriately caring for patients, and listening to their needs and concerns is vital. "In order for patients to become advocates for themselves they must be empowered with proper knowledge," she says. In her own word... What is your favorite food? I am very partial to Dixie Chili, which is a Cincinnati-style chili that I grew up eating with my family. In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about? The environment. What are your hobbies, interests? Yoga, reading, going on walks with my family and exploring South Bend.