Our Audiologists

Beckie Kaczmarski

Beckie Kaczmarski received her Bachelors Degree in 1986 and her Masters Degree in 1988 from Central Michigan University. She is originally from Detroit and found herself in Grand Rapids after her initial education was complete. In August of 2006 she received her Clinical Doctor of Audiology Degree from A.T. Still University.

She worked in a local private practice for 6 years dealing with all populations, but was specializing in pediatrics. Through that time she witnessed an ever changing environment which inspired her to start her own private practice in May of 1994. She says, "I always welcome challenges and I thought this would be a perfect fit for me." Ten years of devotion to her practice has led her to fill a niche in the area. "I wanted to be known for education, ethics, and high standards in a friendly environment. My original motto was 'We treat you like family.'" She feels that this is the reason her practice has grown so much in such a short time. She feels she has learned so much from her patients. "They enrich my life everyday. I feel it is important to get to know my patients on a personal level in order to best serve their hearing needs. This approach helps my patients feel comfortable coming in no matter what the problem may be." Outside the office she enjoys spending time with her husband of 19 years and her three little boys.

Terry Alsum

Terry Alsum, AuD, is board certified in Audiology. She is a Calvin College alum and received her Master’s degree in Audiology from Michigan State University in 1985. She earned her clinical doctorate in Audiology from Central Michigan University in 2007.

Dr. Alsum has enjoyed broad clinical experience in a variety of settings. She has practiced at Spectrum Health and Michigan Medical PC. Her experience also includes teaching and clinical supervision of students at Calvin College. Other than hearing loss,
a specific area of interest has been balance function testing.

“I’m passionate about audiology and about helping individuals with hearing loss learn to make the best use of today’s wonderful technology. My belief is that this is a process, not an event. The relationship between patient and audiologist is a very important factor in this process. Young professionals often need wireless connectivity to cell phones, stethoscopes or any number of electronic devices. They often have very unique work environments and sometimes fear that hearing aids will not be compatible with their work environment or lifestyle. But there are exciting new technologies available. One active patient recently remarked that I seem to really enjoy my patients and must have a very rewarding job. I couldn’t agree more!”

Angela Barton

Angela Barton received her Bachelors Degree in 1990 and her Masters Degree in Audiology in 1991 from Michigan State University. Since graduation she has made Grand Rapids her home, where she enjoys spending time with her husband of 15 years and
their three children.

Angela has worked in private audiology practices and with Ear, Nose and Throat physicians. She believes these experiences have given her an appreciation of the medical aspect of hearing loss and an understanding of the emotional toll that it can take on the individual as well as their family. Ironically, listening is essential to finding the right "fit" of hearing aids for an individual. Taking the time to get to know each patient and their lifestyle is as important as knowing the type of hearing loss they have. "As an audiologist, the measure of my success and the reward of a job well done is the positive feedback from patients and their families whose lives have been enriched because of better hearing."

Mary Jo Benyo

Mary Jo Benyo, earned her bachelors and masters degrees at Michigan State University and has been working as a clinical audiologist since 1991. Mary Jo received her Clinical Doctor of Audiology Degree from AT Still University in May of 2007.

As an audiologist, there are many different career paths from which to choose and she has found that working as an audiologist in a hearing aid dispensing office is a great fit. She believes a successful hearing aid fitting requires keeping up with the changes in science and technology as well as being a good listener and problem solver.

"Digital hearing aids have given us the ability to provide many more choices for the individual needing help with their hearing. Matching the technology with the person, means spending some time learning about the client, their lifestyle and their communication needs. The process can sometimes be more challenging than expected, but the rewards of better hearing and a happy client makes it all worthwhile."

Barbara Gessner

Barbara Gessner received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Audiology & Speech Sciences in 1980 and her Master of Arts Degree in Audiology in 1982 from Michigan State University. After practicing as an audiologist for 25 years, she enrolled at Salus University in 2007 for the Doctor of Audiology Degree while continuing to work full-time. Barbara completed her Au.D Degree in October 2009.

Her 27 year career as a practicing Audiologist has included her first year of practice on staff with the Grand Rapids Public Schools as an Educational Audiologist for the hearing-impaired children enrolled in the Oral Education Program, followed by 26 years as a Clinical Audiologist in the private practices of several Ear, Nose and Throat physicians located in Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, Holland, and Zeeland. During those years, Barbara enjoyed providing diagnostic evaluations of hearing disorders in a medical setting to patients ranging in age from infants to the geriatric population, finding the medical aspects of hearing loss intriguing and educational. In addition to her interest in the diagnostic aspects of audiological services, she has also enjoyed dispensing state-of-the-art hearing aids to her patients, matching the technology to the individual according to their lifestyle and communication needs.

In 27 years, Barbara has witnessed an evolution in hearing aid electronics, observing that “today’s fully digital hearing aids are miracles in miniature computers custom-programmed to the hearing loss of the individual and providing connectivity to today’s electronic gadgets in ways never imagined at the beginning of her career. It is exciting to see what technology can offer to those with hearing loss, opening up their world and engaging them again in communication with loved ones, friends, and co-workers, whether in face-to-face conversations, in noisy social surroundings, on a cell phone, listening to an iPod, or in a house of worship….and, not missing a word! “Being able to experience and share in bringing the miracle of sound back to the ears of my patients is my greatest reward as an Audiologist!”.