Dr. Blair Matern’06, AUD ’10, Director of Multidisciplinary Clinical Operations, Ball State University Faculty of Health, was one of four recent appointments Indiana Speech Pathology and Audiology Commission By Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb. The board’s primary responsibilities include reviewing licenses, dealing with disciplinary matters, and reviewing language and hearing laws and regulations.
Dr. Matern will serve as a director for four years until December 2026, with the possibility of reappointment.
Dr. Matern is thrilled with this new role. “If there are any changes in the state of practice in speech pathology and audiology, the Board will evaluate current practice protocols to ensure that patients are safe and that our profession is open to the public eye. It plays a role in ensuring that we maintain a high level of respect and trust,” said Dr Matern.
“As a board, we are able to provide information relating to the Code of Practice for speech pathologists and audiologists. We may be able to provide additional clarity to practitioners so they can provide services.”
Although Dr. Matern is passionate about this field, he did not initially want to become an audiologist. He was in the pre-med program at Ball State University. However, nearing his college graduation, he realized that traditional medicine was not for him. Having heard from his family about the heightened expectations of health care and about his work-life balance issues, he began to rethink his path.
Ball State has so many options that he decided to explore other areas. Dr. Matern had family members with communication disorders and hearing loss, so he decided to find his way by taking a 100-level Speech Pathology and Audiology course.
“I loved the few weeks we spent discussing audiology so much that I signed up for another course the following semester,” he explained. “That course gave me real hands-on experience in a clinical setting, and I fell in love with it.”
Dr. Matern has been an audiologist since 2010 and joined the Ball State University staff in 2011. In a job he loves, he has had some rewarding experiences. One of his cases that stands out in his mind involved an individual who was diagnosed with severe hearing loss in early childhood. For years he followed the child through appointments and hearing aid fittings, but was not as successful as hoped, but the family was able to pursue cochlear implants. I ran into them outside the clinic.
“Even watching them from a distance, it was incredible to see how the individual interacted with people,” Dr. Matern said. , I’m almost certain I couldn’t have done something like what I witnessed.It’s that kind of experience that really reaffirms what I do.”
Dr. Matern’s current managerial position is Interprofessional Community Clinic, he is patient and unable to work. Still, it’s one of his favorite aspects of his job. On a daily basis, he oversees compliance, finance, sustainability, marketing, and other operational aspects of his four community-facing clinics within Interprofessional Community Clinics. audiology, Counseling practice, speech pathologyand healthy life center.
His colleagues at the College of Health also wish him success in this appointment.
“As director of the multidisciplinary clinical operations of the University of Health, I am grateful for Dr. Matern’s many talents,” he said. Dr. Scott Rutledge, Dean of Health. “His appointment to the State Board of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology is a testament to his growing reputation as a leader in Indiana. I am also lucky to serve the
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