She’s back! Reconnect with Dr. Camille Dunn, PhD, cochlear implant expert, industry leader, and the co-host who helped make our 2023 CI series a success. In this episode, Susan and Camille reunite to set the stage for what’s changed (and what hasn’t) in cochlear implant care since 2023.
What You’ll Hear:
- The State of CI in 2026: From ACIA’s updated candidacy recommendations to Medicare’s expanded criteria and FDA approvals opening doors for new populations, what progress has been made and where are we still stuck?
- Workflow Evolution: Why two-day activations became single-day, and why being open-minded about change is critical for providers today
- Referral Bottlenecks & Capacity Strain: The real barriers keeping 95% of eligible patients from getting implanted
- Telehealth, AI & Trimming Unnecessary Visits: How modern CI programs are rethinking post-operative care
- Breaking Down Silos: Why cochlear implants are no longer just for specialists – general practice audiologists need to be in the loop
- ICIT Partnership Announcement: Learn about the exciting pre-conference hands-on CI training coming to FCOM in November 2026 at the Grand Floridian (Nov 12-15).
Camille brings her experience as Associate Professor and Director of the Iowa Cochlear Implant Clinical Research Center, plus her role co-authoring the landmark ACIA Task Force recommendations for adult CI candidacy. Over the next 12 episodes, she and Susan will tackle the biggest questions in CI care with surgeons, audiologists, researchers, and innovators driving the field forward.
Who should listen? Audiologists (CI specialists AND general practice), otolaryngologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, speech-language pathologists, and anyone working in or around hearing healthcare.
This isn’t just about staying current, it’s about understanding how CI candidacy has fundamentally shifted, and what that means for the patients sitting in front of you today.