HLAA-New York State Association Professional Advisory Committee
Listed in alphabetical order. See PDF for complete list >>
Each PAC member serves a two year term.
Dr. Gerard Buckley is President Emeritus of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), having served in that capacity at Rochester Institute of Technology for 15 years before stepping down in the summer of 2025. He has also served as the President of the Board of ADARA and President of the Lexington School for the Deaf Board of Trustees in New York City. Dr. Buckley is past president of the American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association and has served on the National Advisory Board of NIH’s Institute on Deafness. Dr. Buckley is a Cochlear Implant recipient and a loyal supporter of HLAA.
Term: Jan. 1st, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2027
HLAA-NYSA Liaison: Sue Miller
Dr. Salvatore Gruttadauria is the Owner and CEO of Diversified Hearing • Rehabilitation • Balance, an award-winning, multidisciplinary practice providing audiology/hearing aid services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology (including voice and swallowing therapy), and comprehensive vestibular (dizziness and balance) assessment and treatment for children and adults. He earned his Master’s degree from the University of Buffalo and his Doctorate from the University of Florida. Known to patients as Dr. Sal, he serves as an adjunct professor at the University at Buffalo and is the Clinical Director for BalanceBack, a manufacturer of vestibular testing and rehabilitation equipment. Dr. Gruttadauria has held multiple leadership roles at the state and regional levels and lectures extensively on audiology, rehabilitation, and professional practice issues. He is licensed in both Audiology and Speech/Language Pathology.
Term: Jan. 1st, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2026
HLAA-NYSA Liaison: Sue Miller
Charles Johnstone (also known as Chas or Charlie), provides presentation technology acquisition and support at NTID, including ALD’s at RIT for over 40 years. He also oversaw all the presentation support including the ALD’S for the National SHHH Convention when it came to Rochester in 1988. He is the recipient of the 2021 Rochester Chapter award and Coordinator of the ALD Demonstration Center. He is also a team member of the Rochester Chapter Technology Committee and a was major player in making the Rochester Chapter “virtual friendly” during the Covid pandemic. The New York State Court System recognized his knowledge when we were asked to evaluate the courtrooms in Rochester, hiring him to guide them as a consultant on access technology throughout the state Unified Court System.
Term: Jan. 1st, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2027
HLAA-NYSA Liaison: Dan Brooks
Dr. Christine Kim is an otologist in the Department of Otolaryngology at Albany Medical Center Hospital. She received her medical degree from Albany Medical College and completed her otolaryngology residency at Albany Medical Center Hospital and her otology fellowship at the Silverstein Institute in Sarasota, FL. She returned to the capital region of New York and is eager to raise awareness of hearing loss and deliver hearing rehabilitative options. Dr. Kim had a number of peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national meetings throughout her training and looks forward to continuing clinical research projects.
Term: Jan. 1st, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2027
HLAA-NYSA Liaison: Mary Kate Owens
David M. Landsberger, PhD. is an auditory scientist at NYU Langone Medical Center. He studies hearing impairment and how the auditory system responds to electrical stimulation with a cochlear implant. Dr. Landsberger’s work focuses on diverse topics such as improving cochlear implant algorithms, electrode designs, and music perception through a cochlear implant. In 2019, he co-founded York Sound, which is a company developing a noise reduction algorithm for hearing aids and cochlear implants that removes the background of other people talking. He originally became involved in HLAA through chapters in Southern California and has been an active member of HLAA NYC since moving to New York in 2013. Dr. Landsberger served for four years as the chapter’s Professional Advisor before becoming a member of the chapter board in 2020. He also makes it a point to tell people he loves ice cream with crunchy things in it.
Term: Jan. 1st, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2027
HLAA-NYSA Liaison: Anne Pope
Joseph Montano, Ed.D. is a Professor of Audiology in Clinical Otolaryngology at Weill Cornell Medicine. He received his MA degree from New York University, his Ed.D. in Audiology from Teacher’s College Columbia University and is certified in Audiology (CCC-A) through the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA).
Term: Jan. 1st, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2026
HLAA-NYSA Liaison: Jon Taylor
Katrina R. Stidham, M.D., is Chief of Neurotology and Director of the Balance Center and Cochlear Implant Program at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY. Dr. Stidham is a neurotologist and surgeon and is also an associate professor at New York Medical College. She received her medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine, completed her surgical residency at Stanford University, and completed her fellowship in Neurotology/ Skull Base Surgery at the California Ear Institute at Stamford. Prior to joining the WMC team, she practiced in California as the medical director of the Cochlear Implant Program at Children’s Hospital Oakland.
Term: Jan. 1st, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2026
HLAA-NYSA Liaison: Steve Wolfert
Joseph Zesski, is Program Manager of the Northeast ADA Center in Delmar, NY (near Albany) and has served as the New Jersey affiliate of the Northeast ADA through Resources for Independent Living since 2009. He has a Master of Divinity degree from Harvard University and a Bachelors in English Communications from Cabrini Univ. Mr. Zesski’s focus has been on assistive technology, accessible web design, the transition of students with disabilities from high school, and accommodations in the postsecondary education environment. Joe has spoken at the National Disability Employment Awareness Month event in Rockland County and at a HLAA Westchester chapter meeting.
Term: Jan. 1st, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2026
HLAA-NYSA Liaison: Debbie Wolfe