Our Audiologists

John Voss, Au.D.

Doctor of Audiology

I am committed to helping people hear because as a teenager I worked at a summer camp where I experienced firsthand the surprising and incredible difficulties faced by people with hearing loss. How they weren’t able to participate easily in many of the things the other campers were able to do. How they missed out because other people couldn’t or wouldn’t take the extra time and effort to communicate with them. I saw how people with hearing loss were missing out on important parts of their life.

I was motivated to do something about it. My attention to helping those with hearing loss is what set me on the path to become an Audiologist. My first professional experience was following the Vietnam War while in the US Army I met and was able to help soldiers with their hearing loss, something many still cope with today.

I believe that the best patient care comes from a well trained individual who will listen to the concerns and needs of each person who seeks my help. This person must operate in an independent local manner catering to the hearing health care needs of the local population as opposed to outside investor interests. After the war I joined a Duluth medical clinic as an Audiologist, but the needs of those with hearing loss weren’t the passion of the clinic in the same way they were my passion. Therefore as soon as I was able I started Hearing Associates. Hearing Associates exists to allow the Audiologist to freely choose and direct the treatment plan for each individual person with a hearing loss.

Keeping well connected professionally enables me to know what the newest, best, most cost effective, and patient friendly, options are. In addition I believe professional organizations are important for the growth of the profession and a way for me to improve my skills in caring for the patient. For that reason, I belong to the Minnesota Academy of Audiology and have served as a board member. Membership is also maintained in the American Academy of Audiology and the Academy of Doctors of Audiology.

Educationally, a B.S. degree was earned from Minnesota State University – Mankato a long time ago. In 1979 I went back to school at the University of Minnesota – Duluth to earn a M.Ed. degree in Audiology. At that time I figured I was done with my formal education but life had other ideas. In 2001 I completed the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree from Pennsylvania College of Optometry – School of Audiology (now Salus University).

In my non-work time I enjoy being with my grandchildren (and kids, too), traveling, golfing, biking, and hiking. I also enjoy involvement in my church and other volunteer organizations that help the local community. In January, 2009 I went to Mississippi to help families ‘still’ rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. My personal dream is to buy a motorcycle and travel a good part of Route 66 before it disappears.

Sara K. Downs, Au.D.

Doctor of Audiology

I love being an audiologist! It is immensely rewarding to help people hear better and connect with the world again. One of my daily highs is sharing the experience of better hearing with a patient who hasn’t been hearing well for years, when they and their loved ones have been so frustrated by the breakdown in communication. It’s the look of relief on the spouses face when he or she realizes they won’t have to repeat as much anymore. It’s the feeling of regained confidence I see in patients when they no longer have to rely on their partner to be their ears. That’s why I am an audiologist. My other passion at work is helping people who suffer with tinnitus or ringing in the ears. I regularly see my tinnitus patients be transformed from feeling depressed and irritable to feeling in control and happy again. It’s those transformations that make audiology so rewarding.

I joined Hearing Associates in 2002 because I share the vision of our clinic to help each patient by addressing their needs as an individual. Our audiologists are trained to use products from many manufacturers and we are always trying the products on the cutting edge of technology. Because no manufacturer’s product line can adequately meet the needs of all our patients, we use products from many different companies and that list of companies changes as quickly as technology continues to advance. We use hearing aids, tinnitus devices, and assistive listening devices to accommodate our patients with all their personal communication needs.

In such a rapidly changing environment, it is vitally important that I take time for professional development. I am a member of the Minnesota Academy of Audiology, the American Academy of Audiology and the Academy of Doctors of Audiology. I recently received the Scholar Award from the American Academy of Audiology for completing continuing education above and beyond what is required of me annually. I received my Bachelor’s Degree at the University of North Dakota and I earned my Master’s Degree from Idaho State University. In 2005 I completed the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry-School of Audiology.

My other life consists of being a loving mom to my two sons. My husband and I spend a lot of time outside pitching baseballs, biking, and walking. In the summer of 2008 I participated in a 60 mile walk to raise money for breast cancer research. My personal dream is to travel around the world with my children because I want them to have a profound understanding of the world and for the people with whom they share it.

Jonathan Gervais, Au.D.

Doctor of Audiology

Helping people to hear better and be more active in their lives has been a passion of mine for many years. I first became aware of the importance of hearing as a child. From the age of 2 to 12 I had significant hearing impairment due to middle ear problems. I remember the frequent visits to the ear doctor and audiologist and I believe that sparked an interest that led me to this profession.

I have a wife who is a speech therapist in the schools and a two year old daughter that I enjoy spending my time with. My family and I are involved in our church and enjoy spending as much time with friends and family as possible. My wife, daughter and I, love the outdoors and feel this is the perfect place to grow our family.

I received my Master of Arts degree in audiology in 1997 and began my professional career at the University of Iowa. In 1999 I joined a large clinic in Duluth and completed my doctorate degree in 2003. After nearly 8 years in the Duluth area I joined the Hearing Associates team in 2007. Hearing Associates has allowed me to provide personalized care to my patients in a way that I have never before encountered in the field of Audiology. It is my belief that Hearing Associates offers the best hearing care in the Northland one patient at a time.

Dr. Denise Hove, Au.D.

Doctor of Audiology

Growing up I was mainstreamed with several children who were Deaf and hard of hearing. One became a very good friend of mine. I was fascinated by their hearing aids, FM systems and even interpreters. When it came time to choose a career path, I was pulled to audiology because of the wonderful combination of people and science. Helping families cope with hearing loss coupled with being involved in cutting edge technology keeps me invigorated and excited to start each day.

After receiving my Masters of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1996, my husband and I moved to Virginia, MN. There, I worked nearly 14 years at a medical clinic. In 2003, I earned my Doctorate of Audiology from the University of Florida. I recently joined Hearing Associates. I am looking forward to meeting the residents of the Grand Rapids area. I believe strongly in continuing education and attend lectures and conferences to keep current with today’s rapidly changing technology. I am also a member of the American Academy of Audiology and the Minnesota Academy of Audiology.
For fun, I love to read and spend time with family. My husband, children and I love to camp and fish in the summer and head out for “adventures” in the winter, whether it be a trip to a zoo or mystery road trip.

Dr. Pamela Glamm, Au.D.

Doctor of Audiology

Being an audiologist has been a very rewarding experience. I enjoy being able to work with patients and their support systems on a consistent basis, addressing their hearing needs and finding solutions for everyday communication. Times are consistently changing and keeping up with new technology helps me provide the best services to patients. I am a member of the American Academy of Audiology and also the Minnesota Academy of Audiology.

I received my Bachelors of Science in Communicative Disorders and University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and continued on to earn my Doctorate of Audiology at Ball State University in Indiana. I have had experience being an audiologist in a medical clinic, and I look forward to working with patients on a more individualized basis at Hearing Associates. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband and our families, traveling to visit friends and working on making our house a home.