Director - Miriam Redleaf, M.D.

Dr. Miriam Redleaf, M.D. is the director of the division of Audiology

Miriam Redleaf M.D. is a Professor of Otolaryngology (Ear Nose Throat) and the Director of Otology Hearing Services at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System , Department of Otolaryngology. Dr. Redleaf, is an expert in diseases of the ear and Board-certified otologist/ neurotologist. She also leads our vestibular program and Audiology Division. A patient-focused clinician with outstanding training, Dr. Redleaf is a graduate of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Redleaf specializes in medical and surgical problems of the ear and skull base, and works extensively with hearing impairment and pediatric cochlear implants. A Diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology, she has received a “Certificate of Added Qualification” (CAQ) in otology/ neurotology has published numerous peer-reviewed articles. To know more click here

Dr. Redleaf received her medical degree from University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. She then completed her residency in Otolaryngology and her fellowship in Otology from the University of Iowa.

Jeffrey Yu, M.D.

Dr. Jeffery Yu, MD is an Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology (Ear Nose and Throat) and a member of the Otology Hearing Services at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System

Jeffery Yu, MD is an Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology (Ear Nose and Throat) and a member of the Otology Hearing Services at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Department of Otolaryngology. Dr. Yu is an expert in diseases of the ear including the auditory and vestibular system. Dr. Yu specializes in medical and surgical problems of the external, middle, inner ear and skull base. He has a clinical interest in cochlear implantation and assistive listening devices.

Dr.Yu obtained his medical degree from Queen’s University School of Medicine in Kingston, Ontario, Canada and completed his residency in otolaryngology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He then went to Charlottesville, Virginia and completed a fellowship in Neurotology at the University of Virginia.

Co-Director - Deanna Kattah Matusik, Au.D., CISC, CCC-A

Dr. Matusik brings with her clinical interests in audiological diagnostics and rehabilitation, and auditory implants, including extensive experience with hearing aid evaluations and fittings.

Deanna Kattah Matusik, AuD, CISC, CCC-A, is the Co-Director of Audiology and the Cochlear Implant Program Coordinator at UI Health. Dr. Matusik has been at UI Health since December 2010. She obtained her clinical doctorate in Audiology in 2009 from Northern Illinois University and completed a portion of her clinical externship year at UI Hospital in 2008. In October 2014, she obtained specialty board certification in cochlear implants through the American Board of Audiology. In addition to her extensive experience in cochlear implants, for both pediatric and adult patients, her interests and experience extend to diagnostics, tinnitus evaluations and management, hearing aid evaluations and fittings, and osseintegrated hearing implants. Her primary research interest involves aural (re)habilitation and its impact on post-cochlear implant progress.

Co-Director - Nichole Suss, Au.D., CCC-A

Dr. Suss clinical interests include pediatric and adult diagnostics, amplification, auditory evoked potentials, and osseointegrated hearing implants.

Dr. Suss is the Co-Director of Audiology. She has been at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System since August of 2005. Her clinical interests include pediatric and adult diagnostics, amplification, auditory evoked potentials, and osseointegrated hearing implants. Dr. Suss enjoys thinking of new ways to help our clinic adapt to the scientific and technological changes that challenge our field, as well as considering better ways to best serve our patients. In addition to clinical work, Dr. Suss enjoys presenting lectures on Audiology to various departments on campus and participating in research and community health events. Before joining our team, Dr. Suss worked as a pediatric audiologist at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri where she gained considerable experience working with children with special needs. Dr. Suss also oversees our Division's NICU Infant Hearing Screening Program and is also the Coordinator for the Lions of Illinois Foundation Hearing Aid Bank.

University of Florida, Doctor of Audiology, Au.D.; University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Audiology, MA; Northern Illinois University, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, BS

Gabrielle R. Cager, Au.D., CCC-A

Dr. Cager joined the Division of Audiology at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Science Systems in 2005. She is a member of the cochlear implant team and has extensive pediatric experience.

Dr. Cager joined the Division of Audiology at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Science Systems in 2005. She is a member of the cochlear implant team and has extensive pediatric experience. Dr. Cager’s clinical interests include audiological diagnostics and rehabilitation, as well as auditory implants (cochlear implants and osseointergrated implants), including experience with hearing aid evaluations and fittings. Through her 16 years of audiological experience, she also has extensive experience in auditory evoked potentials and auditory processing.

University of Florida, Doctor of Audiology, Au.D.; Louisiana State University, Audiology, M.A.; Xavier University, Audiology and Speech Pathology, B.S.

Leah Duitsman, Au.D., CCC-A

Dr. Duitsman is a member of the cochlear implant team here at UI Health.

Dr. Duitsman joined the Division of Audiology as an official staff member in June 2015 following the completion of her clinical externship here at UI Health. Dr. Duitsman is a member of the cochlear implant team here at UI Health. Her clinical interests include working with both pediatric and adult cochlear implant patients, comprehensive diagnostic evaluations, and auditory evoked potentials. Dr. Duitsman obtained her doctorate of audiology degree from Rush University in Chicago and earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.

Rush University, Doctor of Audiology; University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, Speech and Hearing Sciences, B.S.

Kaia Feggestad, MS, CCC-SLP

Kaia Feggestad joined UI Health and the Audiology department in April of 2015 as a Speech-Language Pathologist.

Kaia Feggestad joined UI Health and the Audiology department in April of 2015 as a Speech-Language Pathologist. She earned her bachelors of science in communicative disorders from University of Wisconsin-Madison and her masters shortly thereafter in speech-language pathology from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Kaia has worked in a variety of settings including a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), early intervention, outpatient clinics, and in schools. She also has had experience working with bilingual Spanish families. Kaia does have her certification to work with children in the Illinois early intervention program. In addition, she holds her certificate of clinical competence granted by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA). Kaia will complete a graduate certificate program in Listening and Spoken Language Development in hearing impaired Children with Illinois State University in 2016.

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Speech-language pathology, MS; University of Wisconsin-Madison, Communicative disorders, BSE

Laurel Carmen Horne, Au.D, CCC-A

Dr. Horne returns to the Division, having done her externship at UI Health in 2011-2012, then a three-month stint as Clinical Instructor of Audiology.

Dr. Horne joined the Division of Audiology in March 2015 as Visiting Clinical Instructor. Dr. Horne returns to the Division, having done her externship at UI Health in 2011-2012, then a three-month stint as Clinical Instructor of Audiology. She was involved in the Hearing Assessment Reformation Project (HARP) during her time at UI. Her clinical interests include adult and pediatric evaluations, evoked potential assessment and hearing aid technology, and she is in charge of the hearing aid program for the Division. Dr. Horne did her doctoral training at Arizona State University, with an emphasis in pediatrics, and did research work at its Cochlear Implant Laboratory. She earned her BS degree in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University.

Arizona State University, Doctor of Audiology; Purdue University, Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, B.S.

Katie Burke, Au.D.

Dr. Katie Burke

Dr. Burke joined the Division of Audiology in December 2017 as Visiting Clinical Instructor. Her clinical interests and experience include comprehensive diagnostic evaluations for both adult and pediatric patients, auditory evoked potentials, amplification intervention, and vestibular assessment. She obtained her doctorate in audiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Iowa. Before joining our team, Dr. Burke gained considerable experience working for several years in both Albuquerque and Santa Fe New Mexico, assessing patients of all ages in a variety of different environments.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Doctor of Audiology, Au.D.; University of Iowa, Speech and Hearing Science, B.A.

Brooke Pieczara, Au.D.

Dr. Pieczara is focused on vestibular diagnosis and treatment, along with work on Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA), including with pediatric patients.

Dr. Pieczara joined the Division of Audiology in December 2014. While her work in the Division covers amplification intervention and diagnostic evaluations, her main focus is on vestibular diagnosis and treatment and she leads the Vestibular Team at UI Health. She graduated from Indiana University with a Doctorate in Audiology. During her doctoral training, she also trained at Resurrection Medical Center and St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Purdue University. She is passionate about motivating patients and family members to meet their hearing needs and as such routinely organizes community hearing events and hearing screenings. Dr. Pieczara also sees a large number of our pediatric patients.

Indiana University, Doctor of Audiology; Purdue University, Speech and Hearing Sciences, BS