Our Audiology Staff

All of us at Audiology and Hearing Aid Center appreciate your interest in our services and support. We have been assisting people all over Arizona with their hearing health and hearing aid needs for over 25 years. It is our goal to keep you informed of the latest changes and the most current technology offered in the hearing health arena. We want you to have a place you can trust, you can learn from and you can growth with and we hope that Audiology and Hearing Aid Center is just that place!

Cathy Kurth, Au.D., FAAA, Doctor of Audiology

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Meet Cathy.

A true Midwesterner, Cathy grew up in Glenview, Illinois. She opened the Audiology and Hearing Aid Center in 1981 in downtown Scottsdale and since then, she opened offices in North Scottsdale and the Grayhawk area, which she shares with prominent Otolaryngologist, Dr. Jerry Josen.

Cathy has been practicing audiology for more than 25 years. She received her Doctor of Audiology in 2002 from the Arizona School of Health Sciences, a division of A. T. Still University of Osteopathic Medicine. She earned her Bachelor's degree at Loyola University in Chicago and her Master's of Audiology from the University of Illinois. As an expert in her field, she has spoken extensively on hearing healthcare, hearing technology, and the treatment of hearing disorders. Cathy also provides audiological consultation to many doctors in the area. She is licensed by the State of Arizona and clinically certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She is also a member of prestigious organizations such as the Academy of Dispensing Audiologists, and a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology. Cathy received her Board Certification from the American Academy of Audiology. Through her memberships, she maintains the highest level of knowledge, education, and familiarization with hearing loss, emerging hearing aid technologies, and the changing needs of hearing-impaired patients.

Chris Cummins-Beagle, Au.D., FAAA, Doctor of Audiology

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Chris grew up in Phoenix and calls the Valley of the Sun her home. She joined Audiology and Hearing Aid Center in 2005. She has been practicing audiology since 1987 after graduating from the University of Texas at Dallas with a Master's of Science degree in Audiology. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Disorders, graduating Magna Cum Laude, from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. She is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society and made the National Dean's List. She received her doctorate of audiology degree from the Arizona School of Health Sciences in Mesa, Arizona. She is licensed by the State of Arizona and a member of the American Academy of Audiology. Chris is intrigued by new, advanced hearing technologies such as the wireless communication now available in many digital hearing aids. Wireless communication allows excellent hearing ability in situations that have historically been a problem for many hearing impaired individuals even with their hearing aids. Chris worked in a healthcare clinic environment in Sun City for 16 years, where she developed a specialty in working in the senior population. She has also practiced in Ear, Nose and Throat physician offices. Her expertise includes performing advanced diagnostic tests and programming advanced hearing aid technologies in the treatment of auditory disorders and hearing loss.

Ellie Hatefi, Au.D., FAAA, Doctor of Audiology

Originally from Iran, Dr. Hatefi earned her Master's degree in Audiology at Tehran University in 1995, where she began her career in Audiology. She moved to the United States in 2000, and entered the Doctor of Audiology program at Arizona State University (ASU).

In 2009, she received her Au.D. (Doctor of Audiology degree) from ASU. In fact, when Ellie was handed her degree, she also had the extreme pleasure of receiving a hug from President Obama, which is an incredible honor. As part of ASU's clinical program, Dr. Hatefi had the opportunity to train at several major health facilities throughout the Valley. At these facilities, she able to receive hands-on experience in important areas such as diagnostic audiological and vestibular evaluation, as well as obtaining extensive knowledge and training in the demanding area of amplification.

Following these invaluable experiences, she received her Arizona State Audiology License. Her passion is working with both the pediatric and geriatric populations who require an audiologist with unique skills and great dedication.

Dr. Hatefi is an audiologist who possesses these exceptional characteristics, making her an asset to Audiology and Hearing Aid Center's Thompson Peak office, which predominantly serves these two populations. When not at work, Ellie enjoys spending time with her husband and being a mother to her young son and daughter.