CAA 2026 Pre-Conference
Comprehensive Cochlear Implant Management: Integrating Clinical Innovation and Patient-Centered Care
Thursday, September 24, 2026
1:00 - 5:00 PM*
The Pre-Conference program will provide audiology professionals with an in-depth exploration of contemporary approaches to cochlear implant management, emphasizing programming optimization, individualized patient care, and outcomes-focused clinical practices. Through expert-led presentations and multidisciplinary perspectives, participants will examine strategies to enhance cochlear implant performance, address the unique needs of implant recipients across the continuum of care, and integrate patient and professional perspectives into clinical decision-making. Designed for practicing audiologists and hearing healthcare professionals, this continuing education session offers practical insights and evidence-based approaches to support excellence in cochlear implant care.
Level of Instruction: Intermediate to Advanced
*Pre-Conference schedule includes two 15-minute breaks. Attendees will be eligible to earn 3.5 CEUs for attending.
There is an additional fee to attend the 2026 Pre-Conference Session. Please see the Conference Registration page for details and pricing. Pre-Conference is available as an add-on to full Annual Conference registration or as a stand alone event.
1:00 - 2:30 PM
Cochlear Implant Program Optimization: Clinical Excellence, Collaboration, and Access to Care
Rebecca L. Lewis, Au.D.
Learning Outcomes:
After this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe common barriers to cochlear implant care and their impact on access and outcomes.
- Apply practical strategies to improve access, efficiency, and patient-centered care within a cochlear implant program.
- Identify ways private hearing health practices can collaborate with cochlear implant programs.
2:30 - 2:45 PM
Break
2:45 - 3:45 PM
Individualized Cochlear Implant Care
Rebecca L. Lewis, Au.D.
Learning Outcomes:
After this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe ethical issues related to individualized cochlear implant care.
- Summarize the clinician’s role in ethical and patient-centered decision-making.
- Identify individualized, evidence-based approaches for managing specialized cochlear implant populations.
3:45 - 4:00 PM
Break
4:00 - 5:00 PM
Interactive Panel Discussion - Listening From Both Sides: Patient and Professional Perspectives
Amit Gosalia, Au.D., FNAP, DFAAA, Rebecca L. Lewis, Au.D., and Mathilde Tranberg, B.A.
Learning Outcomes:
After this course, participants will be able to
- Demonstrate the importance of individualized care for cochlear implant patients.
- Describe the importance of expectations at the Activation Day.
- Summarize the importance of collaboration between hearing aid clinics and cochlear implant programs and how it supports better patient outcomes.
Rebecca L. Lewis, Au.D.
Pacific Neuroscience Institute
Rebecca L. Lewis, Au.D., is the Director of the Adult & Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program at Pacific Neuroscience Institute. She also holds the position of Adjunct Professor at Mount Saint Mary University / John Tracy Clinic DHH Master’s program.
Dr. Lewis's clinical practice specializes in pediatric and adult rehabilitative hearing services. She has developed hearing wellness programs for the Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles. She currently serves on the Audiology Advisory Board and as a consultant for cochlear implant manufacturers.
She is a member of the California Newborn Hearing Screening Committee, Technology Advisory Committee for California Children’s Services, and national meeting planning committee for American Cochlear Implant Alliance. She is a published author and invited presenter.
She completed her audiology training at Vanderbilt University. She has held positions at University of California Los Angeles, UCLA, The Learning Center for the Deaf in Framingham, MA, House Clinic, Los Angeles and University of Southern California, USC.
Mathilde Tranberg, B.A.
Pacific Neuroscience Institute
Mathilde Tranberg is a bilateral cochlear implant (CI) user and the 85th recipient of a cochlear implant in Denmark. She is a former NCAA Division I collegiate tennis player and currently works at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, where she supports patients throughout the cochlear implant journey.
Mathilde's work focuses on providing additional counseling, troubleshooting equipment-related issues, and offering ongoing patient support throughout the cochlear implant journey. She also leads a free weekly lip reading support group in Santa Monica for the hard of hearing community, helping individuals build communication confidence and connect with others navigating hearing loss.
In addition to her clinical role, Mathilde is actively engaged in cochlear implant advocacy and awareness efforts. She works to educate patients, families, and healthcare professionals about hearing loss treatment and the benefits of timely referral for cochlear implant evaluation. She also collaborates with local clinics to strengthen referral pathways and improve access to cochlear implant care.
Through her professional and personal experience, Mathilde is committed to supporting individuals with hearing loss and improving long-term outcomes for cochlear implant users.
Amit Gosalia, Au.D., FNAP, DFAAA
West Valley Hearing Center
Dr. Amit Gosalia earned his master's degree in 2002 and his Doctor of Audiology in 2006. He began his career in private practice and purchased his first clinic in 2012. After selling his Washington practices in 2017, he moved to Los Angeles and partnered with Dr. Jane Rosner at West Valley Hearing Center in Woodland Hills, California, where he continues to serve patients.
Dr. Gosalia is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology (DFAAA), a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice (NAP), and board certified by the American Board of Audiology (ABA). He is a member of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) and the California Academy of Audiology (CAA).
He is the owner and CEO of the AudBoss Private Practice Group and the AudBoss Private Practice Summits. He previously mentored the Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) California Ambassador and served on the American Board of Audiology Board of Directors (2012?2015).
He currently serves on physician advisory boards for Face Forward International and on the Board of Directors for the Association of Los Angeles Physicians of Indian Origin (ALAPIO). He also mentors and precepts doctoral students nationwide. In April 2024, he received the American Academy of Audiology's Clinical Excellence in Audiology Award, becoming the first recipient from California.
Dr. Gosalia frequently speaks at international, national, and state events, appears on podcasts and local media, and delivers CME education for physician groups.