2026 EHDI Conference - LEND Audiology Trainee Workshop

Dr. John (JJ) Whicker is a pediatric audiologist and clinical researcher. His lab - the Multidisciplinary Lab for Pediatric Hearing and Development - seeks to inform and transform pediatric audiology through (a) understanding how audiologists can help families prioritize hearing care amid complex needs, (b) understanding how listening development can guide audiologic certainty for children with multiple disabilities, and (c) understand how mismatches between listening behavior and audiograms can be identified and treated through early intervention practices.  

Previously, Dr. Whicker worked as a pediatric audiologist and researcher at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT. He most recently was a co-owner at Utah's only private pediatric audiology clinic in Layton, UT (Little Heroes Pediatric Hearing Clinic). Dr. Whicker joined The University of Utah's faculty in July 2025 to pursue his research interests while continuing a practice in pediatric audiology.  

Kelly Fernandez-Kroyer lives in Colorado with her husband and their two sons, Ethan and Noah. Noah was born at 32 weeks and initially passed his newborn hearing screening. At six months old, due to concerns about developmental milestones, he was referred to Early Intervention. He referred on his subsequent screenings, and it took eighteen months to receive an official diagnosis of mild-to-moderate low-frequency unilateral hearing loss (UHL) in his right ear.

Before Noah’s diagnosis, Kelly spent more than ten years working in the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as the Data Outreach/ Guide By Your Side (GBYS) Coordinator for Colorado Hands & Voices. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.