Alumnus of the Year: 2016 Edition - Dr. Kathy Foltner

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Osborne Audiology, we take a look, through a series of stories over the next 18 months, at the history and alumni that have formed the foundation of the program.

Kathy Foltner, AuD ‘02, was named the Salus University Alumni Association’s Audiology Alumna of the Year in 2016. This award, given annually, represents the best of the best in audiology. It is presented to an alumnus/alumna who has made constructive contributions to the profession and to the University’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA). The recipient also must display leadership, responsibility and expertise in the audiology profession.

Dr. Foltner has had a versatile career, serving as a clinician, private practice owner, business executive and manager, consultant and adjunct professor. She served as a partner in and CEO of AuDNet, Inc. and Foltner Consulting LLC, a national hearing care purchasing organization, providing business, marketing, operations management and practice valuation services for healthcare professionals.

As an adjunct professor at RUSH University Medical Center in Chicago and OCA, Dr. Foltner taught doctoral level students audiology practice management and lectured about audiology career opportunities. An advocate for the autonomy of audiology, Dr. Foltner has presented numerous lectures and authored hundreds of professional articles, chapters and a book titled, “Success is a Decision of the Mind.”

As a member of the American Academy of Audiology, she served as chair for the Practice Compliance Committee and has been awarded the organization’s Presidential Award for her significant contributions to the academy and the profession.

She holds a life membership in the Academy of Doctors of Audiology for which she also served as treasurer. Dr. Foltner will continue to contribute to Audiology at Salus University through the Kathy Foltner Legacy Scholarship for future OCA student audiologists.