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When Michael Santucci, AuD ‘09, was enrolled in the distance learning program in the University’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA), students had a chance to chat, on occasion, when the online instructor was a little late.
During those chat room conversations, students would ask each other where they were from, how long had they been audiologists and why they were pursuing a doctorate of audiology degree at this stage of their careers.
By the time he became an OCA student, Dr. Santucci had been in the profession for nearly 30 years.
“When the other students asked me why I was doing this, they asked ‘Was it to get a raise,'” said Dr. Santucci. “I said, well, I own the company so I guess I could give myself a raise.”
But the real reason he went back to school for a doctorate of audiology degree was simply that he wanted to gain more knowledge about his profession. And, OCA was an established leader in training audiologists.
“I’ve never regretted choosing Salus. Everybody was fantastic,” he said. “These were real audiologists doing their thing and it was refreshing.”
Dr. Santucci was a real audiologist as well. In fact, by the time he attended OCA, he was already a longtime friend of the College’s namesake, George S. Osborne, PhD, DDS, and had already established himself as a leader in helping the music industry protect and care for their hearing.
While going over what courses he should take, Dr. Osborne encouraged Dr. Santucci to take an ear mold class. “I said, ‘George, I already own an ear mold lab, they’re not going to teach me anything.’ And, he said, ‘Yes, but you’re going to help the other students.’ And, that’s what happened,” said Dr. Santucci.
A lifelong musician who plays brass instruments, mainly the trumpet, there was always music in his home growing up. His company, Sensaphonics, based in Chicago, was established in 1985, and offers state-of-the-art, personalized and custom-fitted in-ear monitors (IEMs) and earplugs for some of the biggest names in the musical industry, as well as for astronauts and construction workers.
He has recently been named the 2023 Samuel F. Lybarger Industry Award by the American Academy of Audiology. The award is given to an individual who has made important contributions in research, engineering or other technical achievements within the audiology profession. “It’s a wonderful award. I’ve never been awarded anything by the American Academy of Audiology,” said Dr. Santucci. “I’m honored and happy to have it.”
After attending the University of Iowa for his undergraduate degree, Dr. Santucci received his Master of Arts in audiology from Illinois State University. He had a couple of different jobs after graduating, but none clicked until he hooked up with a hearing conservation company.
“I was looking for something that was unique and hadn’t been addressed yet,” said Dr. Santucci. “I’m from a family of musicians. I played in bands and orchestras. And, I thought, nobody is helping musicians. Maybe that will work.”
It took him almost 10 years of contract work with ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists and hospitals before he was able turn his business into full-time work with musicians only. As the only audiologist-run earphone manufacturer, Dr. Santucci and his team have a message for the music world: You can keep creating sound while protecting and preserving your hearing.
“Loud music can be a real rush, and there’s nothing wrong with that. My goal is to teach people to enjoy loud sounds without damaging their hearing,” said Dr. Santucci.
He has maintained his connection with Salus by working with Giri Sundar, MPhil, PhD, CCC-A, FAAO, director of the Distance Education programs at OCA, as a presenter at the College’s Summer Workshop Series. Dr. Sundar has also referred Dr. Santucci to an audiologist in Saudi Arabia, with whom he is working. “Giri is a personal friend and somebody I respect tremendously professionally,” said Dr. Santucci. “She said I should come in and do a workshop for our students, especially for the foreign students that come in during the summer. And, so I did. It was really rewarding. I’m happy to talk with anybody who wants to hear about what I’m doing.”
There’s still more innovation ahead for his business. Dr. Santucci has a product coming out called DB Check Pro, an in-ear analyzer that’s an earphone in the musician’s monitor which analyzes volume. He calls in “a speedometer for earphones.”
But combining his two passions — audiology and music — has been the best possible career path for Dr. Santucci, he said. “I think about how I’m affecting the world of music, changing it from when we started until now,” he said. “That’s a huge reward for me. It’s doing audiology, which I love, working with musicians, traveling the world and making a living, all at the same time. I could never consider picking another career."
