Did you know that Cochlear Recipient Solutions is one of recipients’ most used and loved resources? We have you covered with education after activation to accessing the latest technology, increasing confidence in device use along the way. Read on to meet part of our expert team from the West region and how to get started with virtual learning.
Bethany Watson, AuD and animal-lover
Recipient Solutions Manager, Mountain West
Bethany received her Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of Tennessee, Animal Audiology Certification from the University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Tennessee. She completed her clinical training at Mayo Clinic with an emphasis on cochlear implants.
Hear from Bethany:
In my first role at Cochlear, I trained audiologists and surgeons on new products and provided guidance in the clinic and operating room during complex cases. My clinical training and enjoyment for teaching have been invaluable in my current role where I educate recipients on how to utilize their equipment, access resources, and help them uncover solutions for their unique hearing goals!
“I tell my family and friends that I truly have the best job in the world. I get the most joy out of watching my patients succeed.”
A recent patient sent me an email saying they were able to talk on the phone for the first time in two years after learning how to enable captioning on their phone during our meeting. Watching someone move from a state of overwhelm and isolation to a place of confidence and empowerment is the best part of my job! Implantable technology is amazing, and when someone feels confident utilizing tools and resources to help them hear even better, that is the icing on the cake!
Growing up in East Tennessee with the Smoky Mountains in view gave me an appreciation for the mountains. When I moved to Utah and now Colorado, I gained a newfound love for the outdoors. When I’m not working, you can find me hanging out with my boyfriend and our rescue pup, Moose. We are happiest when we are camping under the stars or eating snacks at an alpine lake after a hike in the mountains. Luckily for us, Colorado offers unlimited places to explore. I became an aunt last year, so if I’m not in Colorado, you can bet that I am in Tennessee visiting my family and cheering on the Vols!
I am a huge animal lover! After moving to Salt Lake City in 2019 without knowing anyone, I adopted Moose, and he quickly became my adventure buddy. We traveled all over the state together and attended dog-friendly events, where he made dog friends, and I made human friends! My favorite event was “Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) With Your Pup.”
My passion for animals also led me to the University of Cincinnati, where I completed my certification in Animal Audiology. Similar to how we test babies during newborn hearing screenings, we use objective measures to test canines. We can use these tests to identify congenital deafness in puppies or monitor for hearing loss in working canines exposed to high levels of noise. I constantly seek opportunities to learn new skills, so gaining a deeper understanding of audiology while seeing puppies on my clinic schedule was a win-win!
Rita Valencia, M.S. Ed. and road-tripper
Recipient Solutions Manager – Southern California & Hawaii, bilingual
Prior to joining Cochlear in 2021, Rita was an Early Intervention Teacher of the Deaf specializing in listening and spoken language development. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Human Services and holds a Master’s Degree in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education from the John Tracy Center/Mt. Saint Mary’s University Graduate Program.
“My favorite part of my job is witnessing recipients and families gain confidence by the end of our meetings.”
Hear from Rita:
Supporting individuals and their families through the early stages of their Cochlear journey is not only a privilege, but a true passion. As the parent of a child with bilateral implants and a background as an Early Intervention Teacher of the Deaf, it is important to me that our recipients and their families learn to be confident as cochlear implant users. In my role, I provide education about navigating the initial stages of activation, including equipment use, aural rehabilitation and where to find answers and resources. The support empowers recipients with the necessary knowledge to optimize their hearing experience and goals. I find overwhelming joy in sharing my experience and providing encouragement.
Often, I meet with recipients who haven’t had access to certain sound for many years. Being able to share in their excitement of hearing a clock tick, their refrigerator humming or the sound of their pets’ footsteps is something that never gets old. I look forward to celebrating those moments with my recipients as there is an unspoken connection in the impact Cochlear technology can make. The ability to hear and communicate with others is a precious gift.
Outside of work, I enjoy traveling with my family. We love road trips and spending time in the mountains, but international adventures are high on the list too. Regardless of where we are or what we’re doing, I look forward to the time spent and making memories. Most recently, playing (or…I should say learning how to play) pickleball with my husband has been fun.
Jessica Brock, SLP and rock-climber
Recipient Solutions Manager, Northern California and Pacific Northwest
Meet our newest RSM! Jessica received her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) from Vanderbilt University, with a specialty in early identification and management of hearing loss. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Fontbonne University. Before joining Cochlear, she worked with children with hearing loss and their families at Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis and Child’s Voice in Chicago.
Hear from Jessica:
I first started studying speech-language pathology because I thought I wanted to work with kiddos with hearing loss. Then I landed my first job as an early intervention SLP in Chicago, where I was primarily working with parents! My role was to teach parents how to help their child develop listening and spoken language skills, with the use of hearing aids and cochlear implants. The opportunity to join these parents on roller-coaster journeys taught me three things: (1) Teaching is a partnership, (2) Confidence and empowerment matter, and (3) We’re much better at achieving goals when we name them and embrace accountability. As such, my goal as an RSM is to partner with you to increase your confidence and help you achieve your hearing goals!
My first role at Cochlear was supporting people before they got their cochlear implant, helping them to make an informed decision for their hearing. I’m thrilled to be joining the RSM Team, because now I can help people make the most of that decision! I am eagerly looking forward to partnering with recipients by offering education, support, and resources as they embark on the journey towards better hearing with an implant.
You can find me rock-climbing until my fear of heights catches up to me! At which point, you can find me on the soccer field, feet firmly planted on the ground. When I’m not climbing or kicking, I’m exploring Denver, enjoying being an auntie and cheering on the US Women’s National Soccer Team. This past summer I got to travel to New Zealand and Australia, and I’m counting down the days until I can go back. For smaller doses of joy, I’ll just take a cup of coffee and a cozy blanket. Maybe a chocolate chip cookie too!
Cochlear Recipient Solutions is for educational purposes only. Head to support.cochlear.com for all immediate troubleshooting needs! When booking an appointment, you will see a variety of dates and times to choose from! It will only take you a few minutes.
Book now with the Cochlear Recipient Solutions West team!
Meet our RSMs from the East region.
Meet our RSMs from the Central region.
