Meet Our Audiology and Language Specialists and Providers
AUDIOLOGY SPECIALIST
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Alexa Murzyn, Au.D., CCC-A, F-AAA
Audiologist Dr. Murzyn became interested in audiology while placed in a hearing-impaired preschool class for an honor's practicum at Kennesaw State University. After living for a year in Japan teaching English, she earned her Doctorate of Audiology degree at the University of Florida. Dr. Murzyn completed her Au.D. externship training at the University of Texas at Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders. At Callier, she was able to participate in intensive rehabilitation seminars, as well as experience many types of clinical settings. She had the pleasure of working with diverse populations on the islands of Maui and Hawaii before returning to Atlanta. In her spare time, Dr. Murzyn enjoys reading, hiking, playing the violin, tap dancing and learning about new places, people and things. "I am fortunate to work in a field that allows me to not only fulfill my passion for helping others, but also allows me to meet wonderful people from all walks of life."
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AUDITORY-VERBAL THERAPY / AURAL REHABILITATION
An Auditory Verbal Therapist (LSLS Cert AVT®) is a qualified Teacher of the Deaf, Audiologist, and/or Speech and Language Therapist who has undergone three years of post-graduate training to qualify as a listening and spoken language specialist (LSLS Cert AVT®). This is an international accreditation certified by the AG Bell Academy.
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Alison Tucker, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT
Clinical Supervisor Listening and Spoken Language Specialist Auditory-Verbal Therapist Speech-Language Pathologist Alison joined AVC in January of 1996. She had 8 years of experience as a Speech-Language Pathologist before she became a certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist. Her background includes a Master’s degree from the University of Georgia in Speech Pathology. She is also the parent of a 1999 AVC graduate who has bilateral cochlear implants. Alison has presented at multiple national conferences on topics related to pediatric hearing loss. Alison has her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and is licensed to practice speech-language pathology in the state of Georgia. Alison has also earned designation as a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist-Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist by the Alexander Graham Bell Academy.
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Lauren Segarra, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert AVT
Listening and Spoken Language Specialist Auditory-Verbal Therapist Speech-Language Pathologist Lauren joined AVC in October 2013. She earned her Master’s degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Virginia. As part of her graduate studies, she treated children with cochlear implants through the University of Virginia ENT Clinic according to the principles of Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) intervention. Lauren previously earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Lauren has presented on topics related to hearing loss at the national Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) conference. Lauren is currently serving as Treasurer of the Georgia state chapter of the AG Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Lauren has her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is licensed to practice speech-language pathology in Georgia. Lauren has also earned designation as a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist-Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist by the Alexander Graham Bell Academy.
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Sarah Radlinski, M.S., CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT
Bilingual Listening and Spoken Language Specialist Auditory-Verbal Therapist Speech-Language Pathologist Sarah joined AVC in June of 2014. Sarah completed her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, with minors in Linguistics and Spanish, from the University of Florida in 2012. She earned her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Vanderbilt University in 2014. Sarah was on the pediatric hearing loss specialty track at Vanderbilt and was also a LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities) trainee. Sarah completed her externship at The Children’s Cochlear Implant Center at UNC. Sarah is proficient in Spanish and provides Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) intervention for Spanish-speaking children and families in their native language. Sarah also currently serves as the Latino Programming Director for the Georgia state chapter of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing. Sarah additionally serves as a volunteer with Hear the World Foundation and is currently working with the families of children in Panama who received donated cochlear implants, as well as training the local professional on how to best obtain LSL outcomes (via in-person visits and tele-practice). Additionally, Sarah has presented at multiple national and international conferences on how to provide LSL intervention that is culturally and linguistically relevant for Spanish-speaking families of children with hearing loss. Sarah has her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is licensed to practice speech-language pathology in the state of Georgia. Sarah has also earned designation as a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist-Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist by the Alexander Graham Bell Academy.
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Elisamuel "Eli" Rivera Gomez, M.S., CCC-SLP
Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Eli -a native Spanish speaker- joined AVC in April 2022. He completed his bachelor's degree in Popular Music/Voice Performance, with a minor in Music Education (General/Vocal), from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus (2014). Eli obtained his Master's Degree in Speech and Language Pathology from Ana G. Méndez University School of Health Sciences in Puerto Rico (2019). While completing his bachelor's internship in music education at the University of Puerto Rico Laboratory Schools, he worked with an adapted music curriculum to teach music to deaf and hard-of-hearing kindergarten students, developing a genuine passion for serving and working with children and adults with hearing loss. At the graduate level, Eli conducted research on the "Literacy skills of deaf preadolescent students (11-13 years old) in Puerto Rico" -the title of his thesis- to describe the literacy skills in Spanish as a second language in Puerto Rican preadolescent deaf students. Eli has experience using his Spanish background to work with bilingual Spanish children and their families and is serving our Spanish-speaking families at AVC. Eli holds a Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CCC-SLP) and is licensed to practice speech-language pathology in Georgia, California, and Puerto Rico.
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Tegan DeMarcus, M.S., CCC-SLP
Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist Tegan joined AVC in September of 2022. She graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2020 with her Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, minoring in Spanish and Social Work. She remained at UofSC to earn her Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2022. She developed a passion for working with the hearing loss population through research experience and participation in UofSC’s Cochlear Implant/Auditory-Verbal specialization track. Tegan worked on interdisciplinary teams serving children with hearing loss and their families throughout graduate school and during her final summer externship at The River School Potomac River Clinic in Washington, D.C. She has experience using her Spanish to work with bilingual children and their families and looks forward to serving Spanish speaking families at the Auditory-Verbal Center.
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Laney Swann, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist Laney Swann, M.S., CCC-SLP joined AVC in June of 2024. She was born profoundly deaf and now has bilateral cochlear implants. She graduated from AVC’s auditory verbal therapy program in 2008. Laney got her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Valdosta State University in 2021 and got her master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of South Carolina (UofSC). Laney participated in UofSC’s Cochlear Implant/Auditory-Verbal specialization track, which gave her clinical experiences to work with the deaf/hard of hearing children and their families. Laney spent her final grad school externship at Nemours Children’s Hospital and Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech in Jacksonville, FL. Laney’s personal journey led to her passion of wanting to become an Auditory-Verbal Therapist and she loves to work along with deaf/hard of hearing children and their families.
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Tru Patel, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist Tru Patel, M.S., CCC-SLP joined AVC in October of 2024. She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Master of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Tru discovered her passion for supporting the hearing loss community during her training and externship at the Children’s Cochlear Implant Center at UNC. After graduation she completed her clinical fellowship year in auditory-verbal therapy at All Ears! Center, where she gained valuable experience supporting children with hearing loss in developing listening and spoken language while aLao empowering families to achieve their goals. She looks forward to helping each family support their child in reaching their full potential at the Auditory-Verbal Center. Tru holds a Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CCC-SLP) and is levied to practice speech-language pathology in Georgia and Texas.
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Elizabeth Tippette, MSP, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT
Listening and Spoken Language Specialist Auditory-Verbal Therapist Speech-Language Pathologist Elizabeth Tippette, MSP, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT is the founder, owner, and sole therapist of Hear I Am! Speech Therapy, PLLC. Growing up as the daughter of a public high school theatre director, Elizabeth’s lifelong acting/singing/dancing training led her to use those skills to help children communicate! With 15 years of experience as a pediatric speech-language pathologist across school, early intervention, and medical settings, Elizabeth’s most treasured professional title is Listening & Spoken Language Specialist/Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist, which she earned in 2021 from the AG Bell Academy. She holds state speech pathology licenses to practice in North Carolina and Georgia, as well as the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Certificate of Clinical Competence. Elizabeth enjoys serving as a facilitator for the Professional Learning Community of Hearing First. An enthusiastic caregiver coach, Elizabeth has provided telehealth for children with hearing loss since 2019 and is thrilled to begin working as a part-time remote provider for the renowned Auditory Verbal Center, Inc. In June 2024, Elizabeth was honored with the opportunity to teach and train speech and hearing professionals in Kenya for the Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss. Elizabeth’s writing is featured in From Listening to Language: Comprehensive Intervention to Maximize Learning for Children and Adults with Hearing Loss (Thieme, 2022). She is a proud graduate of Northwestern University and the University of South Carolina. She resides in Winston-Salem, NC, with her husband, whose published choral works sometimes feature Elizabeth’s lyrics. Their son and daughter are the symphony of each day!
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