Meet Our Audiologists

Hearing Resource Center
A Division of Ear, Nose & Throat and Facial Plastic Surgery Center

Dr. Abeyta, originally from Pennsylvania, received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Science and Disorders from University of Pittsburgh in 2007 and her master’s and doctoral degrees in Audiology from University of Pittsburgh in 2010 and 2011. She completed her clinical residency at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2011, specializing in adult hearing aids, aural rehabilitation and cochlear implants.  Immediately after graduating with her Doctor of Audiology, Dr. Abeyta moved to Newport Beach, California, where she specialized in vestibular (balance) diagnostic testing, vestibular rehabilitation therapy, tinnitus treatment and fitting extended-wear hearing devices. In 2012, Dr. Abeyta joined our practice here at Hearing Resource Center and Ear, Nose & Throat and Facial Plastic Surgery Center and was appointed to Director of Audiology in 2014. Dr. Abeyta is board certified in audiology by the American Board of Audiology (ABA) and is a certificate holder in Tinnitus Management (CH-TM). She is a member of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), a Fellow of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) and a member of the American Tinnitus Association (ATA). Dr. Abeyta currently specializes in the counseling and treatment of severe tinnitus and adult amplification; however, she holds special interest in vestibular assessment and rehabilitation.

In her spare time, Dr. Abeyta is busy taking her two daughters, Sydney and Everleigh, to their many sporting events, and she enjoys traveling and camping with her family.

Dr. Buckley-Ess, originally from Virginia, received her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Radford University in 2011 and her Doctor of Audiology degree from Salus University’s George S. Osborne College of Audiology in 2016. Dr. Buckley-Ess completed her fourth-year fellowship at the University of Virginia-Health Systems. She joined the team at Hearing Resource Center in June 2016.

Dr. Buckley-Ess is also our audiology fellow program coordinator, who helps in the hiring and precepting of fourth-year audiology students. In January 2022, she was promoted to assistant director of audiology. 

Dr. Buckley-Ess stays active with the American Academy of Audiology, is a member of Salus University Alumni Board Association and holds the American Board of Audiology certification. She also holds her CCC-A with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

In her spare time, Dr. Buckley-Ess likes to travel, especially to Georgia to see her nieces. She also enjoys spending quality time with family and friends.

Dr. Willoughby (pronounced willow-bee), originally from New Jersey, received her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from James Madison University in 2015 and her Doctorate of Audiology from Northern Illinois University in 2023. Dr. Willoughby completed her fourth-year externship at South Florida ENT Associates, where she specialized in vestibular (balance) diagnostics and electrophysiology. She also gained valuable experience in tinnitus and amplification devices, such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, earlens, and bonebridge. 

Dr. Willoughby is enthusiastic about educating her patients and their families, and prioritizes collaborating across disciplines to provide the best care. She is also passionate about helping to make appointments as comfortable as possible. Dr. Willoughby is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), where she holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A).

In her spare time, Dr. Willoughby enjoys baking, crafting, roller skating, and doing nerdy things like Dungeons and Dragons. 

Michelle is originally from the Roanoke, Virginia area. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Computational and Systems Neuroscience from Virginia Tech. She is currently completing her last year of a four-year doctoral program in clinical audiology from James Madison University. As part of this program, Michelle is completing a one-year audiology fellowship here at Ear, Nose, and Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery Center of Fredericksburg and Hearing Research Center. She will be specializing in audiological diagnostics including vestibular and electrophysiology, fitting and rehabilitation of adult and pediatric hearing aids, and tinnitus treatment. Michelle has previously interned at a university clinic, two hospital-affiliated audiology/ENT clinics, and the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind (VSDB). Michelle has actively served on JMU’s chapter of the Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) as a member and as treasurer. Her audiological interests include electrophysiology, especially with pediatrics, and educational audiology.

In her spare time, Michelle enjoys reading, crochet and knitting, and learning new things to fulfill her life goal of being a Jeopardy! contestant.

Alyssa is originally from Long Island, New York. She received her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Adelphi University. She is currently completing her final year of her four-year doctoral program in clinical audiology at Montclair State University. As a part of completing her doctoral program, Alyssa will be working as an audiology fellow at the Ear, Nose, and Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery Center of Fredericksburg and Hearing Resource Center. She will be specializing in audiological diagnostics, including vestibular and electrophysiology, fitting and rehabilitation of adult and pediatric hearing aids and tinnitus treatment. Alyssa has previously interned at Montclair State University’s campus clinic, an outpatient hospital, a private practice, a childhood developmental center and a multi-specialty medical center. Her special interests include adult diagnostics and hearing aid fittings.

In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys reading, spending time with her family and friends and playing with her two cats. 

Joanna Goedeke (pronounced Go-Deck) is originally from Westminster, Maryland. She received her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in American Sign Language from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro. She also studied sign language interpreting while at UNCG. She is currently completing her final year of her four-year doctoral program in clinical audiology at James Madison University. As a part of completing her doctoral program, Joanna will be working as an Audiology Fellow at the Ear, Nose, and Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery Center of Fredericksburg and Hearing Resource Center. She will be specializing in audiological diagnostics, including vestibular and electrophysiology, fitting and rehabilitation of hearing aids and tinnitus treatment. Joanna has previously interned at JMU’s campus clinic, two private practices and two outpatient ENT clinics.

In her spare time, Joanna enjoys sewing, baking/cooking, hiking and spending time with her husband and cat (named Merry, like the hobbit).

Diana is originally from Alexandria, Virginia. She received her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from James Madison University. She is currently completing her final year of her four-year doctoral program in clinical audiology from James Madison University. As part of this program, Diana is completing a one-year audiology fellowship here at Ear, Nose, and Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery Center of Fredericksburg and Hearing Resource Center. She will be specializing in audiological diagnostics, including vestibular and electrophysiology, fitting and rehabilitation of adult and pediatric hearing aids and tinnitus treatment. Diana has previously interned at JMU’s audiology clinic, three private practices and one audiology/ENT clinic. She also worked as a newborn hearing screener prior to starting her audiology program. Diana has actively served on JMU’s chapter of Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) as a member and as secretary. Her audiological interests include cochlear implants, electrophysiology and vestibular diagnostics.

In her spare time, Diana enjoys painting, photography, cooking and spending time with her loved ones.