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 degree 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 Doctorate in Audiology, Dr. Abeyta moved to Newport Beach, California where she specialized in vestibular (balance) diagnostic testing, vestibular (balance) 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 certified by the American Board of Audiology (ABA). She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology (F-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 adult hearing aids and the counseling and treatment of tinnitus, though she holds special interest in vestibular assessment and rehabilitation.

In her spare time, Dr. Abeyta enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.

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. Levengood, originally from Pennsylvania, received her Bachelor of Science degree in speech-language pathology and audiology with a minor in psychology from Bloomsburg University in 2017 and Doctorate of Audiology from Central Michigan University in 2021. Dr. Levengood completed her fourth-year audiology fellowship at Ear, Nose & Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery Center of Fredericksburg prior to joining the practice as a full time Audiologist in 2021, where she specializes in adult diagnostics and hearing aids, vestibular assessment and electrophysiology. She focuses on providing patient-centered care and works to improve the quality of life of her patients. Dr. Levengood is a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), where she holds a Certificate of Clinical Competency in Audiology (CCC-A).

In her spare time, Dr. Levengood enjoys traveling to see her family in Pennsylvania, trying out new restaurants and exploring the outdoors.

Dr. Amorosino, originally from New York, received her Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Hearing Science with a minor in Counseling from the University at Buffalo in 2018 and her Doctor of Audiology with a pediatric audiology specialization from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in 2022. Dr. Amorosino completed her fourth-year audiology fellowship at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, where she received extensive training in adult and pediatric diagnostics, hearing aids, cochlear implants, vestibular assessment and electrophysiology. 

She is passionate about providing patient-centered care and bridging the communication gap. She strives to evaluate and educate patients and the community on understanding hearing loss and communication difficulties. Dr. Amorosino is a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), where she holds a Certificate of Clinical Competency in Audiology (CCC-A).

In her spare time, Dr. Amorosino enjoys traveling to see her family in New York, spending time with her husband and two dogs, trying out new restaurants and exploring the outdoors.

Dr. Bakal, originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, received her Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language Hearing Sciences from Temple University in 2017 and her Doctor of Audiology from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2021. Dr. Bakal completed her fourth-year audiology fellowship at Washington DC VA Medical Center, where she received extensive training in adult diagnostics, hearing aids, cochlear implants, vestibular assessment and electrophysiology. Prior to joining the Hearing Resource Center and Ear, Nose & Throat and Facial Plastic Surgery Center in 2022, Dr. Bakal worked as a clinical audiologist at a private practice and within the Virginia public school system as an educational audiologist.

Dr. Bakal has special interests in aural rehabilitation and cochlear implants. While in graduate school, she worked in a cochlear implant research laboratory and published her own research on a technology to improve outcomes for implanted patients. Dr. Bakal provides patient-centered care to ensure that each patient has hearing technology and strategies that work for their lifestyle. Dr. Bakal is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), where she holds a Certificate of Clinical Competency in Audiology (CCC-A).

In her spare time, Dr. Bakal enjoys cooking, exploring local wineries, rock climbing and spending time with her fiancé and their families.

Michelle is originally from the Roanoke, Virginia, area. She received her Bachelor of Science in Computational and Systems Neuroscience from Virginia Tech. She is currently finishing her last year of a four-year doctoral program in clinical audiology at James Madison University. As part of this program, Michelle is completing a one-year audiology fellowship at the Ear, Nose, and Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery Center of Fredericksburg and Hearing Research Center. She will specialize in audiological diagnostics, including vestibular and electrophysiology testing; fitting and rehabilitation of adult and pediatric hearing aids; and tinnitus treatment. Michelle previously interned at a university clinic, two hospital-affiliated audiology/ENT clinics and the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind (VSDB). Michelle also 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 pediatric patients, and educational audiology. 

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

Liz is originally from Indiana, Pennsylvania. She received her Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in May 2019. She is currently finishing the final year of her four-year doctoral program in clinical audiology at the Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium, which includes the University of Akron, Kent State University and the Cleveland Clinic. As a part of her doctoral program, she is excited to complete a one-year audiology fellowship at the Ear, Nose, and Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery Center of Fredericksburg and Hearing Resource Center. She will specialize in audiological diagnostics, including vestibular and electrophysiology testing; fitting and rehabilitation of adult and pediatric hearing aids; and tinnitus treatment. Liz previously interned at the University of Akron and Kent State University clinics and at outpatient ENT/audiology clinics. Liz also was active in the NOAC chapter of the Student Academy of Audiology as a member of the membership committee. Additionally, Liz was a two-year graduate research assistant at the University of Akron, assisting in and completing research in music audiology, cochlear implantation outcomes and hearing conservation. She has special interests in diagnostic audiometry for patients of all ages, vestibular assessment/treatment and cochlear implants.  

Liz enjoys writing and receiving letters, spending time with her friends and family and warm weather. 

Sara is originally from Waterford, Michigan. She received her Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Sciences with an emphasis in Speech-Language Pathology from Grand Valley State University (GVSU). She is currently completing her final year of a three-year clinical doctoral program in audiology at GVSU. For her final year, Sara will work as an audiology fellow at the Ear, Nose, and Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery Center of Fredericksburg and Hearing Resource Center. She will specialize in audiological diagnostics, including vestibular and electrophysiology testing; fitting and rehabilitation of adult and pediatric hearing aids; and tinnitus treatment. Sara previously interned at a community hearing clinic, an ENT clinic and the Michigan Ear Institute. Sara has been involved with the Special Olympics for over five years, including providing hearing screenings to athletes through the Healthy Hearing program. Her special interests include hearing aids, cochlear implants and tinnitus treatment.

In her spare time, Sara enjoys hiking, bowling and traveling with family and friends.