Interprofessional Collaboration for Optimal Care of Patients with Congenital Cytomegalovirus and Complex Needs
This course will focus on interprofessional collaboration care model for early intervention patients. The model will be demonstrated through a case study of a patient with complex needs, secondary to a diagnosis of congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV). It will be presented through the lens of an Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctor, Audiologist, and Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, who are all collaborating to support this family. Each professional will share their lens on the specific case, background, interventions from their professional specialty, and then how working together and collaborating is best supporting this family.
In this case study, we will provide information about cCMV, the constellation of symptoms that can occur with it, and hearing-specific interventions. This will be both general and specific to our case. We will each share information about this case from our perspectives, including frequency of visits, types of evaluations, communication with the family and broader team (i.e., other early interventionists, nurses, other medical professionals, pharmacy, etc.). We will also discuss how we collaborate for success. It’s not always a linear path, but teamwork ultimately provides this patient, and all patients with complex needs, the best possible care.
Tuesday, August 25, 2026, 6-7:30 pm
This is a free event! Virtually on Zoom
1.5 ASHA CEUs
Register For Interprofessional Collaboration
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Explain the role of CMV in hearing loss in young children
- Describe the collaboration process with professionals outside one’s organization
- Describe the benefits of interprofessional practice in the early intervention setting
Time-Ordered Agenda:
| Time | Topic | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 2-5 minutes | Introduction to Speakers Disclosures | Erika Nair |
| 10 minutes | Introduction to cCMV | Erika Nair |
| 20 minutes | Medical Case History of Patient | Sam Schild |
| 20 minutes | Audiological Case History of Patient | Erika Nair |
| 20 minutes | Early Intervention Discussion of Patient | Allison Malerba |
| 10 minutes | Collaboration (approx. 3 minutes each) | All speakers |
| 5 minutes | Closing remarks and questions | All speakers |
Speaker Bios:
Erika Nair: Erika L. Nair, Au.D., is a clinical audiologist with 15 years of experience in hearing healthcare, specializing in aural rehabilitation, hearing aids and cochlear implants, and patient health literacy. Nair's research has been published in leading journals including the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, the American Journal of Audiology, and the International Journal of Audiology, covering topics such as cochlear implant sound processor verification, hearing aid fitting outcomes, and the impact of health literacy on patient counseling and education. Nair has presented at national and regional conferences, including the American Academy of Audiology, the American Auditory Society, and the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology, and has delivered community and professional education on topics ranging from educational audiology to interprofessional practice in aural rehabilitation. A member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and its national Health Literacy Committee, Nair is licensed to practice audiology in the State of Connecticut.
Disclosures: Erika L. Nair, Au.D. – is employed by Southern Connecticut State University and receives a salary. There are no other relevant financial or non-financial disclosures
Dr. Sam Schild: Dr. Schild attended Cornell University graduating with a BA in Biological Sciences. He received his MD from Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ, graduating with AOA honors. He then completed his residency in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY followed by a fellowship in Complex Pediatric Otolaryngology at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He is now an assistant professor of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital in the Department of Surgery. He is an active member of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO) as well as the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. He is deeply committed to delivering compassionate and evidence-based care in all aspects of pediatric otolaryngology with a focus on disorders of the airway, pediatric voice, hearing loss, congenital neck masses, and refractory sleep apnea. He is a member of the Aerodigestive, Craniofacial, and Cochlear Implant multidisciplinary teams. He is extremely passionate about treating every patient and their caregivers as he would his own. When you see Dr. Schild with your child, you can be certain he will provide you with all of the available options using the best evidence in his recommendation.
Disclosures: Sam Schild, M.D. – There are no relevant financial or non-financial disclosures
Allison Malerba: Allison Malerba is a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing with the New England Center for Hearing Rehabilitation in Connecticut who specializes in the development of listening and spoken language for young children who are deaf and hard of hearing. She provides aural habilitation and parent education services for infants and toddlers and their families throughout Connecticut. Allison is also a board member for the Connecticut Chapter of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and is a member of both the Connecticut Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Task Force and the American Cochlear Implant Alliance.
Disclosures: Allison Malerba, M.E.D. – There are relevant financial or non-financial disclosures
Statement of Learning:
This course will be offered online and presented via Zoom. Information will be delivered via lecture, video(s), case studies, and small and/or large group discussions.
Course Completion Requirements
To obtain ASHA CEUs, or a certificate of completion, participants must adhere to the following requirements:
- Participants are required to attend the entirety of the program to be eligible to earn ASHA CEUs or obtain a certificate of completion.
- Partial credit will not be awarded.
- Attendance will be tracked automatically via Zoom.
- Complete and submit the online survey including the learning assessment, no later than Tuesday, September 2, 2026.
Accommodations:
You will have the opportunity to request accommodations during the registration process. Registrants can also request accommodation up to 7 days prior to the event. Please contact Dr. Sujini Ramachandar at ramachandas1@southernct.edu.
Cancellation:
- Program: Should this program need to be canceled, registered participants will be notified via email at least three days prior to the date of the course, when possible.
- Participant: Registered participants who need to cancel should notify Dr. Sujini Ramachandar at ramachandas1@southernct.edu. at least three days prior to the date of the course, when possible.
Additional Information:
If you have any questions about refunds, concerns, or complaints, please contact Dr. Sujini Ramachandar at ramachandas1@southernct.edu.
Course Registration Contact Information (Name and phone):
Sujini Ramachandar
ramachandas1@southernct.edu
Ph: 203-392-6525