University of Miami Experts Advance Cochlear Implant Care at ACIA 2026 Meeting

By: Jodie Nicotra | May 28, 2026 | 9 min. read |

The Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Otolaryngology showcases national leadership in multidisciplinary cochlear implant care at the American Cochlear Implant Alliance conference.

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine cochlear implant team members pose together at the American Cochlear Implant Alliance 2026 conference in Chicago.

The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine had a strong presence at the 2026 American Cochlear Implant Alliance meeting. Faculty and staff from the Department of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery played a key role in shaping the national conversation on cochlear implant (CI) care while earning recognition for their uniquely holistic approach to patient care.

Cochlear implant care at the Miller School and UHealth — University of Miami Health System extends far beyond surgery and audiology appointments. The multidisciplinary program brings together psychologists, educators, patient navigators, social workers and rehabilitation specialists to support patients throughout their lives.

“At the University of Miami, we do more than follow the standard of care. We help create it,” said Meredith Holcomb, Au.D., a professor of clinical otolaryngology and director of the hearing implant program at the Miller School. “Through ACIA leadership and involvement, we ensure our South Florida community has a seat at the table, where national policy is formed and decisions around CI access are made. Our heavy footprint at this year’s conference demonstrates UM’s leadership role in advancing CI care and access.”

Dr. Meredith Holcomb at a podium with American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACIA) branding during the ACIA 2026 conference in Chicago, representing the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. — Dr. Meredith Holcomb says the Miller School’s presence at this year’s ACIA meeting demonstrates its impact on hearing care standards.

Dr. Holcomb, the first woman and first audiologist to chair the ACIA board of directors, served on the conference program liaison committee and helped shape the framework of this year’s meeting. She also presented at the conference and co-chaired the signature ACIA “Stump the Experts” panel.

ACIA 2026: Shaping Policy, Access and Innovation

ACIA was formed to eliminate barriers to cochlear implantation through research and advocacy.

“If indication should change, or if lobbying is needed, the ACIA are the leaders in pushing the field forward,” said Chrisanda Marie Sanchez, Au.D., director of the Children’s Hearing Program and associate professor of clinical otolaryngology at the Miller School. “It’s a really unique group, because it encompasses surgeons, audiologists, speech therapists, psychologists, educators and other support members who are integral in the cochlear implant journey for patients.”

UHealth audiologist Chrisanda Marie Sanchez, smiling and wearing a dark coat and green shirt — Dr. Chrisandra Marie Sanchez says ACIA appreciates the holistic nature of cochlear implant care.

While the organization started with more of a medical focus on surgery, audiology and rehab, it has shifted over the years to value other, non-medical perspectives.

“I think this inclusivity makes the organization very special,” said Dr. Sanchez. “If you think about big organizations, sometimes they can be rigid in their medical focus. But I think the configuration of ACIA really reinforces the idea that cochlear implant care is holistic. You have to think of the whole patient, not just their ears or the technology.”

Dr. Sanchez presented on her development of a clinical measure to better assess the word understanding of Spanish-speaking children with hearing loss. The focus of Dr. Sanchez’s work for ACIA complements that of colleague Sandra Velandia, Au.D., an associate professor of audiology at the Miller School and chair of the ACIA Spanish Task Force, which was developed to give more guidance nationally about when to refer and how to assess adult Spanish speakers. Dr. Velandia presented findings from a scoping review written by the task force, along with recommendations for already-existing tools to assess adult Spanish speakers that could be broadly employed by audiologists.

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Cochlear Implants

That broader, multidisciplinary philosophy is also reflected in the work of Ivette Cejas, Ph.D., professor of clinical otolaryngology, pediatrics and psychology and director of family support services for the Children’s Hearing Program, whose role as a clinical psychologist in the department helps address the social and developmental needs of pediatric hearing loss patients.

Dr. Ivette Cejas speaking at the American Cochlear Implant Alliance 2026 conference with a slide titled “Hearing Beyond the Ears: Psychological Insights from an Otolaryngology/Audiology Practice,” from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. — Dr. Ivette Cejas is the first licensed psychologist to serve on the ACIA board.

The first licensed psychologist to serve on the ACIA board, Dr. Cejas led a Rehab Connect forum at the meeting focused on the social and emotional development of children with cochlear implants. During the conference she also presented data from her unique perspective as a clinical psychologist within an audiology and otology clinic on the increasing need for both therapeutic services and psychoeducational evaluations within the cochlear implant population. More children with hearing loss, Dr. Cejas said, are also presenting with neurodevelopmental disorders.

“A lot of other teams don’t have people like me on them,” said Dr. Cejas. “And if I’m seeing this pattern and I’m seeing these kids, where will other teams refer them and who will understand what issues might be related to hearing loss as compared to something else that we also need to identify early so we can get the right intervention for the patient? This is what’s really standing out to us as a team.”

Expanding the Hearing Care Team

Dr. Cejas also mentors the non-medical members of the team who have roles at ACIA. Dr. Cejas co-authored a podium presentation with Leidy Lantigua, the department’s patient navigator. She also champions Alexandria Mestres, who educates deaf and hard-of-hearing people and also serves as the department’s patient education coordinator. Mestres serves as one of the few educators on the ACIA Scientific Program Committee, and she also chairs an ACIA special interest group for educators.

“We can’t do our jobs without people like Leidy and Alex,” said Dr. Cejas. “That’s the work I’m doing on the board, making sure that the physicians and audiologists remember to think about these other multidisciplinary team members that really help to improve access and outcomes in this population of individuals with cochlear implants.”

Through its multidisciplinary model, the Miller School team has emerged as a national example of comprehensive cochlear implant care.

“It just goes to show that sometimes it takes one or a few people to speak up about something being important, to be willing to be engaged as part of an organization and to spearhead and lead the way,” said Dr. Cejas. “In that way, we ensure that more people across the nation will be doing similar work.”