Cochlear Implant Team

Valerie Guzzo, Au.D., FAAA, CCC-A

Pediatric Audiologist, Lead Audiologist

Education: Doctor of Audiology, Northwestern University, 2012

Dr. Guzzo began working with cochlear implant recipients while an undergraduate student at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. She graduated magna cum laude, earning a bachelor’s degree in Communication Science and Disorders, and immediately pursued a doctorate in Audiology at Northwestern University.  There she had the opportunity to intern under the leading experts in cochlear implantation within the Chicago-land area.

The last year of her doctoral candidacy she spent training as a pediatric audiologist within an auditory-oral school for the deaf in Illinois. Working with the same group of children everyday over the course of a year made her witness to the positive impact a strong family support system, an accomplished team of specialists, and a well-programed cochlear implant can do for a deaf child’s spoken language development. These values make-up the foundation of her practice today.

After working as the Director of Pediatrics of a local private audiology practice, she joined the CHOC Pediatric Audiology team as Lead Cochlear Implant Audiologist in 2018. 

Dr. Guzzo was born and raised in Chicago and transplanted to Orange County, CA in 2013 with her life partner, Donny. She enjoys traveling to new places, playing poker, volunteering with Girls Inc. Orange County, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Alexandra Bounnoy, Au.D.

Audiologist

Education: Doctor of Audiology, San Diego State University & University of California, San Diego, 2019

Dr. Bounnoy first began working with children with cochlear implants during her time as a volunteer at Canyon Vista Elementary School as an undergraduate student. In her graduate program, she confirmed her passion for cochlear implants during her clinical rotations, including the UC San Diego Medical Center, where she worked with adults through the cochlear implant process, as well as multiple pediatric clinical sites in southern California. She also has experience in Auditory Brainstem Implants after spending time as a student with the USC Caruso Family Center for Childhood Communication program. She completed her externship year at Providence Speech and Hearing Center and joined the audiology and CHOC Cochlear Implant team in 2019 upon completion of her doctorate. Since joining the team, she has become an integral part of the growth of the PSHC adult cochlear implant program. She spends her time working with both pediatric and adult cochlear implant patients, as well as on the pediatric audiology team, and enjoys clinical research.

Kate Quillin, M.S. CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT

Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist (SLP), Lead SLP

Education: Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Chapman University

Kate made the decision to serve the deaf and hard of hearing population as a speech language pathologist, with a specialized focus in cochlear implant recipients, while pursuing an undergraduate degree in Speech and Hearing Science and Psychology in 2008. She saw the importance in supporting children with speech and language disorders and behavioral challenges, and pursued certification in Applied Behavioral Analysis in 2011. In 2014, she began a master’s program in speech language pathology through Chapman University.  During this time, under the mentorship of an experienced private practice team, she began her work evaluating and treating children with hearing loss. Then, in 2015, Kate joined the Providence Speech and Hearing Center team and continued her work with this population. In 2017, Kate became the Lead Cochlear Implant SLP for CHOC’s Cochlear Implant Program.

She is experienced with various forms of aural (re)habilitation programs including use of SEE sign language for a total communication approach and listening and spoken language strategies for an auditory-verbal approach. Kate will be certified as a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist (LSLS) and Auditory Verbal Therapist (AVT) in 2022.

Kate values life-long learning and enjoys attending professional conferences with her peers which focus on pediatric cochlear implant recipients and listening and spoken language development. Her practice is based upon multidisciplinary collaboration with pediatric audiologists, deaf and hard of hearing teachers, AVT specialists, and community-based SLPs. She believes a team approach is the best approach to support deaf and hard hearing children.

Kate was born and raised in Southern California. She is grateful for a career that allows her to remain in close proximity of her family and enjoys cooking for her husband, Andrew, and snuggling with her Shepard mix, Piper.

Danette Salas, M.A., CCC-SLP

Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist

Education: Master of Arts in Communicative Disorders - California State University, Fullerton

Danette began working with individuals with hearing loss during her undergraduate studies at California State University, Fullerton. During this time, she worked with school-age children with hearing aids and cochlear implants from Los Alamitos’ deaf and hard of hearing program. She also spent time volunteering at Orange County’s P.I.E.S. program where she assisted staff in the planning and execution of activities designed to serve children 3-years and younger with hearing loss and their families. Danette joined Providence Speech and Hearing Center as a bilingual, Spanish/English-speaking, SLP. She enjoys working with individuals across the lifespan and can support speech and language disorders, cognitive-linguistic disorders, adults with swallowing disorders, individuals with craniofacial anomalies, and individuals with cochlear implants. She is a member of CHOC’s Craniofacial Team and CHOC’s Cochlear Implant Team.

Danette was born and raised in Orange County and her passions include going to the beach, watching hockey, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.