Our friendly audiologists and office staff are happy to assist you in improving your hearing healthcare. Scroll down to meet our team!
Audiologists:
- Dr. Courtney Thayer, AuD, CCC-A
- Dr. Abigail Ernest, AuD, CCC-A
- Dr. Jeffrey Shymanski, AuD, CCC-A
- Dr. Mariah Jarosh, AuD, CCC-A
- Dr. Shelby Matthews, AuD, CCC-A
- Dr. Jenna Abrams, AuD
- Dr. Andrew Keiner, AuD
Support Staff:
- Kristin Keiner
- Jen McClintock
- Hailey Bowlsby
- Madelyn Teske
- Michaela McGuire
- Natasha Austin
- Destiny Kramer
- Bianca Roman
Meet Our Providers!
Dr. Courtney Thayer, AuD, CCC-A
Audiologist
West Des Moines, IA – Monday – Friday
Courtney Thayer graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with her Masters in Science and Doctorate in Audiology in 2017. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Nebraska – Kearney, earning a Bachelors in Communication Disorders. Her externship was completed at Iowa Head and Neck, working under an ENT in Des Moines, IA.
Dr. Thayer is a Nebraska native and a Husker fan but loves calling Iowa home. On the weekends, you can find her spending time with her husband and keeping their dog, Rocket, entertained. She enjoys experimenting with recipes, sharing them with friends, and a good book recommendation.
Dr. Abigail Ernest, AuD, CCC-A
Audiologist
Omaha, NE – Tuesday- Friday
Dr. Abigail Ernest graduated with her Doctorate in Audiology in May 2021 from the University of Memphis, after completing her externship at the Omaha VA Medical Center. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Northern Iowa in May 2017. While earning her doctorate, Dr. Ernest was a research assistant in both the Hearing Aid Research Lab (“HARL”) and the Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) research lab. Prior to moving back to Omaha, after recently getting married, she worked at the Des Moines VA Hospital, where she co-launched the Progressive Tinnitus Management (PTM) group therapy with a psychologist and enjoyed counseling veterans with strategies to improve the quality of life for her patients. She also holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Her primary audiologic interests and areas of expertise are: diagnostic and rehabilitative audiology for adults, selecting and fitting amplification (hearing aids), counseling, assistive listening devices, and tinnitus.
Although Dr. Ernest grew up in rural, north-central Iowa and loved it, she’s eager to be back in Omaha living “the good life!” Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband (Adam) and their dog (Bo), family and friends, playing cards and board games, being involved at church, meal prepping, and keeping her sourdough starter alive.
Dr. Jeffrey Shymanski, AuD, CCC-A
Audiologist
Ankeny, IA – Alternating Mondays, Tuesday-Friday
Jefferson, IA – Alternating Mondays
Jeffrey Shymanski graduated with his Doctorate of Audiology from the University of Iowa in 2023 and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech & Hearing Sciences, also obtained from the University of Iowa. He completed a dual clinical- and research-based externship at Boys Town National Research Hospital in Omaha, NE, with research focuses in assessing hearing loss and investigating learning outcomes in pediatric and special populations, as well as clinical focuses in hearing evaluation, fitting and care of hearing aids and cochlear implants, and vestibular evaluation.
Dr. Shymanski is originally from Carroll, IA, and enjoys making music, spending time outdoors, playing board games, and marathoning tv shows with friends and family.
Dr. Mariah Jarosh, AuD, CCC-A
Audiologist
West Des Moines, IA – Monday-Friday
Dr. Mariah Jarosh graduated with her Doctorate in Audiology in May 2015 from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She obtained her undergraduate degree at the University of Northern Iowa. She completed her externship at Midwest Ear Institute – Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, which gave her experience in almost all aspects of audiology, including pediatric and adult diagnostic testing, hearing aids, implants, vestibular testing, and Auditory Processing Disorder testing and therapy.
Dr. Jarosh joins us after 9 years of clinical experience in an ENT clinic. She has a wide range of clinical interests, with expertise in Cochlear Implants. Dr. Jarosh is excited to now use her skills for patients across the lifespan for diagnostic hearing assessments as well as helping patients with appropriate amplification, whether it is an implantable device or traditional hearing aids. Dr. Jarosh also brings her personal experience of family hearing loss to the clinic; including herself, her children, and extended family.
Dr. Jarosh is originally from Ankeny, IA and resides there with her husband, two children, and pets. She enjoys all things outdoors and animals, and is always up for checking out local festivals.
Dr. Shelby Matthews, AuD, CCC-A
Audiologist
North Palm Beach, FL – Monday – Friday
Dr. Shelby Matthews attended the University of Mississippi and graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2018. Her audiology journey began through her work at the University of Mississippi Hearing and Speech Center as an undergraduate assistant for the Hearing Impaired Language and Literacy Program focusing on the development of language and literacy in children with moderate to severe language disorders, hearing loss, and developmental disabilities. It was during this time that she developed a passion for facilitating access to communication and language for individuals of all ages. Following, Dr. Matthews earned her Doctorate of Audiology degree from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.. and completed her residency at Duke University Medical Center in 2021 working with both adults and children.
Dr. Matthews currently provides services to patients across the lifespan while maintaining her special interest in the pediatric population.
When she is not practicing audiology, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their pug (Ellie), as well as tending to her vast house plant collection.
Dr. Jenna Abrams, AuD
Audiologist
St. Louis, MO
Jenna Abrams graduated from Washington University in St. Louis School Of Medicine with her Doctorate in Audiology in 2020. She completed her undergraduate degree at Case Western Reserve University, earning a Bachelors in Communication Sciences and Disorders with Honors. She completed her externship at Washington University Center for Hearing and Balance Disorders. During her time in undergraduate and graduate studies, she worked as Research Assistant in several labs.
Upon graduation, Dr. Abrams began in a telehealth practice and has found she is passionate about providing quality and evidence based care to individuals through this modality. Her primary audiologic interests and areas of expertise are: diagnostics for adults; selecting and fitting amplification including hearing aids, bone anchored devices, and cochlear implants; auditory processing disorders; and tinnitus management. While she is a Chicago native, she has called St. Louis her home for the last 8 years and loves exploring the city. On weekends, she can be found with her husband running after her children and dog. She enjoys spending time in the kitchen, reading a good book, and exploring vintage stores.
Dr. Andrew Keiner, AuD
Audiologist
Andrew Keiner holds a Doctorate of Audiology degree from the University of Iowa. He also has a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University. He completed his audiology externship at the Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Keiner has worked as a research assistant at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in the area of tinnitus research. He also worked in Piacenza, Italy, at a research hospital, studying the effects of cochlear implantation on tinnitus. Dr. Keiner specializes in the fitting of hearing aids and the treatment and management of tinnitus.
He has been published in many scientific journals and presented on tinnitus research nationally and internationally.
Dr. Keiner is originally from Treynor, Iowa and enjoys gardening, camping, and watching sports.
Meet Our Support Staff!
Dr. Kristin Keiner, PharmD
Business Manager & Pharmacist
Kristin Keiner is our business manager and pharmacist consultant. She holds a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from The University of Iowa where she graduated with high honors. Dr. Keiner has worked as a clinical and compounding pharmacist since 2014. She is an expert on the ototoxic effects of medication. She manages Merit Hearing’s Ototoxicity Monitoring Program.
Dr. Keiner is originally from Clive, Iowa and in her free time she enjoys her Bernese mountain dog, water-skiing, and anything Harry Potter.
Jen McClintock
Audiology Technician
Jen joined Merit Hearing in August 2023. She has over 14 years of experience in the medical field as a certified phlebotomist and a certified pharmacy technician. She has experience working with patients of all ages. At Merit Hearing, you can find Jen assisting with our Central Auditory Processing Disorder testing as well as providing care for patients’ hearing aids in our Ankeny office.
In her free time, Jen enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and dogs. She also enjoys watching and reading True Crime.
Contact us to schedule an appointment and meet our team in person! Our team of hearing health experts look forward to meeting you!