Sara K. Downs, Au.D.

Dr. Sara Downs has been serving the Northland community as an audiologist for more than two decades and in 2012, she co-founded the Hearing Wellness Center and Director of the Tinnitus Treatment Center with long-time friend and colleague, Dr. Jonathan Gervais.

Sara and her husband have two teenage boys who love sports and music. Most of her free time is spent cheering (gasping, screaming, rooting) on the sidelines of any one of the many sports both of her sons play. When she is not working with patients, or cheering for her boys, she is likely to be found cycling either out on the roads, or on the trails surrounding the Duluth area.

“Practicing Audiology has allowed me to blend science, health, and the art of healing together. Hearing is an essential part of a person’s wellbeing and I love helping people get reconnected through better hearing. I have earned Scholar recognition by the American Academy of Audiology, which recognizes audiologists for outstanding commitment to continuing education. Hearing technology changes at such a rapid pace, tinnitus research is exploding, and hearing science as it relates to cognitive function has become a hot research topic and these create a real need for constant learning. Another great pleasure I have in practice is getting to know my patients personally, many of whom will tell you I love to visit, see pictures of family, laugh and cry right along with them.”

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Educational Background:

• B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders at University of North Dakota
• M.S. in Audiology at Idaho State University
• Au.D. at Salus University 2005
• Board Certified in Audiology since 2005
• Certified in Mind-Body Medicine since 2015
• Certified Safe and Sound Protocol Provider since 2020
• MBA program at the College of St. Scholastica

Professional Associations:

• Minnesota Academy of Audiology—Past Member of the Board of Directors
• American Academy of Audiology
• Academy of Doctors of Audiology— served on the Convention/ Continuing Education committee for two years
• American Tinnitus Association–Current Member of the Board of Directors, Provider Relations Chair
• Tinnitus Practitioner’s Association
• Awards: Scholar Award from American Academy of Audiology for outstanding commitment to continuing education.

Dr. Jonathan Gervais is an audiologist and one of the founders of the Hearing Wellness Center. Dr. Gervais grew up in North Branch MN and married his high school sweetheart, Tracy.

In 1994, after graduating with his bachelor’s degree in communication disorders, Jonathan and Tracy moved to Iowa where he continued his graduate studies in Audiology. After completing a two-year residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, one of the country’s top-rated hearing centers, the Gervais’ decided to make Duluth their new forever home.

 Dr. Gervais loves helping others reconnect to the hearing world as he has hearing loss himself and understands the challenges hearing loss can cause in everyday life. Dr. Gervais also has a heart for working with veterans, that goes back to the stories his grandfather shared with him about participating in the Battle of the Bulge during WWII. Dr. Gervais and his wife have a teenage daughter and three cat fur babies. He enjoys spending time exploring new places with his family, reading, and riding bikes in the summer. 

Educational Background:

• BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders from St. Cloud State University – Worked as a volunteer paramedic
• MA in Audiology from University of Northern Iowa and completed a 2 year residency at the University of Iowa
• Hospitals, worked closely with the Cochlear Implant Research team and has publication in a number of joint research studies
• Au.D. in 2003 from University of Florida
• Board Certified in Audiology since 2007

Professional Associations:

• American Academy of Audiology
• Academy of Doctors of Audiology
• Minnesota Academy of Audiology
• American Tinnitus Association
• Tinnitus Practitioners Association
• Awards: Scholar Award from American Academy of Audiology for outstanding commitment to continuing education.

William Shoemaker, COHC is our own in-house Occupational Hearing Conservationist. He grew up in central Michigan playing music and has since lived in New York, the Twin Cities and now resides in Duluth. His background in music theory and sound engineering have helped further his interest in sound, hearing and audiology.

His three rotund cats love laying on him while he is trying to read a good book and he enjoys running his yoyo company in his free time. He is our go-to person for any and all yoyo-related questions. When not at work, he can usually be found hiking on the trails surrounding Duluth. 

"I've been playing music for about 24 years now and up until 6 or 7 years ago, I didn't take care of my hearing. My audiograms relayed the message to me: If I don't start taking care of my hearing now, there won't be much left to take care of in a few years. Thankfully, I haven't had a threshold shift for years now and I am PROUDLY that guy that wears hearing protection when I mow my lawn!"

Educational Background:

• SUNY Broome: Sound Engineering/Music Theory

Certifications:

• Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist through the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation
• OSHA 30-Hour General Industry certification
• Contact Tracing course through Johns Hopkins University