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In this episode Dr. Levi Sowers and Brandon Rea interview Dr. Lina Kubli. Dr. Kubli is the RR&D Scientific Program Manager for Sensory Systems/Communication Disorders. Dr. Kubli was born in India and lived there until age 7 before moving the United States and settling in Maryland. She attended college at the University of Maryland initially majoring in Biochemistry, then switching to Hearing and Speech. In this time, Dr Kubli learned that she wanted to not only participate in clinical work but also interact with people while staying within research. She continued her education with earning her Master's in Audiology from the University of Maryland and worked with Veterans at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) as a Research Scientist and served as a Subject Matter Expert on Central Auditory Processing disorders and Traumatic Brain Injury. Initially reluctant to leave such an engaging research project, the director of the clinic encouraged Dr. Kubli to find a PhD program that could accommodate her schedule. She was able to find this balance at Gallaudet University, where she earned her PhD in Audiology. Dr. Kubli served on the Executive Committee of the Medical Staff as Chair for the Patient and Family Centered Care Steering Committee at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Together with Levi and Brandon, Dr. Kubli explains what it means to be a Scientific Program Manager and how she oversees the program within the Rehabilitation Research and Development Service. She evaluates a broad range of funding applications for research that include vision, hearing, balance, communication, and more. Additionally, she recruits individuals with expertise to best evaluate the funding applications. Many of the panel members are from outside of the VA to ensure that the most knowledgeable reviewers help navigate a project being implemented in the VA. Dr. Kubli shares about all the work that goes into supporting important research for the benefit of Veterans.