Clinical Audiologist Cathryn Rowling shares her love for patients, colleagues, chaos and a rather odd looking family pet.
What is your current title and how long have you been with WashU ENT?
I am a Clinical Audiologist, and I have been with the department for eight years. I started here after completing my audiology externship (also here) and graduating from the Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences at WashU Medicine. I completed my undergraduate degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
What do you like most about your work here?
Without a question, I love my patients and my colleagues. I enjoy working with people to help them improve their hearing. It is always a “feel-good” moment when a patient with new hearing aids comes in for a follow-up appointment and says, “I don’t know why I didn’t do this sooner”! My co-workers make it easy for me to come to work each day. They are all incredible individuals from whom I continue to learn. I love being a part of our team, striving toward the same common goal: improve patients’ lives by helping them hear better.
Did something influence you to want to work in a medical setting or at WashU?
I was diagnosed with single-sided deafness in first grade, so I grew up going to the audiologist/ENT annually. When it came time to pick a major in college, I knew I wanted to do something to help others. My mom was the one who gave me the idea to take classes in audiology. After one class, I knew it was the field I wanted to pursue.
What spare time activities do you enjoy?
I love to spend time with my family and friends. As a family with young children, we enjoy the Magic House, the St. Louis Zoo and the Museum of Transportation the most. My parents live in Chicago, where I grew up, so we try to see each other once a month. All of my in-laws live in Grafton; we get together often so all the cousins can play together. Mark and I relish trying new local restaurants with friends. I also enjoy running. I’ve run two half marathons in the past and would like to do another one soon, pending finding the time to train for it.
Life in our house is chaotic but always exciting! My husband, Mark, works at BJC in the Treasury Department. He has a degree in finance and works on the hospital system’s investments. He is also enrolled at WashU, studying to earn an MBA. We have two sons – Grant, 4, and Thomas, 2. Grant loves sports and music. I made the mistake of allowing my parents to buy him a drum set, so the house is always loud. Thomas is a sassy mommy’s boy who also loves trying to keep up with his big brother. Last, but not least, we have our 6-year-old dog, Reggie. He is a basset hound/lab mix. Many people stop us on walks specifically to ask us about Reggie because he is a bit funny looking.
Is there a special something at the top of your bucket list, and why?
Mark and I would love to travel to Italy. I am ¾ Italian so I think it would be a great experience to see where my family is from. Otherwise, Mark and I have talked about traveling to Greece, Thailand and Australia. Domestically, I would love to go to Napa Valley to taste and learn about different types of wine.
What would your colleagues be most surprised to learn about you?
I used to competitively swim, figure skate and horseback ride when I was (much) younger. I am hoping to get back on the ice this Winter to teach Grant and Thomas how to skate!