Heather Porter is a research scientist and clinical audiologist at Boys Town National Research Hospital. Dr. Porter completed clinical (Au.D.) and research (Ph.D.) doctorates from Vanderbilt University, including training in leadership education in neurodevelopmental differences. She completed post-doctoral studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill examining hearing-in-noise difficulties experienced by children and adults, and the mechanisms contributing to auditory development in children. She later became immersed in a clinical setting at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, working with children with complex medical histories and diverse developmental trajectories. Her current roles inform a program of federally funded translational research to improve hearing healthcare and outcomes in individuals with Down syndrome across the lifespan.