2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference
March 13 - 15, 2022
THE ANTONIA BRANCIA MAXON AWARD FOR EHDI EXCELLENCE
Ginger Mullin
Ginger Mullin is a true leader's leader. She knows that the morale of leadership is what gets things moving and makes them sustainable. Ginger's superpower is her compassionate support for her fellow EHDI colleagues, especially the EHDI Coordinators. For more than 11 years Ginger has been the brains, the organizer, and the advocate behind the rogue group EHDI Chats for EHDI coordinators. With slight assistance from Lylis, the existence and success of EHDI Chats reflects the values that Ginger lives every day. She is all about sharing our challenges and successes in our lives and in our work (whoo hoos and boo hoos) and is always looking for ways to leverage opportunities to the betterment of all.
Ginger lives and breathes EHDI, she works tirelessly not only for children in Illinois, but also to continuously ensure the overall EHDI System is working to improve the experience of families on the journey of raising their deaf and hard of hearing children as well as other EHDI stakeholders. She brings innovative ideas and strategic thinking, along with her big heart for collaboration. This past year alone she has quietly been the leader behind many of the improvements within EHDI, such as her instigation of the Family EHDI Data (FEHDI), Promoting EHDI Practices (PEP) projects as well as her contribution in the development and promotion of the Virtual Site Visits (VSV) and the Newborn Hearing screening Curriculum (NHSTC) projects. Her dedication to continued improvement of the HiTrack data management system has been ongoing since its early development.
Dr. Mullin is a strong believer in family involvement and support. She is like none other in that she looks at the whole spectrum of families receiving services for children who are deaf/hard of hearing and how to support them in each of their journeys. Her work ethic is upfront, honest, and extremely dedicated towards the success of all families who have children with a hearing difference regardless of the resources available to them or their socioeconomic status.
Parents who have been lucky enough to have worked alongside Ginger, have experienced the joy, encouragement, and camaraderie she brings to each and every encounter. She has helped parents find their voice and understands the importance of their role as a parent, encouraging them to participate, share freely and find pride in their role as a parent knowing they are just as important in the circle of care for families and the function of EHDI programs. She has taken Illinois parent-to-parent services to the next level collaborating on new initiatives which support families before, during and after diagnosis. She constantly reminds us of one of her favorite phrases, "progress not perfection."
Her rainbows and unicorns vision has made the world a brighter place for babies and the providers who champion their cause. She inspires us to always think of and work for what could be, rather than settle for what is. We know of no one more deserving of this highest EHDI recognition.