Meet the Team

Jane is the Head of Service at the Scottish Cochlear Implant Programme. She qualified with a degree in Speech and Language Pathology from the University of Strathclyde in 2001 and has worked at the Scottish Cochlear Implant Programme since then, initially as an Advanced rehabilitation advisor and now in her dream job as Head of Service.  She is HCPC and RCSLT registered. She is current chair of the British Cochlear Implant Group (BCIG), the Lead Clinician for the Network for deaf children and young people (HINCYP - a national managed clinical network in Scotland commissioned by National Services Division) and a member of the Cochlear Implant Champions Steering Group (a joint British Academy of Audiology and BCIG initiative). She is completing a PhD in Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge with Debi Vickers in the SOUND lab.  She is passionate about cochlear implants and has a particular focus on ensuring equitable access to hearing healthcare for all.

Arlene O’Malley has been the Deputy Head of Service at the Scottish Cochlear Implant Programme since 2022. She is a Clinical Scientist registered with the HCPC. She has a MSc IT (Medical Physics) and a BSc Hons Pharmacology degrees both from the University of Aberdeen. Arlene joined the Cochlear Implant Team in 1999 completing her Clinical Scientist training and state registration within the department and has worked here since then. In addition to her management responsibilities Arlene routinely carries out programming appointments for children and adults, as well as electrophysiological and intraoperative measurements. 

Lyndsay Fraser is a Consultant ENT & Cochlear Implant Surgeon and the current surgical lead at the Scottish Cochlear Implant Programme.  She obtained her medical degree with commendation from the University of Glasgow (2003) and later completed higher surgical training in Otolaryngology/ Head & Neck Surgery in Yorkshire and the West of Scotland (2015). She completed her advanced training with a Fellowship in Cochlear Implantation/ Skull Base surgery in Glasgow as well as travelling otology fellowships in Nepal, the USA and France.  Since 2016 she has worked as a Consultant ENT surgeon at University Hospital Crosshouse, balancing her cochlear implant work alongside a busy ENT practice including general otology, middle ear auditory implantation and paediatric ENT.  She has published extensively in the literature with over 20 peer reviewed publications and has presented her work both nationally and internationally.  She is passionate about teaching and training and is an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Glasgow.

Natasha Grimmond is a Consultant ENT, Cochlear and Auditory Implant Surgeon, with a sub-specialist interest in vestibular disorders.  Mrs Grimmond completed her undergraduate degree, graduating with distinction from the University of Dundee (2007). Following foundation training in Ninewells hospital she undertook training in Otolaryngology/ Head & Neck Surgery in the West of Scotland, including a 1 year Fellowship in Cochlear Implantation and Skull Base surgery.  Mrs Grimmond obtained her Consultant post in Crosshouse hospital in 2019. In addition to implant surgery, she provides adult and paediatric Otology, general ENT and vestibular clinics. Her practice is evidence based and she has contributed to the literature with over 20 peer reviewed publications / book chapters. Mrs Grimmond is an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Glasgow, has obtained post graduate qualifications in Medical Education and is a member of the West of Scotland Training Committee.

Paul Sooby is a Consultant ENT surgeon working within the Scottish Cochlear Implant Programme.  He completed his medical degree at Brighton and Sussex Medical School where he also completed his BSc in Neuroscience with 1st class honours.  His early surgical career was undertaken within the East Sussex NHS Trust before moving to the West of Scotland to complete his speciality training in ENT,  He also completed a fellowship in cochlear implantation following completion of his speciality training.  He worked for 2 years in Glasgow as a consultant otological surgeon before joining the Scottish Cochlear Implant Programme in 2025.  Paul is passionate about undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and mentorship and completed a post-graduate diploma in medical education at University of Edinburgh.  Paul has also published several peer reviewed papers within the ENT field with a particular focus on quality improvement and skull base pathology.

Jo is a Chartered Clinical Scientist (Medical Physicist) registered with HCPC.  She completed a degree in Instrumentation and Applied Physics at Glasgow Caledonian University, and thereafter a PhD at Glasgow University in Development of an automated screening tool for Diabetic Retinopathy using artificial intelligence. She spent 5 years working in Nuclear Medicine at the Western Infirmary in Glasgow before joining the team at SCIP in 2007. She carries out electrophysiological and intra-operative measurements, post-implant switch-ons, and routine programming appointments for both adult and paediatric patients.

Andy is an HCPC-registered Clinical Scientist.  He completed an integrated Master’s degree in Maths and Physics at University of Glasgow, then a PhD in sound localisation as part of the MRC/CSO Institute of Hearing Research.  He joined the team at SCIP in 2021, and carries out intraoperative measurements, post-implant switch-ons, and routine programming appointments for both adult and paediatric patients.

Rachael is a Clinical Scientist (Audiology) registered with the HCPC. She has a Neuroscience degree from the University of Edinburgh and a Master's in Neurosensory Sciences from the University of Manchester. She completed her clinical training in London and joined the Scottish Cochlear implant team in 2022.  She carries out pre-implant audiology assessments and post-implant switch on and programming appointments for children and adults.

Robbie is a Clinical Scientist (Clinical Measurement and Development) registered with the HCPC. He has an undergraduate MEng in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Glasgow and postgraduate MSc in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Strathclyde. He started his clinical training in Glasgow before joining the Scottish Cochlear Implant Programme in 2019. Robbie routinely carries out programming appointments for children and adults, as well as electrophysiological and intraoperative measurements. He is interested in providing person-centred care and developments of related technologies.

Sharon is an HCPC-registered Clinical Scientist.  She completed an Honours degree in Physics and thereafter completed a six year training programme in Medical Physics based in various hospital departments in Glasgow.  She joined the team at SCIP in April 1996 when it was a very small team and has watched the programme develop over the years. She carries out electrophysiological and intra-operative measurements, post-implant switch-ons, and routine programming appointments for both adult and paediatric patients.

Amy is a Clinical Scientist (Audiology) registered with the HCPC. She has an Astrophysics degree from the University of St Andrews and a Master's in Audiology from the University of Manchester. She completed her clinical training in Manchester and joined the Scottish Cochlear implant team in 2016.  She carries out pre-implant audiology assessments and post-implant switch on and programming appointments for children and adults.

Mark is a Clinical Scientist (Audiology) registered with the HCPC. He has an MSci Medicinal Chemistry degree from the University of Glasgow and an MSc in Neurosensory Sciences (Audiology) from the University of Manchester. He completed his clinical training in Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and worked as a Paediatric Audiologist in the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow before joining the Scottish Cochlear implant team in 2024.  He carries out pre-implant audiology assessments and post-implant switch on and programming appointments for children and adults.

Kathryn is a dual qualified Audiologist and Speech and Language Therapist. She obtained her Bachelor of Speech Pathology and Master of Audiology Studies at the University of Queensland, Australia. She worked for many years in Australia as an Audiologist and Speech Pathologist before moving to Scotland. Kathryn was a Paediatric Audiologist at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow before joining the Scottish Cochlear Implant Programme in 2024. Kathryn carries out pre-implant Audiology assessment for both children and adult patients and is a rehabilitation advisor, primarily supporting adult rehabilitation. 

Brogan is a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist registered with HCPC and RCSLT.  She has a Speech and Language Therapy Degree from Queen Margaret University and completed clinical training in NHS Borders and Lothian before joining the Scottish Cochlear Implant Team in 2017. She carries out pre-implant language and communication assessments and is involved as second tester in switch on and week 1 post-implant programming appointments for children. She also works directly with families and local professionals post implant offering advice and strategies around developing listening skills.

Martin is a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist registered with HCPC and RCSLT.  He has a Speech and Language Pathology Degree from University of Strathclyde and completed clinical training in Glasgow. He spent 4 months on a Clinical Traineeship in Canada before taking up post in Greater Glasgow and Clyde where he managed a specialist caseload in stammering and Deafness in Glasgow for over 17 years before joining the Scottish Cochlear Implant Team in 2020.  He carries out pre-implant language and communication assessments and is involved as second tester in switch on and week 1 post-implant programming appointments for children. He also works directly with families and local professionals post implant offering advice and strategies around developing listening skills.

Laura is an Advanced Rehabilitation Advisor registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland. She has a postgraduate degree from the University of Strathclyde in Education (Primary) and a postgraduate degree from the University of Edinburgh in Additional Support for Learning (Deaf Education). She worked as a Teacher of deaf Children and Young People in South Lanarkshire council for 14 years before joining the Scottish Cochlear implant team in 2024. She carries out pre-implant language and communication assessments and is involved as second tester in switch on and week 1 post-implant programming appointments for children. She also works directly with families and local professionals post implant, offering advice and strategies around developing listening skills.

Ben is a Trainee Clinical Scientist that started with the department full time in September 2024. He has Masters degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Newcastle University and Biomedical Engineering from Strathclyde University. Ben is currently working towards registration with HCPC and fully qualifying as a Scientist in the department. Outside the department Ben enjoys reading and scale modelling.

Maxine is the Personal Assistant to the Head of Service for the Scottish Cochlear Implant Programme.  She completed Business Studies at Glasgow College of Commerce.  Maxine has always worked in Administration roles and started her career in the NHS in 2000 and then joined the Scottish Cochlear Implant Programme in 2010.  Maxine’s role involves providing administration support to the Head of Service and the Cochlear team.

Caroline is a Medical Secretary.  She has worked for the NHS as a Medical Secretary since 1998.  She joined the Cochlear Implant Team in 2020.  She books all the pre-implant assessments and programming appointments and answers all the telephone enquiries.

Elaine has worked in the Cochlear Department for 26 years as an Assistant Technical Officer.  She carries out the POCIA hearing tests on adult patients who have had cochlear implants.  She also sends out spare parts to patients, covers reception duties and sends items for repair to multiple manufactures.  She also carries out yearly stock checks.

Susan has been working in the Cochlear Department since October 2021.  She loves the many different aspects of the job and one of them is dealing with patients on a daily basis which she enjoys immensely.  The job entails working in the front office dealing with all enquiries via telephone and email, sending and receiving of spare parts and completing Post Implant Pocia tests with patients amongst many other duties.  She has worked within the NHS since 2007 previously working within the Medical Records Department for the first 14 years, where she gained much valuable experience, before moving to the Cochlear Department.

Mandeep joined the team in January 2025 and is currently working as Assistant Technical Officer in the Cochlear Department. Mandeep primarily supports general reception duties. She also carries out Post-Operative Cochlear Implant Assessments (POCIA).  Mandeep engages with patients daily, ensuring their needs are met with professionalism and care. When devices are returned due to faults, she manages their dispatch to the appropriate manufacturers for repair. Additionally, she monitors and maintain stock levels to ensure essential supplies are consistently available. 

Rachelle started her journey within the cochlear department in January 2025, her role within the department is an assistant technical officer.  Most of her responsibilities are within the front office like welcoming patients into the department, answering any phone call enquires, sending out spare parts, supporting hearing assessments and managing stock. She really enjoys her position within the department and being part of such an amazing community that's always evolving and growing.

Catriona joined the Cochlear Implant Department in April 2025 as an Assistant Technical Officer. She works in the front office, where she welcomes patients, supports hearing assessments, and assists patients throughout their journey within the department. She also manages stock levels and sends repairs to manufacturers.