Dr. Michelle Petrak inducted into the Bárány Society

Dr. Michelle Petrak, Director of Clinical Research at Interacoustics, was inducted into the Bárány Society on August 27, 2024. This membership adds to her long list of affiliations with prestigious organizations such as the American Academy of Neurology and the American Academy of Audiology.

However, the Bárány Society membership holds special significance to Dr. Petrak, highlighting her lifetime of contributions to the field of vestibular science.

When Dr. Petrak received an email informing her of her induction into the Bárány Society, it meant much more to her than just a title or membership.

“It was exciting and a big accomplishment for me. If I had been a researcher at a university, it may have been an easier goal to achieve, but being in the industry means I broke a barrier. For me, it is about being accepted as a scientist in my field,” Dr. Petrak says about learning of her induction into the Bárány Society.

Changing lives through product development

Dr. Petrak had long felt that this induction was out of reach, as most current members have backgrounds in hospitals and academia rather than the manufacturing industry.

The Bárány Society describes itself as “The International Society for Neuro-otology, Vestibular Medicine, and Vestibular Research.” It is regarded with reverence among balance and neurology professionals, as it comprises the world’s leading experts and sets international standards for diagnosing and treating vestibular disorders. Its members have all actively contributed to the fields of neuro-otology and vestibular science.

So too has Dr. Petrak, but not by following the traditional academic career path.

Dr. Petrak lectures at universities and has published several influential papers, but her main goal since finishing her Ph.D. in Biomolecular Electronics and Electrophysiology from Wayne State University in 1994 has been innovative product development. To Dr. Petrak, that goal felt more attainable through the manufacturing industry rather than in a university setting.

“Originally, I wanted to design cutting-edge products such as solar-powered cochlear implants or biomedical eye-tracking devices,” she explains. “In the 1990s, your choices to do that were either a manufacturer or a university, and the route was a lot faster in the industry. I wanted to make products, not just do research on products that already existed.”

Dr. Petrak has worked towards this goal for the past 30 years. Her work has included researching and developing new products and solutions within audiology and vestibular diagnostics. Her passion is in vestibular research, and as first a Clinical Product Manager and later as Director of Clinical Research at Interacoustics, she has helped establish the company as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of systems used to diagnose and treat balance disorders.

“I consider my work at Interacoustics to be my biggest accomplishment,” she says. “When I first came to Interacoustics, they didn’t have a vestibular department. Today, balance is one of our key departments, and I believe my colleague Joachim (Hougaard – Technical Product Manager at Interacoustics) and I had a lot to do with that. Our products are changing patients' lives, and I am very proud of that.”

Overcoming prejudices

Both alongside and as part of Dr. Petrak’s work at Interacoustics, she has continued her vestibular research. Yet she has met prejudices among her peers because of her industry background.

“A person once told me that I was ‘just a manufacturer’ - implying that they considered my research to be biased because of my industry background,” Dr. Petrak says, recounting the incident which took place at a scientific meeting.

“My acceptance into the Bárány Society shows that this prestigious organization recognizes that I am not a salesperson. I have a Ph.D., I publish papers, I work in the clinic, and I’ve helped to develop and build diagnostic solutions that clinicians and vestibular scientists all over the world are using.”

It was one of those scientists who proposed Dr. Petrak as a member of the Bárány Society.

Dr. Sue Whitney (PT, DPT, Ph.D.) is an expert in vestibular rehabilitation and balance disorders, a Bárány Society member, and a colleague of Dr. Petrak’s.

In her nomination letter, Dr. Whitney mentions the many other prestigious audiology and neurology associations that already recognize Dr. Petrak’s lifelong commitment and many contributions to her field, and Dr. Whitney continues to write:

“Dr. Petrak has made significant contributions to vestibular research, with 26 publications in the field. Her research output demonstrates her dedication to advancing knowledge and understanding in vestibular science, and her findings have undoubtedly contributed to the progress of the field.”

Reflecting on the future

With the Bárány Society induction to add to her many professional accomplishments, Dr. Petrak still has plans for her future in product development.

“I am always looking into new ways to improve dizziness and balance care patient outcomes by making our products more efficient,” she says.

Dr. Petrak’s passion is evident as she continues to enthusiastically discuss new possibilities with recent advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence.

At 59 years old, Dr. Petrak also sees the end of her long career approaching. “I’m not one of those people who plans to work till I am 90. I would like to retire at some point - maybe in the next decade. Which feels sad in a way - I don’t feel old at all,” she laughs.

“It’s funny,” she reflects, “when you’re at this stage in your career, you’re looking at what you’re going to leave behind for the next group to continue with, rather than what you are going to start anew.”

About the author

Ina Clausen is a Master of Arts (MA) in Journalism, having graduated from the Southern University of Denmark in 2014 and specialized on strategic communication. She has more than 15 years of experience within the realm of journalism and video journalism, holding the position as Video Journalist at Interacoustics A/S since October 2018.