Our Professional Staff

Carol Clifford, founder of Albuquerque Hearing & Balance, is dedicated to excellence in patient care. A nationally renowned speaker in the Hearing Industries, Carol chose to return to the rewarding practice of clinical audiology, understanding that she can provide profound changes to patients with hearing loss. Carol opened Albuquerque Hearing & Balance in 1998 with the ambition of providing the highest quality service to the New Mexico community.

Tara Harmon-McElheney joined Albuquerque Hearing & Balance in June 2015. She is eager to serve her community while expanding her knowledge in such a diverse clinical setting.

Maria joined Albuquerque Hearing and Balance in September 2017 following three years of clinical practice with Albuquerque Speech Language Hearing Center. Her clinical interests include rehabilitation with hearing instruments in both pediatric and adult populations, cochlear implants in adults, and custom hearing protection for industrial and recreational settings. She works with patients across the lifespan and with all levels of hearing acuity.

Caitlynne Gentry joined Albuquerque Hearing and Balance in July 2018. She enjoys solving problems and helping patients achieve a better quality of life.

Deyvy C. Armendariz joined Albuquerque Hearing and Balance in June 2024. She earned her Bachelor's in Speech and Hearing sciences from the University of New Mexico in 2020 and her Doctorate in Audiology from the University of Utah in 2024. Deyvy completed her externship year at Intermountain Cottonwood Audiology. She is bilingual in Spanish and English and is eager to serve her community. Her clinical interests include vestibular testing, fitting hearing instruments, intraoperative monitoring, and overall expanding her knowledge in audiology.  Deyvy outside of work or on the weekends can be found hiking with her dog, skiing, and traveling.

Emma joined Albuquerque Hearing and Balance in May 2025. While teaching full-time in the Navajo Nation, Emma studied Communication Sciences & Disorders online through Northern Arizona University, and she earned her Doctorate of Audiology from the University of Cincinnati in 2024. Her clinical interests include aural rehabilitation and amplification, cochlear implants in adults, hearing protection for musicians, and tinnitus management. Fun fact: Emma has also tested canine and elephant hearing.

Jessica Hiers joined Albuquerque Hearing and Balance in August 2025. She earned her bachelor's degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of New Mexico in 2015 and her Doctorate in Audiology from Pacific University of Oregon in 2020. Jess completed her externship year at The House of Hearing in Utah.

Catherine Worth began her career as an Intern at Lovelace Medical Center in Albuquerque. Lovelace was made famous as the location for the medical testing of NASA’s Mercury astronauts. It was at Lovelace that she developed a profound appreciation for both state-of-the art technology and the life stories that her patients shared with her.