With the Hollywood-inspired theme “Lights, Camera, Audiology!” Phonak and Advanced Bionics kicked off Phonak University 2026 with a walk down student attendees’ very own red carpet. But the focus was not glamor, but the excitement of embarking on a career in audiology and developing skills and knowledge with like-minded peers and the help of field experts to further that dream.  

Every year, Phonak invites a select group of audiology students to attend Phonak University, a three-day educational event that provides instruction in professional development, audiology concepts, and what the company’s brands can do for patients and their families. This year, a smaller group of 50 third- and fourth-year students from 18 different universities across the United States and Puerto Rico attended.

Feb. 18-20, Phonak combined efforts with sister Sonova brand Advanced Bionics to host the event, held at AB’s world headquarters and cochlear implant manufacturing facility in Valencia, California. 

This collaboration gave many students exposure to the cochlear implant side of audiology like they’d never experienced before.  

All Phonak U students got a tour of the facility where Advanced Bionics cochlear implants are made, which many said was the highlight of the event for them. 

“Just getting to walk through [the Advanced Bionics facility here in Valencia] and see how a [cochlear implant is] made is so important for us,” says Madison Lyde, a student at the University of North Texas. “It’s so important to understand and know what our patients are getting implanted with and what they’re going to have for the rest of their lives.”

Hands-On Experience

Rebecca Hammond, also a student at the University of North Texas, was most excited about the temporal bone lab. “We actually get to practice inserting the two different types of electrodes that AB makes,” she enthused. “I think getting to do hands-on labs like that is really fun.” 

University of Southern Mississippi student Logann Griffith also appreciated going beyond what her school has been able to teach her about CIs.   

“I had my cochlear implant class last semester, but that was more lecture based, so being able to be hands on has been especially helpful,” she says. “Also, I don’t see a lot in clinic right now because there’s not a lot of cochlear implants in Mississippi clinically, so being here has been very beneficial for that hands-on experience. 

Griffith is seriously considering a focus on cochlear implants for her career, and she plans to put her newly acquired knowledge to good use as soon as possible. 

“At my externship they do some cochlear implants along with hearing aids at that placement site,” she says, “so being able to be here and learn and then taking that back with me will help set me up for success.

Entering the Job Market

At a “career junket” session, students could ask questions of experts in seven different areas of the audiology field to help decide what career path they might want to follow. Options included academia, educational audiology, ENT, industry, private practice, research, and the VA. 

To prepare students to interview for a job in audiology, Phonak University also held sessions focused on practical skills they likely won’t find elsewhere in their studies. 

Building a Network and a Foundation

Phonak U also provides students with opportunities to network with fellow students and experts who could become lifelong mentors.

Lyde is a Phonak University alum, having first attended in 2025. “I established a lot of relationships last year, and I’m growing those relationships this year, reconnecting with both students and staff of Sonova,” she told The Hearing Review. 

Now, all 50 students who attended Phonak University 2026 are better equipped to complete their educations and find a path in audiology that they can be excited about every day.

Featured image: Group photo of students who attended Phonak University 2026 at Advanced Bionics headquarters in Valencia, California. Photo: Phonak