Hear the World Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Sonova that helps disadvantaged people with hearing loss, announced Hannah Dorothy, a third-year doctoral student in audiology at East Carolina University, as the recipient of the 2017/18 Judith Gravel Fellowship in Pediatric Audiology. The fellowship by the Hear the World Foundation and the University of North Carolina honors the memory of Dr Gravel by promoting the highest standards of pediatric audiology education and clinical practice.
Dorothy, a native of Illinois, completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Science and Disorders in 2014 at Western Illinois University. She has a history of community and volunteer service and is described by her mentors as a team player who demonstrates compassion, exceptional organizational skills, and proficiency in both the technical and interpersonal aspects of clinical audiology.
Her special interests lie in pediatric audiology including the early identification and management of infants and young children. A variety of pediatric research and clinical experiences during her graduate program at East Carolina University shaped her desire to work in a hospital setting with children.
Gaining insights through clinical practice
Dorothy will begin her fourth-year externship in May 2017 at UNC Hospitals where she will be the eighth Gravel Fellow. As a fourth-year extern at UNC Hospitals, she will gain extensive experience and mentoring in the diagnosis and management of infants and young children with hearing loss including many with complex needs.
“I am extremely grateful to receive this award as it affords me the opportunity to expand my clinical skills within a uniquely challenging pediatric setting,” said Dorothy. “I am eager to begin learning from the experienced audiologists and staff at UNC Hospitals. Dr Gravel’s work and legacy continues to positively impact current and future clinicians, and I am humbled and honored to receive such a prestigious award in her name in the lives of children with hearing loss.”
The Judith Gravel Fellowship was created by the Hear the World Foundation and is hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) within the Department of Otolaryngology and is named for Judith Gravel who passed away in 2008. “Dr Gravel was internationally renowned for her expertise in pediatric audiology and for her many contributions to clinical research and professional service. She particularly believed in the importance of allowing students to gain experience in clinical practice,” said Professor Richard Seewald, PhD, a member of the advisory board for the Hear the World Foundation.
The goal of the fellowship is to carry on her mission and legacy through the education of exceptional graduate students preparing for careers in pediatric audiology.
Source: Hear the World Foundation