If you happen to be in Chicago for the annual AudiologyNOW! convention, be sure to attend the Featured Session (FS113) on Establishing Sustainable Humanitarian Audiology Programs on Friday, April 8 from 8:00 to 9:30 am in Room 183B. Despite economic downturns, many indicators suggest humanitarian efforts are on the rise. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of information available on how to manage humanitarian audiology programs, including best practice guidelines.
A panel of seasoned humanitarians will present practical information on how to establish sustainable, not-for-profit programs related to humanitarian audiology. Moderated by A.U. Bankaitis, PhD of Oaktree Products, the panel of experts will include Dr. Ronald Brouillette, PhD, an audiologist with a doctorate in international rehabilitation administration who has practiced audiology in 23 countries and the co-editor of the popular textbook Audiology in Developing Countries; Dr. James Saunders, MD, a board-certified Otolaryngologist at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center who has been engaged in personal annual philanthropic humanitarian programs in Nicaragua since 1998; and Dr. Jackie Clark, PhD, associate professor at UT Dallas’ School of Brain Behavior Sciences with a Research Scholar appointment at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. The panel will present an overview of global hearing loss, the purpose of humanitarian audiology, ear pathology and related treatment strategies in developing countries, and strategies in establishing and sustaining humanitarian audiology programs. This is a must see Featured Session for any audiologist interested in humanitarian efforts.
For those of you that could not make the Featured Session on Establishing Sustainable Humanitarian Audiology Programs at AudiologyNOW! in Chicago 2011, with permission of the speakers, feel free to get in touch with Dr. Jackie Clark of UT Dallas at jclark@utdallas.edu or with Dr. James Saunders of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center at James.Saunders@Hitchcock.org for information on how to get more involved.
I am very interested in the topics addressed in this session, but am unable to be in Chicago or attend the conference. Is there a way to get the material afterward? I am a B.A. in Communications, who is a missionary in rural West Africa, late-deafened and bilateral C.I. user for nearly 3 years, preparing to return overseas. I was featured in the Nov/Dec. issue of Hearing Loss Magazine and received some contacts for possible partnerships in the area of humanitarian hearing aid distribution. I am at a loss as to where to start with this and how to follow it up or sustain an effort like this even though I am aware of many people who could use them just in my own little world of influence. I would welcome a personal response or advice on this topic.
Lisa, I know that the Academy offers the opportunity to purchase recordings of the course although I am not sure what that entails but can find out more information for you. Also, we (meaning Dr. Jackie Clark and Dr. Saunders and myself) have been discussing the publication of a book on practical aspects of humanitarian audiology although that will probably come out later than when you need the information. My contact e-mail at Oaktree Product is au@oaktreeproducts.com. Let’s get in touch and I can point you in the right direction in terms of contacts and information related to this topic.
A.U.: I posted a long comment with many links this morning — Did you get it?
Also, I personally know Lisa Fuller Seward as well as her story of triumphing over sudden deafness from ototoxic antibiotics in spring 2008 with her bilateral cochlear implants. You can read her inspiring story here:
http://cindydyer.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/lisafullerseward.pdf
and the back story on how Lisa ended up on the cover of Hearing Loss Magazine here:
http://cindydyer.wordpress.com/2010/11/12/lisa-fuller-seward-a-missionarys-life/
Got your links Dan; AudiologyNOW! convention busy, busy, busy so really didn’t have a chance for much social media other than occasional tweet here there. Thanks!