The Hear the World Foundation Announces Recipient of the First Annual Judith Gravel Fellowship in Pediatric Audiology

2010-08-19, Warrenville, Illinois, USA

The Phonak Hear the World Foundation is pleased to announce that Nicole Duncan, AuD student at the University of North Carolina as the 2010 recipient of its first annual Judith Gravel Fellowship in Pediatric Audiology.

As an AuD student at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Nicole has demonstrated her passion for the field of pediatric audiology and amplification. After her initial interest was sparked as a YMCA volunteer working with at-risk children in Florida, she went on to pursue an AuD degree at UNC where she received specialized training in pediatric audiology through a US Department of Education Pediatric Audiology Training Grant and LEND Fellowship.  During her studies, Nicole was also a research assistant in the Human Auditory Development Laboratory at UNC.

”Nicole has demonstrated the abilities and commitment commensurate with the fellowship’s requirements, including compassionate clinical care, rigorous research and adherence to evidence-based practice, exemplified by the late Dr. Gravel,” said Professor Richard Seewald, AuD, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the National Centre for Audiology, University of Western Ontario and Hear the World Foundation Advisory Board member.

About the Fellowship
In conjunction with the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, the Hear the World Foundation awards The Gravel Fellowship annually to a fourth-year Doctor of Audiology (AuD) student whose externship will be completed at UNC Hospitals with a focus on audiologic management of infants and young children with hearing loss.  The Gravel fellow also completes a clinical research project under the mentorship of UNC faculty in collaboration with Dr. Seewald. 

The Foundation named the fellowship in recognition for the late Judith Gravel, internationally renowned for her expertise in pediatric audiology and for her many contributions to clinical research and professional service.  Dr. Gravel conducted groundbreaking research in the areas of early hearing loss detection and intervention and the management and treatment of otitis media. Her academic career included faculty appointments at Columbia University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, City University of New York, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Pennsylvania where she was Director of the Center for Childhood Communication at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and held the William P. Potsic Chair in Pediatric Otolaryngology and Childhood Communication.

“Judy will always be remembered for her dedication to the advancement of educational opportunities for students and clinicians. This fellowship will honor her memory and maintain her mission.” said Dr. Seewald.