This past fall semester, six current 4th year students, including one alumni of the Class of 2017 and faculty from the Long Island Doctor of Audiology Consortium traveled to the Philippines and India to provide free hearing healthcare and services in underserved communities.
Six fourth year students, including one alumni of the Class of 2017 and faculty from the Long Island Doctor of Audiology Consortium which offers a clinical doctorate in audiology through the cooperation of Adelphi University, Hofstra University and St. John’s University, traveled to the Philippines and India this past Fall semester. During the program, made possible by The Starkey Hearing Foundation as part of their Global Based Hearing Health Care Program “So The World May Hear,” the group provided free hearing healthcare services to over 3,000 patients in the underserved communities visited. Below are reflections from our fourth year Au.D students on their experiences:
“My name is Amanda and I went on the Starkey Hearing Foundation mission trip with my clinical supervisor to the Philippines, we had mission sites both in Tarlac and Manila. I don’t even know where to start with how amazing this experience was. The many patients and their families that we saw were all so kind and thankful. It’s incredible to know that we have contributed to changing their lives, to witness them being able to communicate with others around them and leave hearing better is truly rewarding. The first mission day was very tiring and emotional, but by the end of the day I felt very accomplished and fulfilled that I had really made a difference in a person’s life. If anyone ever gets the opportunity to go on a mission trip with our program in collaboration with the Starkey Hearing Foundation, it’s an experience you wouldn’t want to miss! I would absolutely recommend it! “ – Amanda Ledogar “
This past November, I went on my second mission trip to India with the Starkey Hearing Foundation. We were able to serve so many patients in our five day mission experience and to say it was an amazing experience does not even do it justice. I was absolutely touched by all of the patients that I saw and how thankful they were for the work we were doing. Something as simple as clearing the cerumen out of their ears, was received with so much gratitude. This is why we are in this field, to change lives and open the doors of communication. Thank you to our professors for giving the students in our program this incredible life changing opportunity “ – Roseann Valenti