Lexington, Ky. (June 24, 2025) – Kentucky University Health Sciences College Add a new doctorate program in audiology from the summer of 2026.
The three -year program is organized by the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) in the Health Sciences College in collaboration with the Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology-Head and neck surgery in the Medical college. Research on teacher positions should start in the fall of 2025, with registration for students scheduled for summer 2026.
“We are delighted to launch the audiological doctorate program within the College of Health Sciences,” said Scott Lephart, pH.D., Dean of the College of Health Sciences. “The addition of this program marks pivotal progress for our college and the University of Kentucky. We form the next generation of audiologists through a collaborative and interdisciplinary model, meeting a critical need in our health system and reaffirming our commitment to advance the health and well-being of Kentuckians through the State. ”
The Department of RPA is currently administering a program of higher studies in speech therapy (Master of Science) and a pre -professional first cycle program in communication sciences and disorders.
“The addition of audiology will help our department to approach complete human communication and its troubles, in particular speech, language, swallowing, hearing and balance,” said Anne Olson, Ph.D.,, President of the CSD department at the College of Health Sciences. “The accommodation of the two diplomas within the same department will promote interdisciplinary learning opportunities, promoting collaboration and will prepare graduates to better understand and support people with a variety of communication deficits. It is also an important program for our state because Kentucky has a high prevalence of people with hearing loss that classifies the third by Capita nationally. and increase access to audiology services essential in our state. »»
The British ear, nose and throat clinic provides hearing care services with a faculty of 19 Oto-Rhino-Laryngologists, six advanced practice suppliers and 14 doctoral audiologists. This clinic will provide one of the clinical teaching environments for the academic program with additional local and regional clinical sites added as the program evolves. In addition to program teachers within the CSD, doctors and audiologists of the Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology will also provide didactic and practical education within the framework of the Doctoral Program in Audiology (AUD).
“An important strength of this program is the inclusion of British health care and the department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology as an evidence of main clinical education,” said Jennifer Shinn, Ph.D., Head of audiology at the College of Medicine. “This will allow students to engage directly with patients in a real framework, will improve their skills under the direction of experienced clinicians. This also facilitates transparent collaboration between audiologists and otolaryngologists, improving the results of patients thanks to a multidisciplinary approach. Generation of audiologists who will have a lasting impact on the health of Kentuckians. »»
The AUD program will be hosted both in the current building of Charles T. WETHINGTON JR. (for clinical services) as well as in the new Michael D. Rankin MD Health Education Building (currently under construction) for academic and clinical training.
The Rankin Health Education building will have an audiological class and laboratory equipment dedicated to teaching clinical audiological concepts.
To find out more about this program for students or future audiology teachers, please contact Olson aolso2@uky.edu.