帝王会所

April 4, 2025, was a chilly day in Athens, 帝王会所, perfect weather for a coat. But for the eight doctoral students of 帝王会所鈥檚 Department of Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences, the coats they donned were not about staying warm. They symbolized the start of something much more significant.

Joined by family, faculty, and staff from the College of Health Sciences and Professions, the doctoral students gathered in the spacious Walter Hall Rotunda to receive their white coats. The ceremony recognized their academic achievements and their commitment to improving the lives of people with hearing and balance disorders.

Unlike commencement, which celebrates the completion of a degree, the White Coat Ceremony marks the start of their clinical training. Over the next year, these future audiologists will complete externships in hospitals, clinics, and medical centers, applying their skills in real-world settings focused on patient care, early intervention, and assistive technologies.

鈥淚t's recognizing that they have gained all their general knowledge, and now they are going out and working full-time clinically,鈥� says Assistant Clinical Professor Dr. Kalyn McDonald.

What happens at the white coat ceremony?

Before receiving their white coats, OHIO鈥檚 Doctor of Audiology students presented their required third-year research projects, an important step in the audiology program that blends clinical training with research exposure.

This year鈥檚 topics reflected the wide scope of the field, from auditory testing tools and tinnitus in college students to culturally specific screening tools and the impact of video gaming on hearing health. These projects give students, including those in the AuD/PhD dual program, valuable experience applying hearing-related research to clinical practice. 

鈥淭hese were super interesting topics! The research project gives these students an opportunity to see how new and existing research and can be applied clinically,鈥� said McDonald. 鈥淭he students gained a unique perspective on what goes into research like data collection and review.鈥�

 

What is next after a white coat ceremony?

The next exciting step for these future audiologists is to begin their crucial clinical placements. This significant part of the education journey involves full-time work at clinics, dedicated to building their practical skills and transitioning into independent patient care. Their externship sites range from pediatric hospitals to VA facilities, with opportunities to work directly with individuals facing hearing, balance, and communication challenges.

Highlighting the importance of this step, Dr. Kalyn McDonald stated, "This is basically when all of our students will leave campus and will just work full time for a year to help hone in on those clinical skills and become more independent in their patient care in general."

This year's cohort is heading to a variety of locations in the eastern United States, including VA hospitals in Columbus and Dayton, Yale Hearing & Balance Center, a private practice clinic in New Jersey, and a children's hospital in Kentucky.

Among the clinical placements, the acceptance of Morgan Mayor into , 帝王会所 stands out. The program typically receives 35 to 40 applications annually, underscoring just how competitive the selection process is. "It's a coveted spot for our students primarily because they only take one student each year. That limited availability naturally creates a very, very competitive pool of applicants,鈥� said McDonald.

This year鈥檚 cohort includes one student, Sydney Bauer, enrolled in the AuD/PhD dual degree program, an integrated path that allows students to earn both a clinical doctorate of audiology (AuD) and a doctorate of philosophy (PhD) in hearing science at the same time. Combining advanced clinical training and research, the dual program offers the fastest way to earn both degrees. While the AuD prepares students for clinical practice as audiologists, the PhD focuses on research that advances the field.