Deaf Health Care and
Biomedical Science Hub
Overview
The Deaf Hub was established in 2022 to promote representation of deaf and hard-of-hearing* individuals in healthcare and biomedical science careers. The Deaf Hub supports pathways to healthcare careers, creates a network for deaf scientists, and conducts research related to the deaf community and their health.
How It All Began
In 2012, the Task Force on Health Care Careers for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community, a partnership between RIT/NTID, Gallaudet University, University of Rochester Medical Center, and Rochester Regional Health wrote a vision in the final report.
This partnership, known as the Deaf Hub, began with an emphasis on biomedical science careers with programming that was funded by NIH’s National Institute for General Medical Sciences. The Deaf Hub expanded to provide training, advocacy, and mentorship opportunities in clinical and practicing careers in health care.
*Also inclusive to DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Late Deafened individuals who may use sign language and accommodations such as interpreting; and to those with all degrees of hearing loss that may prefer to use spoken English, residual hearing and/or assistive listening devices, and accommodations such as loops and captioning. Any person with hearing loss, regardless of identity or communication preferences, is included.
Goals and Objectives
The Deaf Hub mentors students and professionals, promotes research, and works to improve healthcare access and wellbeing for deaf and hard of hearing people – all as part of a long-term goal to increase awareness and representation in healthcare and biomedical science careers.
The Deaf Hub achieves its goals in six categories by:
- Mentoring deaf and hard-of-hearing students interested in a career in health care or biomedical science.
- Supporting the continued success of existing biomedical and healthcare conferences for deaf and hard-of-hearing trainees and professionals.
- Providing professional development and training opportunities for healthcare professionals.
- Improving the health care and biomedical knowledge and sign language skills of American Sign Language interpreters.
- Developing health systems employers' awareness of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals as qualified for a career in health care and biomedical science, including how they can be hired and successfully integrated into the healthcare workforce.
- Supporting the dissemination of accessible content to help healthcare professionals work efficiently with their deaf and hard-of-hearing patients.
Rochester Bridges to the Doctorate (Bridges) (Inactive)
Affiliate Programs
Post-doctoral Students: Rochester Postdoc Partnership (inactive)
The Rochester Postdoc Partnership (RPP) aims to develop a diverse group of highly trained biomedical scientists to address the Nation’s biomedical workforce needs. RPP trains deaf and hard-of-hearing post-doctoral scholars with a PhD in biomedical sciences. This fellowship includes mentored research and teaching experiences in a chosen biomedical science discipline to prepare scholars for an academic career in research and teaching. Find out more about the Rochester Postdoc Partnership at this website.
Middle School/High School Students: NTID Outreach Programs
The RIT/NTID Outreach team works with the NTID Regional STEM Center and the Deaf Hub to coordinate middle and high school STEM programs. Our outreach team has years of experience with developing interactive camps and programs rooted in diversity, while connecting with students, parents, and educators. Learn more about NTID Outreach and our programs on the NTID Outreach webpage.
If you are a deaf or hard-of-hearing student entering 10th, 11th, or 12th grade and interested in exploring health care fields, be sure to check out the Health Care Careers Exploration Program webpage.
The Deaf Hub uses research to better understand deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals’ experiences in health care, as well as develop solutions to the barriers deaf and hard-of-hearing patients, trainees, and professionals often face in healthcare settings.
Deaf Health Laboratory (DHL)
Tiffany Panko, MD, MBA, Lab Director
The Deaf Health Laboratory promotes health justice through research and initiatives in health priority areas including but not limited to healthcare systemic barriers, health literacy, family planning, and preventive health.
XR Accessibility Solutions Laboratory (XR-ASL)
Wendy Dannels, Lab Director
XR Accessibility Solutions Laboratory develops real-time, immersive, and interactive technologies such as mixed, augmented, and virtual reality with a focus on accessible and inclusive experiences.
Research and Education on Accessible Communication in Health Care (REACH) Laboratory
Jeni Rodrigues, PhD, Lab Director
The REACH Laboratory examines communication access barriers Deaf patients, companions, and healthcare professionals face within healthcare systems. Evidence-based educational programming equips ASL-English healthcare interpreters with the necessary skills to become effective, social-justice-minded, reflective practitioners.
Thank you for your interest in the Deaf Hub.
If you are interested in collaborating with us on research, exploring a partnership, or have specific questions, please email us at deafhub@rit.edu.