Profiles in Health Care

Many people who are deaf or hard of hearing are finding success in exciting health care-related fields. Some are working in research laboratories; others are creating medical illustrations; and still others work directly with patients as sonographers, nurses, dentists and physicians. And while their choice of career may differ, they all agree that the keys to success are education and access.

That is why four of the world’s leading educational and medical institutions—Rochester Institute of Technology, home to the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Gallaudet University, the University of Rochester Medical Center and Rochester General Health Systems—have partnered to develop this website, which is a resource for students and their parents, employers and others to discover the preparation, accommodation, employment and advocacy necessary to help deaf and hard-of-hearing community members achieve their medical career goals.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing medical professionals and professionals-in-training are using the latest educational and technological advances to access the many exciting careers in the health care field. Get to know some successful professionals and students in the health care industry - and if you're a deaf or hard-of-hearing student or professional, share your story with us!

Sam Atcherson works at University of Arkansas, Little Rock as a Professor of Audiology. Read his story.

Dr. Raymond Merritt works at Gallaudet University as a Associate Professor of Biology. Read his story.

Adebowale “Debo” Ogunjirin works at Gallaudet University as a Instructor of Biology. Read his story.

Abbey Moreland majors in Biology at Rochester Institute of Technology. Read her story.

Shazia Siddiqi majors in Public Health at St. George’s University School of Medicine. Read her story.

Victoria MacPherson majors in Biomedical Science at Rochester Institute of Technology. Read her story.

RIT/NTID alumnus Noe Turcios' work at the National Institutes of Health could lead to breakthroughs in cancer research. Read his story.

Dan Latimer majors in Biomedical Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology. Read his story.

Abbi Simons majors in Biomedical Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology. Read her story.

For Dr. Derek Braun, people skills are as important as scientific skills. Read his story.

Kellye Nelson works at Johns Hopkins Hospital as a Nurse clinician & clinical instructor. Read her story.

Lauren Searls works at University of Rochester Medical Center as a Nurse. Read her story.

Elizabeth Ayers Gibson works at Virginia Mason Medical Center as a Sonographer. Read her story.

Mitsuyoshi Yabe majors in Medical Illustration at Rochester Institute of Technology. Read his story.

Scott Smith works at University of Rochester Medical Center as a Pediatrician and Assistant Professor. Read his story and watch his video.

Persistence and a desire to help others drive medical student Tiffany Panko to succeed. Read her story.

Dr. Michael McKee works at University of Rochester Medical Center as a Assistant Professor of Family Medicine. Read his story.

Dr. Daniel Lundberg finds that the sky is the limit, whether looking through a microscope or in life. Read his story.

Institutional Sponsors:

RIT Gallaudet University University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester General Health System

More Information:

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