Centennial
On November 19, 2019, the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI) officially celebrates its 15 year anniversary. Since its opening on November 19, 2004, PEI has enjoyed growth in space, faculty, students and patients.
The Pennsylvania Ear Institute is the clinical practice for the Salus University Osborne College of Audiology. Dr. George S. Osborne was one of the pioneers in the movement to have the Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree recognized as the entry-level degree for the audiology profession. He knew a clinical component of the AuD curriculum was critical to the success of that goal and believed a clinical facility would be vital to the education of a Doctor of Audiology (AuD) student.
As dean of the then Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) School of Audiology, Dr. Osborne proudly presided over the opening of PEI on November 19, 2004, just in time to welcome the first four-year, on-campus class of AuD students to this new facility, where they would learn patient care under the guidance of experienced audiology faculty.
PEI expanded its original area in February 2008 and renovated that space in the fall of 2014 to help ensure patients are continually offered the best clinical facility for their hearing and balance needs. PEI offers many specialty services, including Auditory Processing evaluations, Cochlear Implant care, Falls Risk assessment, Tinnitus and Hyperacusis management and Vestibular Rehabilitation.
Since 2016, doctoral students from the Osborne College of Audiology and audiologists of PEI have participated in school hearing screenings in the city of Philadelphia and local communities. Each year, the school hearing screening program has grown, and the number of students screened has increased. In the 2018-2019 academic year alone, the teams visited 31 schools and screened approximately 120 students per school resulting in over 3,500 total students.
In 2017, PEI installed new state of the art equipment allowing for more advanced hearing evaluations and more comprehensive vestibular evaluations. In October of this year, PEI opened a satellite office at The Eye Institute’s Oak Lane site.
On November 7, PEI celebrated their 15th year anniversary with an event hosted by Dr. Lindsay Bondurant, director of PEI, where attendees enjoyed appetizers, wine and cake. “We wouldn’t be here without the support of our staff, faculty, students and patients and I wanted to acknowledge this with a thank you celebration,” she said.
