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HOW IT ALL BEGAN
For much of the profession’s history, a master’s degree was the terminal degree needed to become a practicing audiologist in the United States. In the late 1980s through the late 1990s, the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) wanted audiology, as a profession, to move toward becoming a doctorate-level program.
At that time, many practitioners were looking to obtain this updated credential and were presented with the opportunity to do so by George S. Osborne, PhD, DDS.
His ultimate goal was to establish a professional degree program, and optometry—specifically the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO)—was an ideal model on which to build. After much discussion, PCO realized adding an audiology doctoral program was a unique opportunity for an expansion in health sciences.
“Dr. Osborne led the evolution of the profession of audiology change, and he was modeling the development and evolution of the profession of audiology in the way that optometry evolved over the last 100 years,” said Anthony Di Stefano, OD ‘73, MEd, MPH, FAAO, FCOptom (Hon.), vice president of Academic Affairs emeritus. “He came to PCO because he knew we were an institution that was not shy about being politically, professionally, and academically progressive.”
According to president emeritus, Thomas Lewis, OD ‘70, PhD, FAAO, Dr. Osborne was a mover on the national level, playing a significant role in moving the audiology profession from a master’s terminal degree to a doctorate.
“He was nationally recognized but based in Philadelphia, so when he and the Academy of Audiology approached me about starting a doctorate program, we were excited about the possibility,” Dr. Lewis said. “The Osborne program was a landmark in audiological education.”
After undergoing a rigorous process and finally receiving approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, PCO officially established the PCO School of Audiology in 2000.
The inaugural Doctor of Audiology program will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2025.
The inaugural program offered by the then PCO School of Audiology was the Online Bridge program, which presented the best of both worlds for practicing audiologists holding a master’s degree. Practitioners were able to further their education while continuing to practice. And, PCO was one of the few programs in the country providing an online opportunity for that “bridge” so individuals could upgrade both their academic and clinical skills remotely.
“Being in an online program allowed me to continue providing care for my patients while advancing my knowledge and becoming a better, more well-rounded clinician. My greatest takeaway was a deeper understanding of the important role of an audiologist in healthcare,” said Jonette Owen, AuD ‘03, MHA, FNAP, CH-A, Osborne College of Audiology (OCA) associate dean for clinical education and associate professor.
EXPANDED OFFERINGS
In 2003, the PCO School of Audiology expanded to offer the entry level four-year residential Doctor of Audiology program, which required students to be on campus for hands-on clinical training they would need to become practicing audiologists.
The biomedical science foundation and early clinical exposure have become a staple of the program’s reputation, impacting both students and alumni. Second-year residential student, Abigail Ramsaroop ‘26AUD, attested to the impact of the program’s reputation of innovation on her decision to matriculate.
“I chose the Salus Audiology program because I believe in the mission and vision behind the University. I want to impact the healthcare profession and I believe Salus is the best fit for me to reach the goals I set for myself both personally and professionally,” said Ramsaroop. “Audiology is changing drastically, and I believe Salus is ahead of the curve by incorporating a strong biomedical foundation into its curriculum.”
To accommodate the early and extensive clinical experience, a minimum amount of 2,530 clinical hours are completed. The program’s on-campus clinical facility, the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI), opened in 2004, and will celebrate 20 years of clinical education this November.
“PEI was involved in the core curriculum as the program was developing, and luckily, we had space on the Elkins Park, Pennsylvania campus,” Dr. Lewis said. “It is a great training site for students as they prepare clinically to get them ready for internships.”
Shortly after the 2007 residential graduating class was conferred, the founding dean, Dr. Osborne, passed away. Then, the following year, when PCO established Salus University, the George S. Osborne College of Audiology (OCA) was named in honor of its founder.
“I attended a meeting in Chicago with a national audiology leadership group, and we were discussing how we could keep George’s legacy going,” said Dr. Di Stefano. “At that time, there was unanimous agreement that we needed to pay tribute to George’s vision by establishing the Osborne College of Audiology, which the Board of Trustees ultimately approved.”
Almost two years following Dr. Osborne’s passing, the College hired its next dean: Victor Bray, MSC, PhD, FNAP. Upon arrival, Dr. Bray was instructed that the objective of the program was not to be like any other but to implement a new educational model as Dr. Osborne envisioned. And, Dr. Bray set out to accomplish just that.
At the time, there were two parts—one of which was phasing down—the bridge program, and one was ramping up—the four-year residential program.
“The intent of the AuD Bridge 1.0, as Dr. Osborne saw it, was to open, run, and close when the need had been met. So, the program was open for roughly a decade,” said Dr. Bray. “When I came here in 2009, the program was scheduled to close in 2010. And, I did close it—as that was Dr. Osborne’s intent.”
Through Dr. Bray’s tenure as dean, he significantly increased enrollment in the residential program; in less than a decade, class sizes tripled. He was also instrumental in recruiting world-class faculty to continue educating students in Dr. Osborne’s vision.
When the AuD Bridge 1.0 program closed, the AuD Bridge 2.0 program was launched and poised to spread Dr. Osborne’s vision on a global scale. From 2000 to 2010, there were 2,096 Doctor of Audiology Bridge graduates.
AUD BRIDGE 2.0: THE GLOBAL IMPACT
In 2012, Girija Sundar, PhD, was hired as the director of the Distance Education program to reactivate the AuD Bridge program. The AuD 2.0 Bridge program, opened in 2012, and its primary focus was establishing the institution’s global footprint.
As the terminal degree in the U.S. became a doctorate, practicing clinicians in other countries needed more time to enhance their skills and knowledge continuously, and keep up with advancements in the profession. OCA’s educational programs help address this need.
“These are students who have a master’s and a minimum of three years of clinical experience already. They have been practicing, so their knowledge base is pretty strong, unlike the entry-level AuD students who come for a four-year program,” said Dr. Sundar.
According to Dr. Sundar, the AuD Bridge 2.0 program has “constantly been at the cutting edge of science.” That, in turn, has helped its consistent growth. Starting with 12 to 14 students, the program reached a high of 37 students in 2020.
“The steady increase in enrollment is a testament to the quality of our programs,” she said.
In 2016, Radhika Aravamudhan, PhD, EdD, took over the role of OCA dean after Dr. Bray stepped down. In her role to date, Dr. Aravamudhan remains committed to continuing Dr. Osborne’s mission and growing OCA’s regional and global footprint.
And, Dr. Sundar attributes the success of the Online Bridge program mainly to both deans—Drs. Bray and Aravamudhan—who gave her the latitude for program development.
“They gave me the freedom to think and explore the needs of practicing professionals,” she said. “The process of building programs, recruiting faculty from across the country and the world, and figuring out the most effective and efficient way of delivering this content to the students. I’ve had so much fun doing this.”
According to Dr. Aravamudhan, the ultimate goal has been to train students to view the patient as a whole, not just focusing on the ears. “This approach helps create well-rounded professionals ready to pursue their path and make a difference in audiology. This wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated faculty, who provide a supportive and nurturing environment where every student can thrive and reach their full potential,” she said.
To get a better idea of the lasting legacy OCA has created both nationally and globally, all one has to do is listen to the alumni.
When Alfred Mwamba, AuD ‘14, graduated, he became the first and only audiologist in his home country of Zambia, southern Africa.
All these years later, Dr. Mwamba is still the only audiologist in Zambia; but he is working diligently to change that. Through his efforts as chief of the Starkey Hearing Institute in Lusaka, Zambia, Dr. Mwamba has prepared more than 100 hearing-care-trained individuals.
When he entered the AuD Online Bridge 2.0 program in 2012, Dr. Mwamba was searching for a distance education program that also accepted international students. Shortly after learning about the reactivation of the AuD Bridge program, he joined the first cohort.
“What’s unique about the program is the practical aspect of it. Even a practicing professional can reap great benefits,” said Dr. Mwamba. “The University is at the forefront of ensuring that whatever is new in the industry, they’re always researching and providing that practical experience on how to make that applicable in your everyday practice.”
According to Dr. Mwamba, the University’s forward-thinking and global perspective have been tremendous assets for him as he pursues his training goals.
“This program is unique because many institutions are so focused on themselves. Salus has that kind of leadership that looks at the world as one,” he said.
As we move forward with our merger with Drexel University, we are excited to maintain our unique identity and dedication to audiology education. To support this mission, we are creating “pre-health” pipeline programs to attract and prepare future students for our program. We are committed to ensuring a strong foundation for the next generation of audiologists.
