Where Are They Now: Mrinal Jha, AuD '23

His journey into audiology and speech-language pathology began in 1993 when Mrinal Jha, AuD ‘23, was introduced to speech and hearing — a specialty that was still relatively new in his home country of India at the time. 

By completing that course of study, Dr. Jha hoped there would be opportunities to study or work overseas, which aligned with his aspiration to pursue studies or professional experiences in the United States. 

Driven by this goal, he completed his master’s degree in audiology and speech-language pathology and began working as an audiologist in India. In 2000, he moved to the U.S. with the intent of furthering his studies by pursuing a PhD in audiology. 

During that time, he was also working as a speech-language pathologist, but due to regulatory and practical constraints in the audiology profession — many programs required full-time enrollment, making it impossible for him to balance both work and study. As a result, Dr. Jha made the difficult choice to prioritize his work in speech-language pathology (SLP). 

“Audiology, however, was always in the back of my mind, an unfulfilled dream that I hoped to return to,” he said. 

More than 20 years later, Dr. Jha was able to finally fulfill that Audiology dream, thanks to the Osborne Audiology, Distance Education program at Salus University’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA). 

“Salus University’s Distance Education program allowed me to pursue my passion without sacrificing my existing responsibilities,” said Dr. Jha. “I was deeply impressed by its mission to support professionals like me in achieving their dreams. Salus offered the perfect solution, giving me the tools to overcome previous barriers and reignite my dedication to this profession.” 

And, he didn’t hesitate to celebrate the achievement during his graduation ceremony in the fall of 2023. After receiving his hood, Dr. Jha gave a shout out to his daughter Ankita, from the stage. He yelled, “Yes, I did it, Ankita!” She heard the acknowledgement loud and clear at the time. So did his son, 14-year-old Aditya, who scolded his father after the ceremony as to why he too didn’t get a shout-out like his sister. 

“I’m so proud of him. It was really cool to see him get his degree,” said Ankita Jha, who is a student at New York University (NYU). “I had no idea he was going to give me a shout out from the stage, but I’m glad I took a video. He’s fully a doctor and he’s fully smart now, so he has all the bragging rights.” 

Dr. Jha credits the Distance Education program as transforming his career. For many years, he concentrated exclusively on speech-language pathology. Now, thanks to what he learned in the Distance Education program, he’s found a viable pathway to integrating audiology into his clinical work. 

“The program provided me with the advanced knowledge and skills needed to expand my practice, particularly in a dual capacity as both an SLP and an audiologist,” he said. “This unique qualification allows me to serve a broader patient base and to offer services that address both speech and hearing needs comprehensively.” 

Currently, not only is Dr. Jha preparing for his audiology boards, but he’s also focusing on the development and expansion of his own audiology clinic in New York. His goal is to offer more advanced services to meet the growing needs of his community. 

“My vision includes developing a clinic that offers both hearing and vision care, partnering with an optometrist to create a comprehensive wellness center under one roof,” he said. “I believe that combining audiology and eye care will provide holistic benefits to my patients, especially those who may have difficulty accessing specialized care.” 

His long-term goals include starting a vestibular clinic to support individuals with balance issues, helping those with tinnitus manage their symptoms, and providing hearing care for underserved populations who face barriers to accessing those services.  

After two decades, Dr. Jha is finally seeing the career he dreamed of coming into focus. 

“The journey has been long, with many challenges and detours, but I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to redefine my path in audiology,” he said. “I credit Salus University for creating a program that supports professionals like myself in achieving their goals. The dedication of the staff and faculty at Salus (and OCA) has been instrumental in helping me reach this stage, and I feel fortunate to be part of an institution that genuinely excels in fostering the next generation of audiologists.”