16th Largest University in Nation Begins Au.D. Program With 22 Students

LOUISVILLE, KY. The National Association of Future Doctors of Audiology (NAFDA) will soon have another Chapter to add to its membership roster. The University of South Florida (USF), with one of the largest enrollments in the nation, accepted its first Doctor of Audiology (AuD) Candidates this August.

Located in Tampa, USF was the first University created in the 20th Century and has graduated over 200 Audiologists from its masters program. Co-Director of the AuD program, Dr. Theresa Chisolm, told NAFDA News, NAFDA's quarterly newsletter, that the AuD program was needed 'in order to satisfactorily educate and train future Audiologists.'

In another move that improves the program at USF, 'All clinical supervisors will begin classes to earn their AuD as well,' said Chisolm. 'There is too much to learn in two years and others have tried the undergraduate plus masters program and that just doesn't work. The AuD is the future of Audiology' she added.

USF AuD Candidates will hold their first NAFDA Chapter meeting September 10th to elect Chapter Officers and construct ByLaws. A complete story on the South Florida program, including new students and faculty, will be in the September issue of NAFDA News due out later this month.