Somerset, NJ, February 29 – The Oticon Focus on People Awards celebrated a milestone 25th-year anniversary at a gala event honoring the 2023 Oticon Focus on People Award winners. Held on February 24 at the OticonNext Conference in Orlando, the awards ceremony recognized 12 exceptional individuals whose courage, vision, and commitment are changing the perception of what it means to have hearing loss. People from across the US cast thousands of votes to help determine the first, second, and third place winners in four categories: Student Standouts, Adult Trailblazers, Hearing Loss Champions, and Heroic Hearing Care Professionals. A special category paid tribute to the Everyday Heroes of hearing healthcare with awards presented to the more than 600 hearing care professionals participating in the three-day conference.
“For 25 years, it has been our honor to recognize the remarkable individuals who show the world the possibilities open to people who seek the support of dedicated hearing care professionals and the benefits of life-changing hearing technology,” said Jacob Torpe Winter, Vice President of Marketing, Oticon, Inc. “Like the many award winners before them, the 2023 honorees have taken their unique circumstances and overcome challenges and accomplished goals well beyond what many thought possible. In sharing their stories through this national awards program, we aim to join them in making the world a better, more inclusive place for people with hearing loss.”
The 2023 award recipients are a diverse group that together embody a powerful force for good – breaking barriers, empowering communities, and mobilizing change that will benefit all people with hearing loss.
2023 Award Winners
STUDENT STANDOUT – Yaduraj Choudhary, Downingtown, PA Yaduraj, a first-year student at the University of Pennsylvania, is the founder/president of 3 Tiny Bones, a student-led nonprofit focused on destigmatizing hearing loss and educating communities on healthy hearing. 3 Tiny Bones is helping Yaduraj achieve his goal to bring hearing loss education into the mainstream and prevent hearing loss in youth and future generations. He has partnered with his local school district to create Safe Hearing Zones at elementary, middle, and high schools to educate students about hearing health.
ADULT TRAILBLAZER - Abby Silbaugh, Chicago, IL Abby believes that her hearing loss gives her insight into the unique needs of people who need the specialized care and advances in technology that she continues to work on in the extremely selective PhD program in Neurobiology at the University of Chicago. Beyond her demanding academic schedule, Abby spends hundreds of hours each year tutoring Chicago’s inner-city children receiving long-term care in area hospitals. She also volunteers in the UChicago ENT and Neurosurgery departments doing clinical work and in the “Disability and Inclusion @ UChicago” initiative.
HEARING LOSS CHAMPION - Latisha Porter-Vaughn, PhD, Newark, NJ Described as a “dynamite advocate and inspiration for people with hearing loss,” Latisha is the first African American President of the HLAA, New Jersey Chapter and a paralegal for the Center for Social Justice at Seton Hall University. She is the author of two books that provide guidance and inspiration to people with hearing loss and their families. As a researcher for the National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes, Latisha contributed to literature that will help improve education and employment outcomes for students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
HEROIC HEARING CARE PROFESSIONAL - Michelle Hu, AuD, La Jolla, CA Dr. Michelle Hu is a pediatric audiologist committed to empowering families and their children to feel confident in making the best choices based upon their unique dynamic and circumstances. She is a mother of three, a military spouse and the creator of @Mama.Hu.Hears, an Instagram and Facebook account where she shares personal glimpses into her own hearing loss journey. Through Mama Hu Hears, she creates a community that supports each other, spreads awareness, brings about amazing conversations, and inspires friendships.
In addition to a $2500 prize, first-place winners received a $1000 donation from Oticon, Inc. to the non-profit organization of their choice. First-place winners with hearing loss in the Student Standout, Adult Trailblazer, and Hearing Loss Champion categories also received a pair of advanced technology Oticon hearing aids.
The Eight Second and Third-Place Winners
- Student Standout - 2nd place – Ryan Fuller, Eureka, IL 3rd place – Alana Douglas, Denton, TX
- Adult Trailblazer- 2nd place – Zaineb Abdulla, Chicago, IL 3rd place – Kathleen Dugan, Lunenburg, MA
- Hearing Loss Champion - 2nd place – Emily Truell, Montello, WI 3rd place – Brett Bachman, Louisville, KY
- Heroic Hearing Care Professional - 2nd place – Chandace Jeep, AuD, Durango, CO 3rd place – Roni Dinkes, Millersville, MD
To read the stories of all 2023 Oticon Focus on People Awards winners, visit Oticon.com/fop.
Photo Caption: (L-R) Yaduraj Choudhary (Student Standout Winner), Abby Silbaugh (Adult Trailblazer Winner), Oticon President Gary Rosenblum, Michelle Hu, AuD (Heroic Hearing Care Professional), and Latisha Porter-Vaughn, PhD (Hearing Loss Champion)
