Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences - PACS at WashU Medicine

Employment data from the last five years (2021-2025) shows the nationwide reach our MSDE and AuD alumni have on patients, children who are deaf/hard of hearing, and their families. We are proud to report 100% completion rate, exam pass rate, and employment rate of our students over this period. This is not just a testament to the excellent education and clinical training MSDE and AuD students receive in PACS, but also the talented group of students who join us for their graduate education. For more information on admission to our programs, please visit https://pacs.wustl.edu/.

https://pacs.wustl.edu/

Do you love working with children and want to make a difference? The Master of Science in Deaf Education program might be for you! Email us at [email protected], or visit https://pacs.wustl.edu/ for more information.
🟣Scholarship covers 75-100% of tuition costs
🟣No prerequisite courses, application fee, or GRE required
🟣Fully eligible for teacher certification (Missouri, D/HOH, Birth-Grade 12) upon graduation
🟣Over 400 hours of student teaching experience
🟣100% completion and job placement rates

Explore WashU Medicine, where world-class learning spaces including state-of-the-art classrooms, learning labs, clinics, and hospitals are all integrated into one dynamic campus. Right in the heart of St. Louis, students are minutes from Forest Park, dining, housing, and city life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB4lh-rNniE

Interested in scheduling an in-person tour? Email us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to meet with you!

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This month we are highlighting Lauren Abel, a valued lecturer for the deaf education program in PACS with more than two decades of experience supporting children’s literacy and language development.

Lauren teaches PACS 6071: Literacy Lab – A Focus on Typical and Atypical Learners and is currently in her 9th year with the PACS program. In addition to her work at WashU, she serves as a Reading Specialist in the Pattonville School District, where she works with K–5 students who need additional support in developing their literacy skills. Prior to that position, Lauren taught in the primary department at Central Institute for the Deaf for 8 years.

When asked what makes PACS special, Lauren shared that the program’s strength lies in its experienced faculty and commitment to students’ academic growth and well-being, along with the valuable balance of classroom learning and hands-on field experience.
Outside of work, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and their dog. She loves being outdoors and maintaining a butterfly-friendly garden, where one of her family's favorite summer projects is raising monarch butterflies.

Thank you, Lauren, for your dedication to our students and the children and families you serve!

Join us in celebrating National Speech-Language-Hearing Month! This is a great reminder to take care of your ears and get your hearing checked regularly. You can make an appointment with one of the amazing WashU audiologists by calling 800-437-5430. For other information and resources, visit asha.org today!

Sending good vibes to the 2nd-year AuD class as they celebrate their last day of coursework before leaving for their 3rd year externship! Congratulations on reaching this milestone!

Congratulations to Callie Boren, AuD (PhD student), who recently presented her poster at the International and Interdisciplinary Conference on Cognition, Aging, and Speech Communication (CASC) held at WashU Medicine in St. Louis. Her poster is based on her PhD research, "Predictors of Auditory Communication Difficulties and Hearing Empowerment in Older Adults with Hearing Loss." Co-authors include Sarah McConkey (Clinical Research Coordinator, Dept. of Otolaryngology) and Kate McClannahan, AuD, PhD (PACS Director of Undergraduate Studies).

We’re so happy that Director Rachael Bradshaw and Chloe Cevan are sharing their wisdom and knowledge with our students!

We love a great interprofessional collaboration! 🌟

Program Director Rachael Bradshaw and Chloe Cevan (Lecturer/Clinical Supervisor) recently were given the opportunity to direct a course, "Genetics in Hearing Loss", for the Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences - PACS at WashU Medicine.

Today, Jessica Glunt (Class of '25) joined as a guest lecturer to present on "Psychosocial & Ethical Considerations in Genetic Testing for Hearing Loss."

Thank you to Chloe and Jessica for also demonstrating a live role play, highlighting the nuanced, critical support genetic counselors provide to parents navigating an unexpected diagnosis of hearing loss in their newborn.

We're happy to share that recent graduate Natalia Matteo (AuD ’26), attended the 2026 American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACIA) Conference in Chicago, IL as a student scholarship recipient. Also, representing the Department of Otolaryngology, Shannon Lefler, AuD (Clinical Research Coordinator, Dept. of Otolaryngology, and PACS Lecturer), presented on, "Electrocochleography Insertion Patterns and Hearing Preservation in Cochlear Implants."