SHU Professor Wins National Award

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Jamie Marotto provides hearing aids and hearing-related services to people in need

Jamie MarottoJamie Marotto, clinical assistant professor and director of Sacred Heart University’s audiology clinic, travels to Guatemala each year to provide hearing aids and hearing-related services to children and adults in need. For those and other efforts to help people with hearing loss, she recently won the National Oticon Focus on People Award.

Marotto was one of three finalists in the hearing care practitioner category and was subsequently named the winner, recognizing her exceptional clinical and teaching skills and her dedication to helping people in underserved areas. She accepted her award at the OticonNext Conference Feb. 25 in Orlando, FL.

The Oticon Focus on People Award recognizes individuals who are using today’s technology to change the lives of people with hearing loss. Marotto travels to Guatemala with a group from Sacred Heart; the most recent trip included 20 students and four faculty members from SHU’s occupational therapy, physical therapy and communication disorders departments.

“It’s an incredible feeling to have national recognition for the work I do,” said Marotto, adding that, while she is grateful for the award, recognition isn’t why she gives back.

“I feel that volunteer work doesn’t need recognition. Here at SHU, we don’t volunteer because we want to be recognized; we do it because it is the right thing to do, and it’s intrinsic to our values and mission,” she said. “I think the real prize is the heartfelt gratitude and appreciation we receive from the people we’re helping. It’s an incredible feeling that’s difficult to describe.”

Marotto is a clinical assistant professor and director of SHU’s College of Health Professions’ audiology clinic, which offers full-service hearing health care to the public.  It also provides SHU students studying speech-language pathology the opportunity to gain experience, help the community and log required clinical hours under the supervision of a licensed audiologist.