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Panel Presentations

Care Equity, Quality, and Safety

No One Left Unheard: The Global Landscape of Ear-Hearing Care Accessibility and Education Implementations

Sunday, September 29, 2024
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT
Location: MBCC, 244-245
CME/MOC Credit: 1
Disclosure(s):
David Jun Fei-Zhang:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Lilian Wairimu Wairimu Mokoh, MMed, MBChB:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Asitha DL Jayawardena, MD, MPH:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Nearly two billion people suffer from hearing loss globally, conferring delayed language development, reduced education accessibility, and economic losses totaling over one trillion USD. While this burden is avertable with specialized ear and hearing care (EHC) that is available in high-income countries, low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) suffer disproportionate morbidity due to the inadequate presence of an EHC-specialized workforce. With the World Health Organization (WHO) prioritizing the global prevention and treatment of ear and hearing conditions, unique solutions have emerged among LMICs to expand the EHC capacity of current healthcare systems, especially among primary healthcare workers (PHW).
This panel discussion will explore on-the-ground perspectives of current EHC capacity across various LMICs, as well as the ongoing efforts and international partnerships addressing the gap of lacking EHC services and education in these settings. The panel will consist of EHC leaders who engage with individual provider, institutional, and governmental/health system-level approaches across multiple LMIC settings in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the South Pacific. Participants will learn about country-specific challenges, resources, and collaborative solutions for implementing EHC services. Additionally, participants will become aware of WHO-affiliated initiatives to implement and standardize EHC education for PHW through its recently updated Primary Ear and Hearing Care Manual. In turn, participants will develop a nuanced understanding of barriers facing LMICs and a comprehensive, modern toolkit for promoting equitable EHC for all and, ultimately, leaving no one unheard.

Learning Objectives:

  1. To explore the state of EHC in LMICs through grassroots perspectives.
  2. To highlight ongoing EHC barriers on the individual, institutional, and health system levels.
  3. To become aware of World Health Organization collaborations and joint approaches for equitable EHC education.

    Moderator(s)

  • David J. Fei-Zhang, BA

    MD-MBA Student
    Northwestern University - Feinberg School of Medicine
    Chicago, IL, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Panelist(s)

  • Asitha DL Jayawardena, MD, MPH

    Assistant Professor of Pediatric Otolaryngology
    Childrens Minnesota
    Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • JS

    James E. Saunders, MD

    Professor
    Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
    Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • Carolina Der, MD, PhD

    Technical Officer Ear and Hearing Care Programme
    World Health Organization
    Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland

    Disclosure information not submitted.