USM Students Earn Doctor of Audiology White Coats

Mon, 05/17/2021 - 10:25am | By: Van Arnold

The School of Speech and Hearing Sciences' Doctor of Audiology program at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) presented white coats to 10 students during its annual ceremony held last month in the Thad Cochran Center on the Hattiesburg campus.

The White Coat Ceremony is an annual tradition involving third-year doctoral students in audiology who receive their coats while surrounded by University faculty and staff, family, and friends. The ceremony celebrates the end of the academic education for the students and the transition to extensive clinical training during a nine-month externship.

Those earning white coats, with hometowns included:

Brynn Ashmore - Oxford, MS 

Margaux Antoine - New Orleans, LA 

Reese Johnson - Carriere, MS

Caroline Raley - Mobile, AL 

Madison Felsher - Hattiesburg, MS 

Jessica Hurt - Ripley, MS 

Sarah Burns - Baton Rouge, LA 

Deanna Thorpe - Milton, FL 

Caitlyn Aldous - Petal, MS 

Ezenwanyi Onwuzuruoha - Marietta, GA 

These outstanding students were awarded their White Coats by Dr. Lachel Story, Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions. 

These students will be completing externships at the Tennessee Valley VA Healthcare System, North Mississippi ENT Physicians, Biloxi VA Healthcare System, Premiere Hearing and Balance in Mobile, Ala., West Florida Medical Center Clinic, the University of Oklahoma, the Emerge Center in Baton Rouge, La., Louisiana State University, and The University of Texas at San Antonio. 

“We as a faculty are extremely proud of what this group of students has accomplished thus far. We expect great things from them and look forward to seeing their impact on our profession,” said Dr. Kimberly Ward, Associate Professor and Audiology Clinical Education Coordinator.

For more information on the School of Speech and Hearing Sciences and the Doctor of Audiology program, please visit at https://www.usm.edu/graduate-programs/audiology.php .