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The (OLSHF) is honoring ������Ƶ’s audiology program for its longtime commitment to expanding access to hearing health services.

The foundation named the audiology program and the Pacific EarClinic as its 2025 Provider of the Year. The award will be presented at the OLSHF’s annual gala on April 4 at the Portland Art Museum.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized by the Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation,” said Leigh Schaid, director of Pacific’s audiology program. “This award celebrates over a decade of collaboration, and our faculty, staff and students are more excited than ever to continue our mission of providing compassionate, accessible hearing care to our community.”

Melinda Rhodes, patient services director for OLSHF, said that the award honors Pacific’s partnership with the foundation’s ROAR! Hearing Assistance Program, which provides hearing evaluations and hearing aids for low-income individuals.

“Pacific’s partnership is essential to expanding access to hearing services for Oregonians, and their team brings unmatched expertise, kindness and dedication to every Lions client they serve,” Rhodes said. “Their leadership, willingness to collaborate, and dedication to education have made a lasting and meaningful impact on our organization and the communities we serve.”

The foundation also recognized the longtime support of David Brown, a founding professor of the audiology program who also serves on OLSHF's board of trustees as a trustee at-large.

“His long-standing support, his service on our Program Services Committee, and his role as an at-large trustee strengthen our mission every day,” Rhodes said. “His passion for our Hearing Assistive Technology Program, for hearing screenings for students, and for ensuring low-income adults receive essential hearing healthcare through our partnership with Lions is truly inspiring.”

Founded in 1959, the Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation provides sight and hearing assistance to people in Oregon and Northern California as the nonprofit arm of Lions Clubs of Oregon. The foundation has also enjoyed a longtime partnership with Pacific’s College of Optometry to provide vision care through several OLSHF programs.

Open to the public, the Pacific EarClinic is a teaching clinic that provides hearing evaluations, hearing instrument technology evaluations, fitting and follow-up services, and more. Students in Pacific’s audiology program develop and practice their clinical skills in the clinic under the supervision of faculty, all of whom are licensed audiologists. The EarClinic is located inside OHSU Hillsboro Medical Center's 7th Avenue Medical Plaza. To make an appointment, call 503-352-2692.