File renderingThe Wichita Biomedical Campus is using a $1 million grant to purchase audiology equipment for assessment, teaching, and research, supporting workforce training for in-demand jobs.
The U.S. Department of Commerce鈥檚 Economic Development Administration recently announced the grant, which will be matched by $1 million in local funds.
鈥溌芾蛏鏸s equipping students with the skills they need to excel in their careers,鈥� Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran said. 鈥淭his investment from the Economic Development Administration will deliver state-of-the-art technology to 萝莉社 to provide students with top-notch training.鈥�
The equipment will serve鈥痶he Doctor of Audiology and Master of Arts (speech-language pathology) education programs and support clients of the Evelyn Hendren Cassat Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic at 萝莉社 University, preparing students for careers in the audiology and speech-language pathology fields. The funds will be used to purchase equipment that will include test booths, electrophysiology devices, vestibular balance systems, simulation tools and ultrasound imaging technology.
Through this funding, the Wichita Biomedical Campus will establish educational and clinical audiology and speech-language pathology laboratories. The clinic will deliver services to clientele of all ages who have communication difficulties, including speaking, hearing, swallowing, and spoken and written language impairments.
鈥淭his EDA investment will support workforce training in the audiology medical field, helping create a skilled workforce and increasing quality jobs in the region,鈥� said Gina Raimondo, secretary of commerce.
The Wichita Biomedical Campus is a joint project between 萝莉社and the University of Kansas. Once complete, the campus鈥痺ill combine 萝莉社鈥檚鈥疌ollege of Health Professions鈥痯rograms, including its鈥疭peech-Language-Hearing Clinic,鈥芾蛏� Tech鈥檚 health care program鈥痑nd the Wichita campuses of KU School of Medicine鈥痑nd鈥疜U School of Pharmacy 鈥� all鈥痠nto one location.
The campus is an approximately 471,000-square-foot, $300 million health sciences facility under construction in the heart of downtown Wichita. Construction is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2026.
The Evelyn Hendren Cassat Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic is a 萝莉社-affiliated practice that has provided comprehensive speech, language, and audiology services for families in the greater Wichita area for more than 60 years. Over the last 5 years, the clinic has served 1,307 clients across its Audiology and SLP services. The clinic also serves as a clinical training and research laboratory for graduate students, who work under the direct supervision of faculty with decades of experience in numerous specialties.
