Congratulations to Susan D. Emmett, M.D., MPH, who was recently invested as the inaugural holder of the Thomas McGill Chair in Otolaryngology. Dr. Emmett, whose promotion to Professor becomes effective July 1, is the founding director of the UAMS Center for Hearing Health Access.
Speaking at the investiture, Dr. Emmett said, “Leading the Center for Hearing Health Access has been the greatest honor of my career. Through our ambitious new plan, we intend to bring all the innovations we’ve developed globally home to Arkansas, making this state a leader in transforming access to care for rural America and beyond.”
Dr. Emmett is internationally recognized for her groundbreaking work in hearing loss research and public health. She uniquely blends her expertise as a practicing surgeon with public health training to drive innovation in screening technologies and expand access to specialty care.
Her path to UAMS is marked by an impressive academic and professional background. She earned her medical degree from Duke University and completed a residency in otolaryngology, along with a Master of Public Health, at Johns Hopkins University. In 2022, she joined UAMS to launch the Center for Hearing Health Access. She now leads two major research networks: the Global HEAR Collaborative, which spans 28 countries, and HEAR-USA, the only U.S.-based network focused on improving hearing health access nationwide.
Dr. Emmett’s influence also extends to global health policy. She serves as co-chair of the Innovations in Service Delivery working group for the Lancet Commission on Global Hearing Loss and advised the World Health Organization during the development of its first-ever World Report on Hearing.
Department Chair John L. Dornhoffer, M.D., FACS, praised Dr. Emmett’s work, stating, “Her research is truly transformative, bringing together physicians, audiologists, educators, and stakeholders to build an infrastructure for improving hearing health care in the U.S. Because of her efforts, Arkansas is poised to become the epicenter of hearing health.”