Patricia Gaffney, AuD

Patricia Gaffney, AuD, is the 2023 recipient of the Outstanding Educator Award. She has distinguished herself as a superior professor at Nova Southeastern University, where her demanding clinical and didactic courses, clinical supervision, and research mentorship have earned her high respect from her students and her faculty colleagues.

Dr. Gaffney is highly recognized for her contributions in the areas of vestibular assessments and treatment. Her passion for vestibular diagnostics led her to develop a unique Vestibular Specialization Seminar that is one of only a handful of audiology doctoral programs to offer such specialized education.

Her expertise in clinical and academic training are valued for her leadership of her university’s inter-professional team of optometry, pharmacy, medicine, and physical therapy. She challenges and engages her audiology students in journal clubs and case studies, and she is often sought as a guest lecturer at conferences and in other academic programs.

Her students have learned to appreciate the importance of professional involvement, through Dr. Gaffney’s commitment in leadership roles. She has served as the president of the Audiology Practice Standards Organization, and on boards of the American Balance Society, the American Academy of Audiology, and the AAA Foundation.

Her nominators reported that Dr. Gaffney’s teaching philosophy is, “When you produce good audiologists, that speaks for itself in the profession. When I teach, that is in the forefront of my mind.” Dr. Gaffney is clearly demonstrating that philosophy through her commitment to excellence in teaching.