Catherine Palmer

Catherine Palmer is Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication Science and Disorders at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. She also holds a professorship in the Department of Otolaryngology at the School of Medicine and serves as Director of Audiology for the UPMC Integrated Health System. She leads the HEAR Core Lab and directs the Doctor of Audiology (AuD) program. Her leadership spans academic, clinical, and policy domains.

• Bachelor of Science in Communication Science and Disorders, University of Massachusetts
• Bachelor of Arts in Multicultural Elementary Education, University of Massachusetts
• Master of Arts in Audiology and Hearing Impairment, Northwestern University
• Doctor of Philosophy in Audiology and Hearing Impairment, Northwestern University

Her research centers on the relationship between hearing and cognitive health, the impact of hearing loss on health outcomes, and the optimization of hearing technology for individual patients. She investigates how hearing deficits affect decision-making in healthcare and develops models to integrate hearing care into broader medical settings, especially for vulnerable populations.

Her recent publications reflect a strong focus on implementation science, healthcare access, and methodological rigor in audiology research. Themes include barriers to hearing healthcare, innovative clinical trial designs, and the integration of hearing screening in oncology and geriatric care. Her work bridges clinical practice, public health, and technology development.

Dr. Palmer has received numerous honors for her contributions:

• Dean’s Distinguished Teaching Award (1999)
• Provost’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring (2015)
• American Academy of Audiology Presidential Award (2022)
• Honors of the Academy, American Academy of Audiology (2023)
• Wiegand Entrepreneurial Research Award

She has advised numerous doctoral students and led national education initiatives, including chairing the University of Pittsburgh Teaching Conference since 2005 and serving on the Audiology Clinical Education Network (ACEN) steering committee. Her research has been funded by NIH, PCORI, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, and other major agencies. She is the principal investigator behind the LiDIA (Listening iDentification and Immediate Amplification) technology, supported by the university’s Innovation Institute.

Dr. Palmer leads the HEAR Core Lab and is founding the Hearing and Communication Policy Center. She has spearheaded free hearing clinics in Southwestern PA in collaboration with the Eye and Ear Foundation, Schweitzer Fellowship, and Mission of Mercy. She also chairs the AAA Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Task Force and serves as editor-in-chief of Seminars in Hearing.