When Jenna Vallario, AuD, began the Audiology program at the 最新天美传媒 in 2015, she already knew she wanted her career to make a difference beyond the clinic walls. What she didn鈥檛 yet know was how profoundly her path would shape the field of global audiology.
During her third year, Vallario attended the Coalition for Global Hearing Healthcare Conference in Miami 鈥� an experience that became the turning point of her career. There, she connected with Entheos Audiology Cooperative, a network of private practice owners dedicated to giving back through sustainable hearing care, and ABC Hearing Clinic and Training Center in Malawi, Africa 鈥� the first hearing clinic and only audiology degree training program in the country.
A few months after graduation, Vallario made a bold move: she relocated to Malawi to serve as a lecturer in the country鈥檚 first Bachelor of Science in Audiology program. At the time, Malawi had very limited hearing services, and only a handful of trained audiologists in the entire country. Working alongside local educators, she helped advance audiology education, mentor students, and graduate the nation鈥檚 first class of audiologists in 2021, marking a historic milestone for hearing healthcare in the region.
An instructor with a group of students in Malawi.
Jenna Vallario and a colleague.
A group of audiology students in Malawi.
鈥淚 believe in sustainable hearing healthcare through programs that equip local providers and promote community-driven solutions,鈥� Vallario explained.
Her work went far beyond teaching. Through partnerships with Entheos Audiology Cooperative, she helped secure tuition support, donated clinical equipment, and organized field outreach programs for audiology students. These collaborations not only strengthened access to care but also established a model for self-sustaining, community-driven audiology services.
Today, Vallario continues this mission as a key member of Entheos Audiology Cooperative in Indiana, where she focuses on two main goals: expanding sustainable hearing initiatives globally and helping students and universities integrate humanitarian and nonprofit work into their professional development. Her current projects include helping graduates from the Malawi program launch independent clinics in their home countries through startup funding and resource support.
Our goal is not charity 鈥� it鈥檚 sustainability,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e helping these graduates build clinics that can operate independently, serve their communities, and train future generations of audiologists.
Jenna Vallario, AuD
In addition to her international efforts, Vallario also works closely with universities in the United States, encouraging students to explore global service opportunities in audiology and beyond. The goal is to offer students direct access to volunteer and humanitarian experiences that bridge academic learning with global health impact.
Reflecting on her time at USF, Vallario credits the Audiology program for providing a strong foundation that supported her unique career path.
鈥淚 felt supported in the USF program. It was a great program,鈥� she shared. 鈥淚 always tell students: don鈥檛 settle. Whatever you want to do, seek it out, fight for it, and don鈥檛 stop until you get there.鈥�
From Tampa to Malawi and now Indiana, Jenna Vallario exemplifies what it means to pair professional expertise with purpose. Her journey serves as an inspiring example of how USF alumni continue to transform communities 鈥� locally and globally 鈥� through innovation, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to sustainable care.
Congratulations, Jenna Vallario, for your extraordinary dedication to advancing global hearing healthcare and for your continued leadership in shaping a more equitable, sustainable future for audiology.