Brighton doctor honored for work in deaf community

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Brighton doctor honored for work in deaf community | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle

When Carolyn Stern lost her hearing completely during the second month of her medical residency, she feared her career was over.

"I thought ... I'm definitely going to have come up with something else to do," said Stern, of Brighton.

Instead, she persevered. Stern became a pioneer, helping other deaf doctors to gain the access and training they needed to practice medicine successfully.

She helped make continuing education courses available to the hearing-impaired and led efforts to train interpreters in medical terminology.

Stern, now a family doctor with the Unity Health System, also helped convince Northwestern University, where she attended medical school, to open an office for disabled students.

On Sunday, Stern was honored with an event at the Rochester Marriott Airport Hotel recognizing her achievements and her nomination for the Trailblazer of the Year award from Purple Communications' Dream Bigger campaign.

The award, which is new this year, recognizes deaf leaders for their successes and their contributions to the deaf community.

"I think it's a huge honor," Stern said.

Across the nation, 10 people have been nominated for the trailblazer award, among them attorneys, artists and a motocross racer.

"We want to make sure the larger hearing community can recognize the diversity of the deaf community," said Janet Bailey, a senior vice president with Purple Communications, a California-based company that specializes in communication technologies for the deaf, among other services.

A final winner for the trailblazer award will be named in October.

People can vote for the different finalists at Purple Communications -- Dream Bigger.

As a finalist, Stern has received $1,000 to give to a charity. She chose Deaf Health Education Access & Literacy Inc., a nonprofit that supports deaf causes.