In Memory

Kit Buhrer

Kit Buhrer



 
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03/01/13 05:14 PM #1    

Mary Mohr (Gecowets)

This information was found by Richard Rozevink and his cousin. 

2009 Nomineees

Karen "Kit" Buhrer

The Ohio Department of Health's (ODH) Infant Hearing Screening Program would like to posthumously nominate, Karen "Kit" Buhrer, M.A., for the Antonia Brancia Maxon Award for EHDI Excellence. Kit championed for EHDI for well over three decades, exhibiting leadership, dedication, and research that led to the creation of Ohio's existing UNHS legislation and effective early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) system.

Kit obtained a bachelor's in Speech Pathology and Audiology (1970) and a master's in Audiology (1973) from the University of Cincinnati. During her freshman year Kit worked as a clinical audiology trainee at the University of Cincinnati's training center for developmental disabilities. Kit graduated with academic honors and demonstrated a natural ability of establishing life long personal/professional relationships that would make possible the accomplishments of one individual with an EHDI vision. Kit went on to publish EHDI research with the University of Cincinnati's Otolaryngologists, Ohio State University's Speech and Hearing Program, and Toledo's Department of Pediatrics Medical College of Toledo.

In 1974 Kit accepted an audiology position in Ohio at the Delaware Speech and Hearing Center. Within four short years, Kit was promoted to assistant director and then acting director. In 1978 Kit's true passions lead her to ODH where Kit became one of Ohio's greatest assets in establishing an effective EHDI system. Kit's expertise, patience, understanding, compassion, work ethic, and consistent results all epitomized the word "professional".

EHDI Excellence.

•Initiated EHDI legislation process to create Ohio's first mandated hearing screening and assessment (IHSAP) legislation
•Developed/Implemented comprehensive IHSAP program materials for 131 birthing and children's hospitals, including, guidelines/rules, high risk questionnaire, newborn parents letter, toll free information number, parent information/hearing speech and language milestones handout, informational video explaining importance of infant hearing detection/intervention and IHSAP legislation and required hospital processes
•Developed and implemented nine Regional Infant Hearing Programs (RIHP) to track and follow infants that did not pass hospital screening and to provide weekly specialized habilitative services for families/children with hearing loss, including opportunities for family to family support and interaction with deaf community
•Developed public awareness campaign, created UNHS educational materials, "Baby Baby Do You Hear Me" video and disseminated to 131 hospitals.
•Developed and disseminated IHSAP curriculum, training materials, including, personally providing required training of hospital personnel to administer high risk questionnaire to all 131 birthing and children's hospitals
•Advocated for UNHS legislation that resulted in mandated UNHS legislation for Ohio.

It is a privilege to publicly recognize and acknowledge Kit Buhrer's lifetime of outstanding EHDI achievements. To honor Kit's legacy, her picture was added to the RIHP resource manual with the inscription "Kit Buhrer, Our Colleague, Our Inspiration."

ODH is pleased to nominate Karen "Kit" Buhrer to be considered for the Antonia Brancia Maxon award for EHDI Excellence.
 


03/01/13 07:04 PM #2    

Jim Hammon

She was a Very Nice and Polite Young Lady, Also!!


03/02/13 12:09 PM #3    

Pam Weir (Gray)

I was very impressed with Kit's accomplishments.  It is awesome to think of the lives that she touched and improved through her devotion and research.  I  knew  Kit through our involvement in church and knew she was a very special person. 


03/11/13 09:59 AM #4    

Karen Elberson (Tubbs)

Kit was a very kind and sweet person.  I roomed with her on the senior trip and had a blast.  It doesn't surprise me that she took her compassion with her after college.


03/11/13 04:14 PM #5    

Tom Batt

 ... another gal I was secretely in love with ... :-)

Such a pretty and intelligent gal ....


03/16/13 08:53 AM #6    

Peggy Anderson (Miller)

Karen and her entire family were always very kind to me. I was in their home several times, and was impressed with how extremely bright, yet humble, they all were.  Karen, like her mother,  Maggie, greeted everyone with a warm smile and interest in what they were doing in their lives. When I worked at the Defiance Hospital, Maggie was a volunteer there, so I got to keep up a little bit on Kit's activities. Although she was proud of Kit, Maggie wasn't one to boast, so I never really understood the vast scope of all that she had accomplished. I believe Kit struggled with Marfan disease for many years.


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