Jan 2, 2026
- Alaska has the highest rate of ear disease in the U.S.
- Ashley Earp’s journey from social work to audiology shows how the University of Utah program prepares students for unique, impactful careers.
- Her work in Nome combines adventure, patient care and community health innovation.
- Audiology offers expansive career paths, strong job security and global health opportunities.
A Class That Changed Everything
Ashley Earp’s career began in social work with Child Protective Services, but she wanted a graduate degree that combined her passion for helping people with medical diagnostics.
“I knew I wanted to go back to grad school but didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do,” she remembers. “I thought maybe speech therapy because I had a background in autism therapy.”
Then Earp enrolled in an introductory aural rehabilitation class at the University of Utah, planning on studying speech therapy. She didn’t expect it to change the trajectory of her life and change her career. “It was the best class I’ve ever taken,” she says. “I completely fell in love with audiology.”
Today, Earp is the director of audiology services in Nome, Alaska, where she provides hearing healthcare to remote Inupiaq and Yupik villages—many accessible only by plane.
From Salt Lake City to Alaska
Earp first traveled to Nome for her externship, a year-long clinical experience required for audiology students. She fell in love with the community and the challenge of delivering care in extreme conditions. The town has about 3,000 people and there are no roads in or out; instead, visitors and residents must travel by plane.
With her social work background, Earp is passionate about reducing barriers to healthcare. “This is the epitome of that,” she says. “There are blizzards, remoteness, no running water in some villages—every barrier you can imagine. But we still provide high-quality, evidence-based care.”
Her year-long externship turned into a job as an audiologist and then director of audiology services. Her days are packed with patients, and services range from earwax removal to cochlear implant programming. She collaborates with ENT specialists through telemedicine and travels monthly to 15 native villages, bringing hearing care to communities that would otherwise go without. “I take my air mattress, blow it up in the clinic, and jam-pack my day with patients,” she says. “It prevents patients from having to come to Nome. People like to stay with their families, and it’s just really nice to access healthcare in their own villages.”
Earp says she loves her job because it gives her the chance to practice every facet of audiology. In many places, audiologists specialize and focus on a single area—such as balance testing for vestibular disorders or working only with children. In contrast, her role offers variety, allowing her to perform an assortment of tasks and care for a wide range of patients, making each day dynamic and rewarding. “I love my job,” she says. “Every day I feel really lucky to be working where I am and doing what I love to do.”
Earp’s work is also adventurous. “I could go to work on a snow machine or take a helicopter to a little island that’s two miles from Russia,” she says.
Alaska has the highest rate of ear disease in the country—four to five times the national average. More research needs to be conducted to determine why that is, though one study does find a correlation with lack of running water. “It’s probably related to hygiene,” Earp explains. “It’s hard to take showers and keep clean when there’s no running water in some villages. That leads to upper respiratory infections and viruses spreading quickly."
These conditions make her job both challenging and rewarding. “It makes my job very busy, but also very interesting,” she says. “I see a wide range of ear disease and get to provide care that truly changes lives.”
Why Audiology Is a Hidden Gem
Audiology is not widely known, but the need is critical. “Audiologists are in really high demand,” Earp says. “Hearing loss is super prevalent, and we’re not graduating enough professionals to meet the demand.”
The demand for audiologists is high. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for audiologists is projected to grow 11 percent through 2032—much faster than the average for all occupations. Salaries are competitive, with a median annual wage of about $86,000.
The field offers flexibility and variety. Audiologists can work in schools, hospitals, private practices and even global health settings. “Another thing I love about audiology is that it’s not emergent,” she says. “I work eight to five. I do work longer days when I go out to villages, but I’m not on call or working weekends.”
Most audiologists earn a Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree, which typically takes four years of graduate study. Programs include classroom learning, clinical rotations and a year-long externship. Students also complete licensing exams before entering the workforce.
Time at the University of Utah
The University of Utah’s audiology program is nationally recognized for its hands-on training and clinical experiences. Students gain exposure to everything from pediatric care to advanced diagnostics, preparing them for careers anywhere in the world.
When asked about her time at the U, Earp gushes. “I just can’t speak highly enough of the faculty in the audiology program,” she says. “I genuinely adored my time in grad school there.”
Earp says there is passionate and helpful faculty who shaped who she is today.
Advice for Future Students
Earp encourages students to explore audiology if they’re interested in communication sciences or healthcare. She also says to look for opportunities, take those that come, and ask questions. “The biggest thing that helped me was saying yes to opportunities,” she says. “There are so many good people there who want to grow this profession. Also- be open to anything and everything that should come your way.”
Earp says patient care and being able to relate to patients and talk to them is the biggest skill that’s needed. She says anyone interested in communications and science disorders or healthcare should consider audiology as a career.
“Consider audiology as an option. It’s not super well-known, but there’s an absolute need. Explore it—you might find your passion.”
