2024 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 17-19, 2024 • Denver, CO
Award Winner/Nominee Details 2024
Mary Pat Moeller
It is my true honor to nominate Dr. Mary Pat Moeller for the Antonia Brancia Maxon Award for EHDI Excellence because of her distinguished career that has had an enormous impact on children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), particularly infants, toddlers, and young children. Mary Pat has been recognized by her peers as someone with extensive knowledge, a delightful temperament, and a particularly strong sense of integrity. Taken together, these attributes have made her an outstanding leader, even among leaders in our field.
The Executive Committee of the Family-Centered Early Intervention (FCEI) likely had these attributes in mind when they asked Dr. Moeller to lead the effort to develop an international document to inform EHDI and FCEI around the globe: Best practices in family-centered early intervention for children who are deaf or hard of hearing: An international consensus statement (Moeller et al., 2013) This widely praised document established guidance for new, emerging, and existing EHDI programs and systems, advancing the provision of early supports for children who are DHH and their families.
Over the last few years, Dr. Moeller has again been leading the charge to update and develop new FCEI Principles, informed by greater inclusion of DHH leaders, family leaders, practitioners, and researchers from diverse locations and cultures. These new Principles (currently “in press,” scheduled to be published by the end of 2023) build upon and advance the original 2013 Principles in important and substantive ways; they hold the promise of shifting and improving the support provided to young children who are DHH internationally. In leading this effort, Dr. Moeller modeled for consensus panelists the need for critical self-reflection, open-mindedness regarding various aspects of the field, the willingness to broaden one's viewpoints, and the need to incorporate best available evidence to continue to improve the support provided to optimize outcomes for all children who are DHH and their families, wherever they may be situated around the globe. Arriving at consensus among individuals with diverse professional perspectives, who work in different systems and hold a variety of beliefs can be challenging. Yet, Dr. Moeller has done so masterfully. Her thoughtful and attentive leadership, intentional inclusion of individuals with diverse experiences, and strong moral compass led the way for the completion of the FCEI-DHH special issue. Those working closely with Mary Pat on this project share a sense of respect and awe for her.
To be certain, this nomination is not only in recognition of Mary Pat's work on the FCEI-DHH project; this is merely her most recent work in a long career of making a substantial, important, and impactful difference for young children who are DHH and their families. As she prepares to “actually, really, truly retire,” it seems entirely fitting that we honor the life's work of Dr. Mary Pat Moeller and thank her for the legacy she is leaving us with her most recent work that will continue to impact children and families for quite some time to come.