Josh Sevier receives 2019 Nebraska State Clinical Achievement Award

15 Nov 2019     By Kelcey Buck

University of Nebraska-Lincoln assistant professor of practice Josh Sevier was awarded the 2019 Nebraska State Clinical Achievement Award at the Nebraska Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSLHA) fall convention in October. 

As the winner of the state award, Sevier will be recognized as a nominee for the Louis M. DiCarlo Award for Recent Clinical Achievement, sponsored by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation, at the annual American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) convention Nov. 21-23 in Orlando. 

Sevier, a cochlear implant audiologist at the Barkley Speech Language and Hearing Clinic, was honored for his work on the Children of Nebraska Hearing Aid Act. The bill, LB15, requires most health plans to cover expenses associated with hearing aids for Nebraskans younger than 19. It passed 48-0 in the Nebraska unicameral in May. 

“It’s important that we generate awareness of this community and the struggles they face,” Sevier said. “I’m honored to be a champion for their rights and will continue to do whatever I can to make their voices heard.” 

Sevier played a key role throughout the legislative process with LB15, beginning with the bill’s inception. 

“Josh is someone that drives to the outcome and never loses sight of the importance of that outcome,” said Sherri Jones, Dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences and current NSLHA president. “He wrote the bill. He found a senator to sponsor the bill. He lobbied 30 co-sponsors. And he worked tirelessly to see that bill to the outcome. He’s a tireless advocate for people with hearing loss.” 

The State Clinical Achievement Award recognizes an individual’s significant accomplishments in the advancement of clinical service in speech-language pathology and/or audiology within the past six years.