Submitted by HSDC
In the heart of Cincinnati, at the Bell Event Centre, Hearing Speech + Deaf Center (HSDC) will hold its annual HSDC Service Award Gala on May 16. This year’s gala is a milestone for HSDC, as it begins the run-up to its centennial in April 2025. The enduring nonprofit champions healthcare access for individuals with limited financial resources and few healthcare options.
The highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the 2024 HSDC Service Award to Dr. Roy M. Kulick, a figure whose contributions to HSDC and the community are both profound and personal. Dr. Kulick, an MBA-trained pediatric emergency medicine physician, is not only a long-time board leader, but also someone who understands the challenges many HSDC patients face. He is late-deafened and a proud owner of bilateral cochlear implants.
Dr. Kulick’s biography reveals a career spanning over four decades in healthcare and medical device startups, marked by his advocacy and advisory roles for people with hearing loss at both local and national levels. His academic credentials are equally impressive, with an MD from the University of Pennsylvania, an MS in Biostatistics and Clinical Research Design from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from Xavier University.
The HSDC Service Award Gala is a celebration of the community’s collective effort to support HSDC’s mission. It’s a mission that has seen the organization evolve from its founding in 1925 as the Cincinnati League for the Hard of Hearing into a comprehensive service provider that today serves over 1,600 clients annually across its offices in three counties.
Dr. Roy M. Kulick
As attendees gather on May 16 to honor Dr. Kulick, they will also be contributing to a cause that has a direct impact on the lives of many. Community funding supports HSDC’s services, including audiology, speech therapy, and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting, which are vital for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in southwestern Ohio.
The gala is more than just a night of accolades, fun, and fundraising. It’s a beacon shining on the impact and success of HSDC’s services and the relentless pursuit of communication equity, inclusion, and access. With Dr. Kulick as the Service Award honoree, the event is set to be an inspiring evening that not only gazes back at almost 100 years of rich history, but also looks forward to another 100 years.
The gala will also shine a spotlight on a young hero, 13-year-old Isaiah Williams, who will be receiving the 2024 Shining Star Award. Isaiah, a sixth-grade student in the Lakota school district, has become an inspiration to many through his perseverance and bravery in improving his communication. Not only does he share his knowledge of ASL with kindergartners, but he is also sought out by Lakota High School students who are studying ASL as a second language. Isaiah’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and the impact of sharing one’s skills to uplift others.
For more information on the HSDC Service Award Gala, visit HSDC’S website.
