Dr. Tilak Ratnanather, associate research professor of Biomedical Engineering and core faculty member of the Institute for Computational Medicine, is featured on the cover of the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering Magazine Winter 2016 release. Inside, a four-page article entitled, “Can You Hear Me Now?” expounds upon his tireless efforts to increase the number of deaf and hard-of-hearing students in STEM fields at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Tilak believes that those who might be the most effective at doing research to help the deaf are the deaf themselves. He has mentored dozens of hearing impaired students, many of which have moved on to pursue careers as engineers, researchers, and physicians. Since beginning his mentorship movement, with the help of others, the number of deaf researchers in auditory sciences has expanded significantly. As of 2015, there were 10 hearing impaired faculty members in the auditory sciences nationwide, with another 15 pursuing graduate programs in the field. It’s no coincidence that Tilak knows them all.

For the full Whiting School Engineering Magazine feature, click here.