Dania Haddawi
Dania Haddawi is dedicated to delivering real-world healthcare solutions through audiology.
“When I was little, I wanted to be an astronaut because who doesn’t want to go to the moon?! But by the time I was around ten, I knew I wanted to do something in healthcare.
“My background is a Bachelor of Science majoring in physiology and psychology. I have a strong interest in neuroscience but didn’t want to spend my life working in a lab. Audiologists combine neuroscience principles with a bit of psychology, a dash of creativity, plenty of communication, and a whole lot of problem solving, which was right up my alley.
“The seed was planted back in Year 12 when I was a gymnastics coach and had a young girl with bilateral cochlear implants in one of my groups. I realised audiology had such a vast range from vestibular, to tinnitus, cochlear implants, to electrophysiology, paediatrics, and so much more.
Audiology blends my academic interests with a hands-on, people-focused role, allowing me the privilege to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
“My thesis focuses on extended scope-of-practice in audiology, and we are looking at whether audiologists are comfortable and competent in directly waitlisting children with glue ear for adenoid surgery.
“There’s a real push to reduce wait times for specialist services for our Tamariki. We as audiologists can do our bit, improving health outcomes overall, especially in our
underserved communities! These contributions are exciting and push the
boundaries for audiology in a good way.
“The MAud programme has allowed me to develop a wide range of skills, from technical clinical abilities to soft skills such as counselling, communication, being reflective, empathy and patient-centred care. Beyond clinical skills, this programme has skyrocketed my confidence, given me grit, resilience, and a strong sense of professional identity that I plan to carry with me into the future.
“A real highlight for me was going on placement over the summer. I was lucky enough to return to my hometown and split my time between an incredible independent practice and a hospital in Taranaki. I got to build my clinical skills, work with an insanely supportive team, learn from some amazing clinicians, and do it all in a community I love with my whole heart.
“The programme itself has opened so many doors. I’ve attended national conferences, participated in specialised clinics and even travelled across the Manawatū-Whanganui and Taranaki regions to do rural schools visits and workshops with rural rangatahi.
“We’re a small, tight-knit cohort who’ve grown really close during the past 18 months, and I know these friendships will last long after graduation.
“I plan on going and giving back to smaller communities in both the public and private sectors. I’ve seen how underserved rural and regional areas are and want to do my bit in improving health outcomes for people who don’t have easy access to an audiologist in their community."