Finding His Calling: First Audiology White Coat Ceremony Marks Milestone

By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director

For Anthony Mahairas, the journey to becoming an audiologist didn’t follow the path he originally imagined. Looking back, though, the College of Health Sciences student believes every step led him exactly where he was meant to be.

On Friday, Mahairas and his classmates will make history as the inaugural Doctorate of Audiology cohort to participate in the college’s first White Coat Ceremony, a tradition that formally welcomes students into the healthcare profession while emphasizing a lifelong commitment to patient care, compassion and ethical practice.

For Mahairas, who was recently chosen as president of the local chapter’s Student Academy of Audiology, the event will be especially meaningful.

“It is a big milestone for me,” he said. “My path wasn’t as straightforward as I once thought it would be, but now that I am here, I can see so clearly that this is where I’m meant to be.”

Originally from Cross Lanes, West Virginia, Mahairas earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Marshall University before completing a master’s degree in molecular medicine at Liberty. Although he always envisioned a career in healthcare, his direction became clearer after joining the otolaryngology research team at UK.

“After finishing my undergraduate degree, I started working at UK on the otolaryngology research team,” Mahairas said. “I always knew I wanted to work somewhere in the medical field, and I jumped into research while trying to figure out my path.”

Along the way, Lexington became home.

“After moving to Lexington I fell in love with the city and the university,” he said. “I met my wife here and started to put down roots. I couldn't see myself anywhere else but UK."

His career aspirations crystallized while working on Hearing Healthcare Assessments in Rural Communities (HHARC), a research project that brought hearing screenings to underserved communities across Kentucky.

“In this project I was part of the team that would travel around the state to rural health clinics and offer free hearing screenings using an iPad-based app,” Mahairas said. “I loved being able to offer this screening to people, but I could not offer much help beyond telling them their results and pointing them to resources.”

That experience revealed what he wanted most from his career.

“That was when I realized I wanted to become an audiologist so I could answer their questions, discuss treatment options and provide them with counseling and support,” he said. 

Now several months into UK’s accelerated three-year Doctor of Audiology program, Mahairas says the experience has reinforced that decision.

“They have been great,” he said of his classes. “They are fast-paced with the condensed three-year schedule, but our instructors have been fantastic and are always willing to help answer questions.”

Beyond earning a degree or passing licensure examinations, Mahairas says his motivation remains rooted in helping others.

“I hope that this degree and education enable me to not just pass licensing exams but to really be able to make a difference in people’s lives,” he said.

As one of the first students to don a white coat in the college’s new audiology program, Mahairas recognizes the significance of the moment, not just for himself, but for the program’s future.

The White Coat Ceremony is a pivotal rite of passage in healthcare education, symbolizing students’ entrances into the profession and their commitment to compassionate, ethical patient care. For the inaugural audiology class, it also represents the continued growth of the College of Health Sciences as it prepares the next generation of hearing healthcare professionals to serve Kentucky and beyond.

While Mahairas has hopes of remaining in the Lexington area after graduation — possibly continuing his work at UK or with the VA while staying involved in research — he says he’s learned not to be too rigid about what comes next.

“Years ago, I thought I knew what my path would look like, so I won’t act like I know what it will look like now,” he said. “I would love to stay in the Lexington area, maybe stay at UK or the VA, and I would love to be able to stay involved with research.”

For now, though, Mahairas is focused on the milestone immediately ahead — a white coat that represents years of preparation, perseverance and purpose.

And for one of the first students in the Doctor of Audiology program, it is a reminder that sometimes the best journeys are the ones you never plan.