Known for her compassion and expertise, Rose, as she was called, advocated for children who were deaf and hard of hearing and their families. Her warmth, care and compassion came easily as the fun and laughter that colleagues describe that accompanied her everywhere.
By Rin-rin Yu
Rosemarie Drous was an auditory verbal therapist who worked closely with children who were deaf and hard of hearing. She served as an educational coordinator for the NYU Cochlear Implant Center for nearly 16 years where she ensured that cochlear implant recipients had appropriate school placement and that families were supported before, during and after cochlear implantation. She helped families individually, made site visits to schools, and assisted during programming sessions and audiological evaluations. She worked with many professionals in schools across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. She spent time with the Beebe Center in Pennsylvania and worked with various programs and organizations for people who were deaf and hard of hearing.
Known for her compassion and expertise, Rose, as she was called, advocated for children who were deaf and hard of hearing and their families. Her warmth, care and compassion came easily as the fun and laughter that colleagues describe that accompanied her everywhere.
“Rose always had a perfect manicure (and made sure that all of her drawings had them too!) and had a way with families – always checking in with parents and giving treats and candy to our patients to make them smile,” her colleagues wrote to AG Bell.
“She had a passion in always ensuring that the whole child and family unit was cared for, going beyond their communication and hearing needs,” they said, noting that she had earned her LSLS AVEd Certification through AG Bell and worked at prominent hospitals and centers working with deaf and hard of hearing individuals where she earned the respect of colleagues and families alike.
Colleagues outside of NYU described her as “no nonsense and practical,” “knowledgeable and forthright,” “a great diagnostician,” “a witty sense of humor,” and that she “elevated our thinking.”
Donations may be made in her memory to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which treated her extensively during her sickness, and the NYU Cochlear Implant Center. Her colleagues at the NYU Cochlear Implant Center have also made a gift in her memory to AG Bell.
En Memoria: Rosemarie Drous
Rosemarie Drous era terapeuta auditivo-verbal y trabajaba estrechamente con niños con sordera e hipoacusia. Fue coordinadora educativa del NYU Cochlear Implant Center durante casi 16 años, donde se encargaba de que los receptores de implantes cocleares fueran asignados a un centro escolar adecuado y de que las familias recibieran apoyo antes, durante y después de la implantación coclear. Ayudaba a las familias individualmente, realizaba visitas a las escuelas y colaboraba en las sesiones de programación y las evaluaciones audiológicas. Trabajó con numerosos profesionales en escuelas de Nueva York, Nueva Jersey, Connecticut y Pensilvania. Dedicó tiempo al Beebe Center de Pensilvania y trabajó con varios programas y organizaciones para personas con sordera o hipoacusia.
Conocida por su compasión y sus conocimientos, Rose, como la llamaban, defendió los derechos de los niños con sordera e hipoacusia y de sus familias. Su calidez, atención y compasión eran tan habituales como la diversión y la risa que sus colegas describen que la acompañaban a todas partes.
«Rose tenía siempre una manicura perfecta (¡y procuraba que todos sus dibujos también la tuvieran!) y sabía tratar a las familias: siempre se comunicaba con los padres y ofrecía golosinas y dulces a nuestros pacientes para que sonriesen», escribieron sus colegas a AG Bell.
«Siempre procuraba que tanto el niño como la unidad familiar dispusiesen de los cuidados necesarios, yendo más allá de sus necesidades de comunicación y audición», aseguraban, indicando que obtuvo su certificación LSLS AVEd a través de AG Bell y que fue empleada de hospitales y centros destacados que trabajan con personas con sordera e hipoacusia, donde se ganó tanto el respeto de sus colegas como el de las familias.
Sus colegas fuera del NYU la describen como «sensata y práctica», «informada y directa», «una gran diagnosticadora», «con un ingenioso sentido del humor” y que «elevaba nuestro pensamiento».
Se pueden realizar donaciones en su memoria al Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, que la trató extensamente durante su enfermedad, y al NYU Cochlear Implant Center. Sus colegas del NYU Cochlear Implant Center también han realizado una donación en su memoria a AG Bell.