Dr. René Gifford is a world-renowned audiologist and leading authority in cochlear implant research and clinical applications. She currently serves as Chief of Research and Audiology at Hearts for Hearing in Oklahoma, having previously held the prestigious Fred H. Bess Chair in Audiology at Vanderbilt University where she was a tenured Professor of Hearing & Speech Sciences. At Vanderbilt, she directed the Implantables, Hearing Enhancement, & Amplification Research Laboratory and oversaw one of the nation's most active cochlear implant programs, which has implanted over 3,000 patients since its inception. Dr. Gifford's distinguished career spans more than two decades of clinical practice, research leadership, and mentorship in the field of hearing science.
Dr. Gifford's groundbreaking research has transformed the understanding and clinical application of cochlear implants, particularly in the areas of bimodal hearing and spatial hearing with hearing restoration devices. Her work has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health for over 20 years, resulting in more than 160 peer-reviewed publications and two influential textbooks that have shaped contemporary approaches to auditory rehabilitation. With over 11,000 citations, her research on optimizing hearing outcomes for cochlear implant recipients has established new clinical protocols adopted by hearing centers worldwide. Dr. Gifford's innovative approaches to combining cochlear implants with hearing aids have significantly improved quality of life for patients with residual low-frequency hearing, creating a paradigm shift in how audiologists approach hearing rehabilitation for individuals with asymmetric hearing loss.
As an influential leader in the field, Dr. Gifford has delivered hundreds of invited presentations globally and served as a featured scientist on National Public Radio, effectively communicating complex auditory science to broader audiences. Her leadership extends to mentorship, having guided numerous graduate students and early-career researchers who have gone on to become leaders in audiology and hearing science. At Hearts for Hearing, Dr. Gifford continues to advance translational research that bridges laboratory discoveries with clinical practice, developing personalized hearing solutions for patients across the lifespan from newborns to senior adults. Her current work focuses on integrating advanced signal processing with innovative clinical protocols to maximize hearing outcomes, ensuring her legacy of improving communication for individuals with hearing loss continues to grow and evolve.
