Sandra Gabbard, PhD

Dr. Sandra Abbott Gabbard, Ph.D., is the 2026 Recipient of the Marion Downs Pediatric Audiology Award. Dr. Gabbard is a distinguished pediatric audiologist, educator, and executive leader whose career has been a powerful force in expanding access to early identification and intervention for children with hearing loss. Her work is a profound embodiment of the legacy of her mentor and colleague, Dr. Marion Downs.

Her academic journey began at Purdue University, where she earned her B.S. in Audiology and Speech Sciences with a minor in Psychology in May 1980. She went on to receive an M.A. in Audiology from the University of Northern Colorado in December 1981 and a Ph.D. in Audiology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in May 1996.

Dr. Gabbard is the President/CEO and Audiologist for the Marion Downs Center (MDC), a position she has held since August 2014. Her academic appointments include serving as an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado Denver since August 2014, where she is the LEND Audiology Discipline Director for JFK Partners. Since August 1996, she has been an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Dr. Gabbard has been a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) since 1988 and of the Colorado Academy of Audiology (CAA) since 1991. A significant leadership role includes serving on the American Board of Audiology (ABA) Board of Directors from 2019 to 2024, including a term as ABA President from 2021 to 2022. She has also been affiliated with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) since 1982.

Dr. Gabbard has had the privilege of leading initiatives that carry forward Marion Downs’ vision with programs including KidScreen, a program which provided hearing screening and follow-up care for children who might otherwise be missed, and Marion’s Way, which integrates audiology and speech-language services for optimal developmental outcome. Her most recent project is promoting universal pre-school hearing screenings in efforts to continue Marion’s legacy and ensure every child with hearing loss has the opportunity to develop their full potential, regardless of socioeconomic background or geographical location.  

Dr. Gabbard’s career in audiology demonstrates why she is considered an outstanding leader and professional in pediatric audiology. She honors Marion Downs’ core belief that early intervention changes lives and that if you can make a difference, you must. It is through her dedication to expanding access, driving systemic change, and nurturing the highest standards of clinical care that Dr. Gabbard has made a truly profound difference in the lives of countless children and families.