Biography

Dr Jessica Paken is a lecturer in the Discipline of Audiology, School of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). Her current academic interests include hearing aids, electrophysiology and ototoxicity with an emphasis toward health system strengthening in the African continent. Having completed both her undergraduate and Masters degree in Communication Pathology cum laude from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Paken has worked in both public and private health sectors in KwaZulu-Natal. She has recently completed her PhD in the field of cisplatin ototoxicity and is currently completing a course on Doctoral Supervision. She has taught in all areas of audiology, including auditory processing disorders, diagnostic audiology, and aural rehabilitation but currently teaches in the area of rehabilitation technology and electrophysiology. Dr Paken also supervises undergraduate and postgraduate (Masters and PhD) research in the Discipline, and has graduated eight Masters students. A recent research interest includes the impact of hearing loss on the average South African.

Dr Paken was the recipient of the Archbishop Dennis Hurley Scholarship for her Masters study and was also the runner-up in the S2A3 Bronze Medal sponsored by the South African Association for the Advancement of Science for Masters dissertation in the same year (2008). Dr Paken was also one of the first celebrated recipients in South Africa on the National Health Scholars Programme presented at the South African Parliament by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and Minister of the National Department of Health (2013). Dr Paken has authored 15 peer-reviewed publications in both national and international journals and her post-doctoral interest includes ototoxicity monitoring in Africa. She has presented at many national international forums and has won the UKZN College of Health Science Research Colloqium Best Poster Presentation in 2013, the Discovery Best Poster Presentation in 2015 and the Discovery Best Oral Presenter in 2019. Dr Paken is married and is mother to Suri (5).