Thursday, October 1, 2026
Second year medical students at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell filled the lecture hall on Feb. 12 for a presentation by Bradely Porche, superintendent of Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf.
In what has become an annual event, Zucker School of Medicine students listened to firsthand experiences to learn how to best communicate with deaf and hard-of-hearing patients. As a deaf person, Porche shared his experiences and insights regarding communication methods and respecting each individual’s autonomy and preferred method.
“He has a lot of experience,” said Ryan McCann, a student who attended the presentation, “not only in his own life, but also can bring in his interactions with other people from his community that I thought, ‘we wouldn’t get that from a hearing person just reciting things out of a textbook or from a lecture’.”
Porche originally received a Bachelor of Science in finance and economics from Gallaudet University before getting a Master of Science in Deaf education and Deaf studies at Lamar University. He then earned a doctorate in deaf education/deaf studies, and has worked in that field for 22 years.
Lisa Denison, American Sign Language interpreter, accompanied Porche. He conducted the presentation in ASL.
“I think it’s wonderful for the students here at Hofstra to be studying medicine,” Porche signed in an interview following the presentation, “and to have the opportunity to hear from a Deaf individual through my shared experience, my journey, my knowledge, my history.”
Porche spent part of the presentation discussing misconceptions and myths surrounding deaf and hard-of-hearing people and communication methods. For example, Porche debunked the myth that many deaf people can read lips and that it is an effective form of communication. He included a set of communication methods listed from most preferred in the deaf community to least preferred. Lipreading was at the bottom of the list with ASL or another form of sign language at the top. Written communication was in the middle.
One point Porche repeatedly mentioned is that each deaf or hard-of-hearing individual has had different experiences and may prefer a different method of communication. He emphasized the importance of talking directly to each person rather than to a hearing person who may accompany them.
“We all grew up different ways,” he informed the students during the presentation. “Different ways of communicating with our parents, language, school, environment, community, there are many different factors that go into making a deaf person. So, I’m going to speak from my experience, and that’s going to be my experience alone.”
Porche also spoke about the difference between people who identify as deaf in a medical sense versus those who identify as part of the deaf community in a cultural sense. He explained parts of the Americans with Disabilities Act and how it applies to the medical field, emphasizing the right to have a sign language interpreter provided.
Students had the opportunity to ask questions for further insight following the lecture.
“We’re grateful to the team at Mill Neck,” Julia Caton MD, associate professor of medicine and science education at the Zucker School of Medicine, wrote in a statement, “for preparing our students to deliver person-centered care to individuals who are Deaf or have hearing loss.”
