In a world built on sound, Thierry Labossiere ’24 learned early how to listen in other ways.
Born with severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, he grew up reading expressions, watching closely and navigating conversations that didn’t always meet him where he was. Classrooms could be challenging. Everyday interactions required patience and persistence. But over time, those experiences shaped something deeper: a quiet determination to not only succeed, but to create change.
Today, the UCF alumnus is pursuing his Master of Public Health at George Washington University, building toward a future in medicine grounded in empathy, access and impact. Along the way, he has transformed his lived experience into a mission to support others facing similar challenges.
For Labossiere, success has never followed a conventional path.
At UCF, he immersed himself in his studies while preparing for the rigor of medical school. But just as important, he learned to advocate for himself in environments that weren’t always designed with accessibility in mind. Whether navigating lectures, group work or fast-paced discussions, he developed strategies to stay engaged and excel.
Those moments didn’t just shape his academic journey. They clarified his purpose.
“As someone born with severe hearing loss, this work is deeply personal and rooted in my lived experience,” Labossiere says.
That lived experience became the foundation for something larger.
While studying for the MCAT and advancing his public health education, Labossiere founded the Hear Together Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about hearing loss, promoting inclusivity and advocating for accessible health education across both local and digital communities.
The foundation is more than an initiative, he says. It is a reflection of the barriers he has faced and the solutions he knows are possible.
Through outreach, education and a growing digital presence, Hear Together works to ensure individuals with hearing loss have access to the information, resources and support they need to thrive. Just as importantly, it challenges broader communities to think differently about accessibility, communication and inclusion.
Labossiere understands that for many, the hardest part is not the hearing loss itself. It is feeling unseen.
Through his work, he is changing that.
Labossiere’s path toward medicine is intentional.
His pursuit of a Master of Public Health reflects a commitment to improving health outcomes at scale, particularly for communities that face communication barriers in clinical settings. He has seen firsthand how gaps in understanding can affect care, trust, and outcomes.
By pairing public health with his goal of becoming a physician, he is preparing to address those challenges from multiple angles, as both a caregiver and an advocate.
He envisions a future where patients with hearing loss are not navigating the system alone, but are met with understanding, accessible communication and equitable care.
For Labossiere, medicine is not just about treatment. It is about connection.
Labossiere’s journey reflects the spirit of UCF’s bold vision to expand opportunity and empower those who will shape the future.
What began as a personal challenge has become a platform for impact. Through his academic pursuits and the Hear Together Foundation, he is advancing a more inclusive approach to health education and care, one that recognizes the importance of access, representation, and voice.
His story is still unfolding, but its direction is clear.
He is not just preparing for a career in medicine. He is helping build a future where no one feels unheard.
For Labossiere, silence was never the end of the story. It was the beginning of a mission.
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