Worldwide Business with kathy ireland®
March 12, 2021
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Lindsey Guevel’s journey is a powerful testament to what is possible when support, resilience, and self-advocacy come together. As a deaf cardiac ICU nurse at one of the nation’s top hospitals, Lindsey is breaking barriers and inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals with hearing loss.
Lindsey is the youngest of three siblings. Her parents noticed she did not respond to the roar of a lawnmower or her father’s voice from behind. At just over a year old, that moment confirmed what earlier signs had hinted at: Lindsey was deaf. What followed was a deep commitment by her parents to find the right educational path. “They immediately began researching the best programs to support me,” she recalls.
From preschool through high school, Lindsey attended a program designed specifically for deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) students. The inclusive environment provided her with every necessary accommodation: interpreters, FM systems, speech therapy, Deaf and Hard of Hearing teachers, and a community of peers with similar experiences. This supportive foundation empowered Lindsey to thrive academically and socially, preparing her for future success.
Lindsey earned her bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). She utilized interpreters, captioners, and note takers to succeed in challenging STEM coursework. She pursued her entry-to-nursing master’s degree at Johns Hopkins University. As the only deaf student in the program, she received strong support from the university’s disability services office, which ensured access to skilled interpreters and real-time captioning.
During her final clinical rotation, Lindsey discovered her passion for cardiac intensive care. “The complexity and pace challenged me in the best way,” she says.
After graduation, she joined the Cardiovascular Surgical ICU at Cleveland Clinic, where she continues to care for critically ill patients, support families, and contribute to life-saving medical outcomes. Her presence challenges outdated assumptions about what deaf professionals can accomplish in high-stakes environments.
Lindsey is candid in calling out the emotional toll that comes with being a deaf professional—particularly the constant need to advocate for accommodations and educate others. Yet, Guevel is equally clear about the benefits. “Being deaf shaped my path in ways I wouldn’t change. It connected me with lifelong friends, brought me to RIT, and gave me a unique lens for empathy,” she stated.
Lindsey uses a cochlear implant, a hearing aid, and lipreading to navigate conversations. She asks colleagues to face her directly and speak clearly to enable her to lipread. Her coworkers identify her lipreading skills as her “superpower,” a skill that can bring peace and clarity to patients who feel isolated. Coworkers depend on Guevel to bridge communication gaps when they have difficulty understanding patients’ needs.
Whether helping a patient through post-operative recovery or training new team members, Lindsey’s work makes a daily difference. “People may not realize it, but I’m living proof that deaf professionals belong in healthcare, not just behind the scenes, but right at the heart of patient care,” said Guevel. Her story challenges outdated narratives, opens doors for others to follow, and improves patient care.
