Carol Hustedde

1954 - 2025

Carol Hustedde

November 2, 1954 - July 27, 2025

Lexington, Kentucky - Dr. Carol G. Hustedde passed away peacefully on July 27, 2025, at the age of 70, in Lexington, KY, after a brief illness. Her life exemplified the power of education, compassion, and service to others.

Carol was born in 1954, the daughter of Jean and Carl Goldschmidt. Carol spent her childhood in East Lansing, Michigan, and later earned her undergraduate and master's degrees in Audiology at Michigan State University. She went on to complete her Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she met her husband, Ron. Her early interest in the science of hearing evolved into a passion for educating and expanding opportunities for children with hearing impairments and their families.

From 1994 to 2005, Carol served as Executive Director of The Hearing & Speech Center, a nonprofit dedicated to aiding children with hearing loss and communication challenges. Her leadership was grounded in deep compassionshe knew every child and family by name and worked tirelessly to ensure they received the care and support they needed. Under her guidance, the Center flourished as a warm, family-centered environment where interdisciplinary teamwork and excellence thrived.

Carol's dedication reached beyond borders in 2001 when she traveled to Vietnam with Saigon Children's Charity, fitting hearing aids for children and supporting local teachers. Her impactful work earned her both the Kentucky and National DiCarlo Clinical Achievement Awards. In 2002, she played a pivotal role in passing a landmark Kentucky law that required insurance coverage for children's hearing aids, a lasting legacy that continues to benefit many.

In 2005, Carol joined the University of Kentucky College of Medicine as an Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. Over her two decades at UK, she became known not only for her teaching excellence but for her dedication to transforming medical education and care for vulnerable populations across Kentucky and the country.

Carol's work extended well beyond the classroom, guiding over 20 medical students and residents as a mentor and securing millions in federal grants to expand rural medical training and improve health equity. Her contributions to health disparities research and rural physician retention were widely published and nationally recognized.

Outside her professional life, Carol was an enthusiastic traveler and a long-standing supporter of the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras and Lexington Philharmonic. Carol loved cooking, entertaining, reading, gardening, and had recently taken up weaving. Carol's expansive circle of friends includes people from all phases of her life and from around the world.

Carol is survived by her loving husband, Ron; her son, Michael; her siblings: twin sister Linda Marshall (Goldschmidt), David Goldschmidt, and Alisa Goldschmidt, along with their families; her extended family; her devoted cat, Elphi; and a global community of friends, colleagues, students, and collaborators.

A graveside service will be held on July 31, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Lexington Cemetery, followed by a Celebration of Life and luncheon at Temple Adath Israel in Lexington. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Hearing & Speech Center.