Professionally eminent, successful in business ... “But I felt I could do more.”

The Max Chartrand story reads like a classic. Born at mid-century in Oregon timber country, he lived in a one-room shack until he was three, at which age a childhood illness left him severely hearing impaired. Despite this handicap, young Max was considered a child prodigy, especially in music. But being bright wasn’t always enough: Max discovered in Denver, where his family had moved, that where he sat in class determined his grade. In the front row he was an A student; in the back of the room, not so good.

At age 10, rheumatic fever, and the antibiotics used to treat it damaged his hearing further. But by then young Max had already embraced music, specifically the clarinet, which he played at age 12 in the Denver All-City Band. By 14 he was playing professionally at nightclubs. Adding alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, flute and bass clarinet to his skill set, Chartrand went on to play with several jazz bands and symphony orchestras, and eventually earned a BA in Music.

As his deafness progressed, he switched fields, into the field of Communicative Disorders, earning a B.Sc. at Charter Oak State College (Conn.). Moving into the hearing instrument manufacturing, he worked into top positions at three major manufacturers and later became North America Referral Program Manager for Cochlear Corporation, a manufacturer of cochlear implants. Max himself received a multichannel cochlear implant in 1993 at Baylor University Hospital.

Chartrand went on to become one of the most sought after continuing education instructors in the nation, which earned him the 1994 Joel S. Wernick Excellence in Education Award. He is also widely published in the fields of audiology and hearing-related health and has, in fact, written a number of textbooks and manuals as well as hundreds of articles, many in peer-reviewed journals. “But I felt I could do more,” Chartrand says, so he went back to school.

Being deaf made it tough to function in the traditional classroom. So Chartrand embarked on “a lengthy search for a top-rated, accredited online program.” This led him to Northcentral University, “Where I earned an M.A. in Health Psychology, and am now near the end of my doctoral program in Behavioral Medicine.”

With his wife Glenys, Chartrand owns and operates a large occupational therapy and auditory rehabilitation private practice in Colorado. They have 8 children and 11 grandchildren; Chartrand has served as Bishop in the LDS church, is president of his Chamber of Commerce; serves on a private school board and has numerous industry and professional involvements. Oh—and he’s also a full-time student!

“I consider my experience at NCU the highlight of my educational experience,” Chartrand say. “It has been grueling and difficult at times,” he adds, “But always rewarding. It has stretched my research and writing skills to the uttermost, and honed my thirst for knowledge. I find the mentors among the sharpest of any professors with whom I've worked over the years.” He also praises NCU for its Academic Advisors: “I wish I had had my NCU Adviser years ago; would've saved me untold agony as a deaf student trying to make it in a merciless hearing world.”

Chartrand had referred many Learners to NCU. “Invariably,” he says, “They later write to thank me and to report what an exciting program theirs has been, and that although most of them are already practicing professionals or teachers in the field, their NCU experience has opened up an entirely new world for them.”

More than half-way through his dissertation, Chartrand is doing ground-breaking work, tackling “a subject that potentially may send shockwaves through the hearing health field.” Already the preliminary studies and publications of his work are making a difference. “And I might add that this would not be possible if it had not been for the encouragement of several of my NCU mentors to tackle what seemed early an ominous task.

“As a long-time professional educator, textbook author, and hearing health researcher—and now student—I cannot say enough about my NCU experience and its incredible value to my personal and professional aspirations.”