OL103 - Clinical Education in the Externship Year: Stakeholder Discussions

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

2:15 PM - 3:45 PM CST

Location: Rooms 211-213

Earn 0.15 CEUs

Instructional Level: Intermediate

Lead Presenter(s)

CM

Charlotte Mullen, AuD (she/her/hers)

Specialty Audiologist for Education and Training
Boston Children's Hospital
Stoughton, Massachusetts

Disclosure(s): Financial: No financial relationships to disclose; Nonfinancial: Salaried employee of Boston Children's Hospital.

PDF Slides

Presenter(s)

CP

Catherine V. Palmer, PhD

Professor
University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Disclosure(s): No financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
Erin L. Miller, AuD (she/her/hers)

Professor of Instruction; Clinical Education Coordinator, Northeast Ohio AuD Consortium
The University of Akron
University of Akron
Akron, Ohio

Disclosure(s): Financial: No financial relationships to disclose; Nonfinancial: Secretary and Board Member, Hearing Health Collaborative; Steering Committee, Audiology Clinical Education Network.
Laura Gaeta, PhD (she/her/hers)

Associate Professor
CSU Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento
Sacramento, California

Disclosure(s): Financial: No financial relationships to disclose; Nonfinancial: ACAE, Board member; AAA Posters Review subcommittee, member.
Kaylee Smith, AuD

Audiologist
Henry Ford Health System
Commerce Township, Michigan

Disclosure(s): No financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
Lillian Herring, MA (she/her/hers)

Audiology Extern
Hearing Associates of Colorado
Lone Tree, Colorado

Disclosure(s): Financial - Hearing Associates of Parker: Employment (Ongoing); Nonfinancial – No nonfinancial relationships to disclose

Abstract:
Recent surveys by the Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) and anecdotal reports from practicing clinicians have highlighted variability in the clinical education students are receiving, particularly during the final year externship. This session will focus on round table discussions by attendees on various aspects of clinical education with a goal of creating resources and recommendations for education and training during the externship year.

Summary:
The Audiology Clinical Education Network (ACEN) was formed in 2020 and has worked diligently since that time to improve the final year externship experience. The initial focus was to improve on the application process with the goal of providing students with the ability to select an externship that best meets their educational and personal career goals. A timeline for the process was developed and has been modified each year based on stakeholder response. In 2023 presentations were offered that discussed this initiative and the desire to examine how we as clinical professionals are teaching the next generation of audiologists. The majority of this session will be round table discussions by the stakeholders in the final year externship experience: students, clinical preceptors and university coordinators. The discussion will focus on identifying the most pressing issues that need to be addressed in clinical education, along with recommendations for addressing those identified issues. Anyone with an interest in the clinical education process is welcome to join the discussion, with recent experience as a student, preceptor or university coordinator encouraged. Audiologists from all clinical settings working with students are encouraged to participate. Responses and suggestions from this discussion will be used to guide the future direction of the ACEN along with recommendations and resources to enhance the clinical education process.

Brief Summary of Clinical Takeaways:
Current clinical educators have a responsibility and an opportunity to ensure high-quality education to all students.

Learning Objectives:

Identify the areas of concern with clinical education, particularly during the final year externship.
Discuss topics for improvement in clinical education applicable to all clinical settings.
Develop tools for ensuring robust clinical education in Audiology.