Speech-Language-Pathology Fellowship in Voice, Swallowing, and Upper Airway
The CU Department of Otolaryngology Clinical Fellowship is led by an inter-professional team that includes voice-specialized speech language pathologists, a dysphagia-specialized speech language pathologist, three fellowship-trained laryngologists and two fellowship trained head and neck surgeons. The entire field of voice, airway and swallow-related pathology is addressed in this fellowship with the benefit of utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and techniques. This program aims to provide fellows with an excellent exposure to the full spectrum of voice, airway and swallowing disorders, and their medical and surgical management. Through bimonthly, interdisciplinary voice and swallow rounds, clinic-based teaching, and progressive responsibility in behavioral treatment of voice and swallowing disorders, the fellows receive a well-balanced academic experience. Each fellow will learn to hone their teaching skills by participating in the training of medical students and residents when appropriate, and by participating in resident didactics.
Clinical Fellowship Mission of the University of Colorado
This one year Speech-Language-Pathology (SLP) clinical fellowship is designed to provide an educational experience with progressively increasing clinical responsibilities. This program will allow the trainee to become an expert in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with voice, airway, and swallowing disorders in an interprofessional setting. Clinical Fellows will be provided an in-depth survey of the field based on clinical, didactic, and research exposure.
Education and Philosophy
The education of the SLP clinical fellow is viewed as a dynamic process with active didactic learning that is then applied to patients in a clinical practice setting. The program’s learning objectives will provide clinical fellows with exposure to all aspects of patient care, research opportunities and teaching experience. The clinical fellow will learn from a team of three SLPs, three fellowship-trained laryngologists and two fellowship-trained head and neck surgeons to optimize the diversity of training during the year.
Speech Pathology Fellowship Goals and Objectives
The Speech Language Pathology fellowship experience at The University of Colorado is geared towards the development of competency in the assessment and treatment of voice, airway and swallowing disorders. Fellows will have exposure to all aspects of patient cases on the behavioral, medical and surgical levels. As a participatory member of the inter-professional team, each fellow will be involved in the treatment of patients in an outpatient setting for the purpose of learning and taking history, physical examination skills, and developing skills with instrumental assessment of voice and swallowing disorders. Diagnostic skills are further challenged through monthly “Voice Rounds” or “Dysphagia Rounds” where the fellow will be responsible for presenting difficult voice cases from previous weeks, and expected to understand and convey all of the issues as they pertain to the diagnosis and treatment of the patient. Fellows also work in close conjunction with on-site laryngologists and singing specialists to improve their understanding of the role of surgical treatment and physical rehabilitation of the speaking and singing voice.
Fellows will perform numerous office-based procedures, including videostrobolaryngoscopy, flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing skills (FEES), videoflouroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS), and acoustic and aerodynamic testing in addition to developing expertise in the clinical/ perceptual assessment of upper aerodigestive disorders.
Following completion of the Speech-Language-Pathology Clinical Fellowship at the University of Colorado, fellows will:
- Have comprehensive knowledge of voice, airway and swallowing disorders.
- Be competent in the assessment and treatment of patients with voice, airway and swallowing disorders.
- Be able to perform the full array of office-based procedures for voice disorders.
- Become skilled in behavioral treatment planning and implementation for voice, airway, and swallowing disorders.
- Have met all requirements to complete the ASHA Clinical Fellowship Year and apply for the Certificate of Clinical Competence.
Research
Under the mentorship of Marie Jetté, the Clinical Fellow is expected to: complete at least one clinical research project, submit at least one abstract to a national meeting for oral presentation, and submit one manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal during training.
Length of Fellowship
This fellowship is a twelve-month, full-time, paid position in the University of Colorado Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. Preferred start date is August 1, but exceptions may be made in specific circumstances.
Application
Applications for the 2024-2025 Clinical Fellowship are closed.
Minimum Qualifications
- Completion of an accredited graduate program in speech-language pathology, with completion of a master's level course of study by June 2022.
- Experience in an academic medical center.
- Experience in the evaluation and treatment of voice and swallowing disorders through graduate student work.
Individuals with exceptional qualifications who aspire to thrive in the areas articulated by our mission and philosophy are invited to apply.
Required documents for application include:
- Essay response (no more than 1 page) to ONE of these two prompts: 1) How will this fellowship help you to achieve your career goals? or 2) What do you want to do with your career/life after you finish your clinical fellowship?
- CV/Resume that is no more than 2 pages
- Two letters of recommendation
Any clinical fellow in our program must have work authorization that allows the fellow to legally train at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine as of the start date for this position. The program is unable to provide visa sponsorship for clinical fellows. The program is located in the Denver metro area.
Foundations of a Voice Clinician is a free virtual series highlighting topics relevant for SLP graduate students to achieve their goals within the field of voice. Moderated by Juliana Litts, CCC-SLP and her STEP mentees, this monthly series will connect current or recent graduate students (2021) and voice professionals by presenting insight and tips to help you obtain a clinical fellowship position in voice. Guest lecturers from clinical fellowships from across the country and other related professions will present on topics to help you gain basic knowledge and skills to prepare you to start your clinical fellowship in voice. Follow us on Instagram @voiceclinician for all information related to this monthly webinar series.
For more information regarding Clinical Fellowship Guidelines and practices here at the University of Colorado, click here to read the Clinical Fellowship Handbook
Contact
Send inquiries about the clinical fellowship program to: Juliana.Litts@cuanschutz.edu