Trainee experience

Full-time clinical experience, observation, didactic training, and mentorship from your clinical educator and speech-pathology team members for evaluation and treatment of voice and upper airway disorders, swallowing disorders, and treatment for the head and neck cancer patient population.

You will receive advanced training and experience in flexible and rigid endoscopic laryngeal imaging, FEES studies, videofluoroscopic swallow studies (modified barium swallow), acoustic and aerodynamic voice assessment, advanced training in voice therapy, respiratory retraining, and swallowing rehabilitation. You will have additional exposure to the management of medically complex head and neck cancer populations, including surgical resection and reconstruction (including total laryngectomy), voice restoration, those who are undergoing the radiation care pathway (five-year surveillance), and late RAD (radiation-associated dysphagia).

Additional opportunities include options to participate in research projects, attend one national conference if a submission is accepted, contribute to resident and team learning in laryngology rounds, as well as contribute to graduate student learning via observership rotations. You will have access to Mayo Clinic resources, including use of a laptop, PubMed, and Mayo Clinic libraries. You will also receive a one-year subscription to Medbridge for additional education and resources.

Clinical training and rotations

The fellowship experience will begin with observation and didactic training, and then will progressively move to full-time clinical work. Per ASHA standards, ongoing mentoring, observation, guidance, and assessment will be provided by a clinical educator who holds ASHA credentials.

Opportunities to observe our colleagues at Phoenix Children’s Hospital (ear, nose, and throat), as well as clinical and surgical procedures with our laryngologists, and clinical services with other specialists and providers in our department will be available.

Schedule and hours

A clinical day involves seven clinical treatment hours in addition to an hour for lunch. The fellow will also attend regular team meetings. There will be additional opportunities outside of clinical hours to attend laryngology rounds, multi-disciplinary dysphagia panel, tumor board, head and neck cancer weekly meetings, general grand rounds, and research meetings.

Evaluation

Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences uses these evaluative tools within the Fellowship:

• Demonstration of skills
• Self-assessment exercises
• Learning outcomes and assignments from didactic sessions
• Faculty reviews
• Optional academic project

Evaluative tools will include learning outcomes and assignments from didactic sessions, demonstration of skills, self-assessment exercises, faculty reviews, and guidance on an optional academic project.

Throughout the year and upon completion of the clinical fellowship, the clinical educator will document and verify clinical skills using the Clinical Fellowship Report and Rating Form and the Clinical Fellowship Skills Inventory per the standards set forth by ASHA.

Completion and certification

Successful completion of the clinical fellowship experience will be confirmed by your clinical educator per the requirements of ASHA to obtain the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology. Additionally, upon successful completion of the fellowship, you will receive a Certificate of Completion from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences.