112: Graduate Placements and Medical Clinical Fellowships during the COVID-19 pandemic with Alicia S. Smalls, MPH, Caris Giessler B.A., and Rachel Mooneyham, M.A., CF-SLP
This episode explores the challenges and uncertainties that graduate students and clinical fellows have encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will explore the value of self-advocacy in relation to PPE (personal protective equipment), the negotiation of pay and benefits, as well as exploring new educational experiences that will effectively help build confidence in our ability as new clinicians to treat patients in medical settings in the midst of this worldwide health crisis.
topics covered:
Navigating PPE and changing clinical requirements.
Taking into account the toll of uncertainty on graduate students and Clinical Fellows.
Making yourself a competitive candidate and negotiating pay in the era of COVID.
Tips for graduates and Clinical Fellows.
Tips for supervisors and hiring managers.
Resources mentioned in the episode
COVID-19 spurs a scramble for student clinical hours in academic programs. (n.d.). The ASHA Leader: News for and about audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language and hearing scientists. https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/2020-0417-covid19-academics/full/
Newman, S. (2021, January 11). How an ASHA mentoring program shaped my career. @ASHA. https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/leader.SSAY.26012021.44/full/
Post COVID-19 clinical practice. (2020, May 21). College of Health Professions and Sciences. https://healthprofessions.ucf.edu/graduate/post-covid-19-clinical-practice/#1590088836287-0f2e8edb-6c7f
Re-imagining community-engaged learning: Service-learning in communication sciences and disorders courses during and after COVID-19. (2020, 9). ASHA Wire. https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2020_PERSP-20-00146
Speech-language pathology management for adults with COVID-19 in the acute hospital setting: Initial recommendations to guide clinical practice. (2020, 17). ASHA Wire. https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2020_AJSLP-20-00096
Garrett, R. N., & Mayo, R. (2020). A Student Perspective On Clinical And Academic Transitions During The COVID-19 Pandemic: Trials And Rewards. Journal of the National Black Association for Speech Language and Hearing, 15(2), 16-17. doi:https://nbaslh.memberclicks.net/assets/2020%20Summer%20NBASLH%20Journal-FINAL.pdf
Lecointe, K. N. (2020). An Inside Perspective Of The Impact Of COVID-19 On Higher Education And Clinical Experiences. Journal of the National Black Association for Speech Language and Hearing, 15(2), 18-19. doi:https://nbaslh.memberclicks.net/assets/2020%20Summer%20NBASLH%20Journal-FINAL.pdf
National NSSLHA Live Chat: COVID 19-Certification and Accreditation Q&A for Students. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.asha.org/Events/live/COVID-19-Certification-and-Accreditation-Q-A-for-Students/
Guest Speaker Bios
Alicia S. Smalls (MPH) was born in Columbia, S.C. She received an Associates in Science degree from Midlands Technical College, Columbia, S.C., in 2006, BEXSc degree from the University of South Carolina in 2008, a MPH degree in Epidemiology, Summa Cum Laude, from Purdue University Global, Indianapolis, IN, in 2012, and is currently obtaining her M.A. in Speech Pathology and Audiology degree from the South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, S.C., with an highly anticipated graduation date in 2021. She currently serves as the National NSSLHA SLP SSO for South Carolina (2020-2021). She is also a member of the SCSU NSSLHA Chapter (2020-2021), where she serves as the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
During her undergraduate career, Alicia fulfilled roles in various medical settings, which included Internal Medicine, Physical Therapy and Endocrinology. Alicia is interested in studying topics related to neuromodulation of glia cells to promote the formation of new pathways in the CNS, and hopes to focus on improving speech impairments caused by neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Alzihiemrs, and Dementia. In her spare time, Alicia works as a volunteer with the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation of South Carolina as their Zumba instructor. When it comes to the rewards that Alicia has received in her lifetime she considers her son Ashton to be the ultimate reward in her life.
Caris Giessler B.A. is currently a second year graduate student in Speech Language Pathology at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. She completed her undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Medical Spanish, and Leadership at James Madison University in Virginia. Her primary interests lie in acquired neurological disorders and degenerative diseases. As a graduate student during the pandemic she feels blessed to have had the opportunity to provide AAC trials via teletherapy, get her first exposure into the acute care scene, and have adult outpatient placements at 2 different hospitals. She's currently on the journey of applying for a clinical fellowship.
Rachel Mooneyham, M.A., CF-SLP obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Hispanic Studies from Earlham College in 2009. She taught English to adults and children in Guadalajara, Mexico and worked in various parts of central North Carolina as a Bilingual Research Assistant, Spanish Interpreter in Immigration Law, and Bilingual Public Health Educator before pursuing her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2017. Rachel followed a modified plan of graduate study, as she became a mother during her first semester in the Master’s program, and graduated in December 2020. She began her CF-SLP position with Cone Health Alamance Regional Medical Center’s Pediatric Rehabilitation Services team in Burlington, North Carolina in January 2021, where she provides speech-language evaluation and treatment services to pediatric patients in an outpatient setting.
REVIEW the podcast
You’ll earn my undying gratitude by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts! Reviews help other SLPs find the podcast. Also, I love reading your feedback! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” and let me know your favorite part of the podcast. Malaho plenty!
