Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellow

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Organization:

Hearing And Speech

Job Summary:

This role is best suited for candidates with a strong interest in adult neurogenic communication disorders and in participating in research within an academic medical center.

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Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellow (SLP CFY)

Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute (PBPRI) | Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center

Position Overview

The Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute (PBPRI) at Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center is seeking applicants for a Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellow (SLP CFY) for an 18-month term position.

This role is best suited for candidates with a strong interest in adult neurogenic communication disorders and in participating in research within an academic medical center.

• Full-time, 40 hours per week

• Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

• This position includes:

• 3 days per week clinical work at Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute (PBPRI)

• 2 days per week research work in the Vanderbilt University Speech Kinematics and Acoustic Laboratory (VUSKAL)

Clinical Experience – PBPRI

PBPRI is the outpatient interdisciplinary neurological rehabilitation program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). In this environment, speech-language pathologists collaborate with occupational therapy and physical therapy to support community re-entry and vocational and/or academic transition for patients with a variety of neurological conditions.

The clinical fellow will receive mentorship from a primary clinical fellowship mentor for at least 25% of clinical interactions and will have the opportunity to learn from colleagues across rehabilitation disciplines.

Clinical Responsibilities

Evaluate and treat patients with acquired brain injury and neurological conditions, including:

• Traumatic brain injury

• Stroke

• Primary progressive aphasia

• Multiple sclerosis

• Parkinson’s disease

• Huntington’s disease

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

• Provide care for:

• Aphasia

• Dysarthria

• Cognitive-communication disorders

• Develop clinical skills through mentorship and supervised practice in an outpatient neuro-rehabilitation setting

Research Experience – VUSKAL

The clinical fellow will work on an NIH-funded project focused on speech motor impairment profiles of adults with dysarthria (PI: Antje Mefferd).

This research examines perceptual speech patterns and underlying speech motor impairments of the lips, tongue, and jaw in individuals with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, ALS, and multiple sclerosis.

Key Responsibilities (Research)

• Recruit research participants through online outreach, foundations, and support groups

• Conduct phone screenings and schedule participants

• Perform data collection in the laboratory setting

• Reconcile payments for research participants

• Manage lab calendars and contact lists

• Onboard student research assistants

• Perform data analysis of kinematic, acoustic, and perceptual datasets

• Assist with literature reviews, manuscript preparation, and grant development

• Manage IRB-related documentation

General Expectations

• Desire to work collaboratively with the Principal Investigator and lab team

• Strong attention to detail across clinical and research responsibilities

• Willingness to learn new skills, including research data collection and analysis

• Interest in research and working in an academic medical setting

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from an accredited program

• Eligibility for ASHA Clinical Fellowship (CFY) and Tennessee licensure

• Graduate clinical experience with adult neurological populations such as stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), aphasia, cognitive-communication disorders, and dysarthria

• Demonstrated interest in adult neuro-rehabilitation

• Willingness to participate in both clinical and research responsibilities (2 days clinical / 3 days research)

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

• Effective written and verbal communication skills

• Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook

• Interest in an academic medical center environment

• Ability to commit to a full-time, 18-month term position

Preferred Qualifications

• RedCap

• PRAAT

• Matlab

• Strong clinical training in neurogenic communication disorders, particularly dysarthria, aphasia, and cognitive-communication disorders

• Experience in outpatient rehabilitation and/or interdisciplinary care settings

• Demonstrated interest in motor speech disorders or adult neuro populations

• Prior research experience such as research assistant roles, thesis or capstone projects, data collection or analysis, or literature reviews/presentations

• Familiarity with tools such as Excel, RedCap, PRAAT, or Matlab

• Interest in research, academic careers, or evidence-based practice

• Strong initiative, curiosity, and willingness to learn

Additional Information

The clinical fellow will be considered a Vanderbilt employee for the term of their clinical experience at Vanderbilt.

This Term position is a staff position that exists for a period longer than six months but is not expected to last beyond 18-months. Although a position may exist for a specified or indefinite period, staff who accept term positions are not guaranteed employment for the entire period; they are employed for indefinite periods within the limit of the appointment. There are no guarantees of continued employment, either within the term or when the term ends.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Vibration: Subject to oscillating movement. - Not Applicable

Bimanual Dexterity: Requiring the use of both hands.

- Not Applicable

Dust - Not Applicable

Mist - Not Applicable

Climate: Ability to withstand exposure to atmospheric extremes including heat, cold, humidity, and barometric pressure changes. - Not Applicable

Radiation: May be exposed to occupational radiation, requiring enrollment in VUMC's Radiation Safety Program which includes training, use of personal protective equipment with lead shielding, and personal dose monitoring. - Not Applicable

Pathogens: Risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other contagious illnesses. - Not Applicable

Proximity to moving mechanical parts - Not Applicable

Working in high, exposed places - Not Applicable

Electrical current - Not Applicable

Odor - Not Applicable

Sitting: Remaining in seated position - Occasional

Standing: Remaining on one's feet without moving. - Occasional

Walking: Moving about on foot. - Occasional

Lifting over 35 lbs: Raising and lowering objects from one level to another, includes upward pulling over 35 lbs, with help of coworkers or assistive device - Not Applicable

Lifting under 35 lbs: Raising and lowering objects under 35 lbs from one level to another - Occasional

Carrying over 35 lbs: Transporting an object holding in hands, arms or shoulders, with help of coworkers or assistive device. - Not Applicable

Carrying under 35 lbs: Transporting an object holding in hands, arms or shoulders, with help of coworkers or assistive device. - Not Applicable

Push/Pull: Exerting force to move objects away from or toward. - Occasional

Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, crouching or maneuvering self, patient and equipment simultaneously while working in large and small spaces - Not Applicable

Bending/Stooping: Trunk bending downward and forward by bending spine at waist requiring full use of lower extremities and back muscles - Occasional

Climbing: Ascending or descending stairs/ramps using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. - Not Applicable

Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet. - Not Applicable

Kneeling: Bending legs at knees to come to rest on knee or knees. - Not Applicable

Crouching/Squatting: Bending body downward and forward by bending legs and spine.Reaching above shoulders: Extending arms in any direction above shoulders. - Not Applicable

Reaching above shoulders: Extending arms in any direction above shoulders. - Not Applicable

Reaching below shoulders: Extending arms in any direction below shoulders. - Occasional

Fingering: Picking, pinching, gripping, working primarily with fingers requiring fine manipulation. - Not Applicable

Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with hand or hands. - Occasional

Auditory: Perceiving the variances of sounds, tones and pitches and able to focus on single source of auditory information - Not Applicable

Communication: Expressing or exchanging written/verbal/electronic information. - Continuous

Vision: Clarity of near vision at 20 inches or less and far vision at 20 feet or more with depth perception, peripheral vision, color vision. - Occasional

Smell: Ability to detect and identify odors. - Not Applicable

Feeling: Ability to perceive size, shape, temperature, texture by touch with fingertips. - Not Applicable

Chemicals and Gasses: Medications, cleaning chemicals, oxygen, other medical gases used in work area. - Not Applicable

Noise: May include exposure to occupational noise levels which equal or exceed an 8-hr time-weighted average of 85 decibels, requiring enrollment in VUMC's Hearing Conservation Program which includes training, use of hearing protection, and periodic audiometry. - Frequent

Taste: Ability to detect quality, texture, consistency and taste of prepared foods/quality control. - Not Applicable

Core Accountabilities:

Organizational Impact: Executes job responsibilities with the understanding of how output would affect and impact other areas related to own job area/team with occasional guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Analyzes moderately complex problems using technical experience and judgment. Breadth of Knowledge: Has expanded knowledge gained through experience within a professional area. Team Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to team members.

Core Capabilities :

Supporting Colleagues:- Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.- Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences. Delivering Excellent Services:- Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.- Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.- Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring. Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.- Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.- Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities. Fostering Innovation:- Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.- Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.- Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.

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This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled.