For students entering healthcare professions, externships are of vital importance, offering the chance for real-world patient care experiences and network building in order to lay the foundation for a successful career. As the University’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA) Class of 2022 embarked on its year-long externships around the country, administration, preceptors and faculty gathered virtually to uphold the annual tradition of the externship send-off celebration. “The externship celebration has been a tradition at OCA since about 2012, and one that showcases the students as they prepare to leave us for their year-long clinical rotation,” said Dr. Jonette Owen, assistant dean for the Practice and Assessment of Audiologic Medicine and OCA assistant professor. “Every year I say I don't know that we're going to get better sites, and every year the students seem to outdo themselves and that is really due to their tenacity and to the education they are receiving from our faculty throughout the University.”
OCA dean Radhika Aravamudhan, PhD, Barry Eckert, PhD, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, and President Michael H. Mittelman, OD '80, MPH, MBA, FAAO, FACHE, shared words of encouragement with a small group of talented graduate students during the online event, which was held recently.
Dr. Mittelman highlighted how well the students have done in such a challenging time. “The fact that not only have you done it, but you've done it in an extraordinary fashion speaks to your character. It speaks to the abilities of your faculty and staff, but it also speaks to your dedication. Sitting where I sit, I am so proud to be part of an organization that produces clinicians of your caliber,” he said. None of the successes would have been possible without the dedicated faculty who molded the students into the professionals and clinicians they aspired to be – especially during a pandemic. “They always say the cream rises to the top, and well you guys are the cream, actually, you're the heavy whipped cream, my favorite, because you all have excelled,” said Dr. Mittelman.
Dr. Eckert echoed Dr. Mittelman’s congratulatory sentiments about the novel experiences in which students will be embarking. “It adds to the experiences that you had particularly in the past year with COVID, but there's a lot of experience you still have to gain and it will change you. When you come back next year, you will be different audiologists, your skills will have grown, you will have become accustomed to working in new environments, and all of this will change you,” he said.
While focusing on the importance of the externships and how each student will interact with their patients, Dr. Eckert reminded the Class of 2022 and all students participating in the reception, how the broad spectrum of patients will change how they see patients and in turn, how the patients perceive them. “Understand in your mind that you are this good, you are a student, but you are also a professional and you'll get used to that, and you'll return feeling really on top of the world with all kinds of new skills and experiences behind you,” he said.
This year’s event was a little different and included interactive activities to engage the students prior and during their individual reflections of well wishes for future students. As the organizer of the event and coordinator of Externship Clinical Education, Dr. Owen planned a trivia game, escape room challenge and each member of the Class of 2022 received a swag bag, complete with snacks, celebration props, a small bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries.
Dr. Aravamudhan thanked the organizers of the event and expressed gratitude to the Class of 2022 for its dedication, despite the very unique circumstances. Accepting the challenge – as well as the opportunity – the Class of 2022 relayed its excitement and also offered advice to future students entering the University’s Doctor of Audiology program.
Yarden Arber:
“Words of wisdom, I guess just take everything with a grain of salt and try and go with the flow as much as you can and good luck to the underclassmen.”
Christina Askew:
“Don't be afraid. I think at Salus, we're in really good hands and we know a lot more than we think we know. You might have heard it on a Panopto lecture at midnight or an 8:30 a.m. lecture at one point, but it's in your brain floating around somewhere, so you can always reach in and find it. That's definitely my advice. Just think. Good luck, everybody.”
Arielle Boord:
“Just keep going on, take it one step at a time. Sometimes you feel like you just can't do it but just keep pushing past that, because you're going to get there at the end, I promise.”
James Brand:
“Oh, Lord, my word of advice is people can't be laughing at you if you're laughing, so laugh more often!”
Katelynn Briggs:
“Just go for it. Your preceptors are there to help you, they're not there to let you fail so don't be afraid to just do what you have to do to get it done.”
Stacey Chobany:
“Enjoy every moment because time flies. Don't be afraid to do hard things and find time to dance.”
Lyndsay Cunningham:
“Just take time for yourself because you are is the first most important part the whole time.”
Samantha DePinto:
“I'm going to the New York Hearing Doctors in Manhattan, and my advice would be to make Quizlet your best friend, but you guys are going to do great and good luck.”
Ashley Dougherty:
“You might not always understand everything right away. If you learn something in courses, it might not click until the second or third time it gets applied, and so don't be afraid if you don't understand something right away for the first time. I just figured out stuff from first year, last week, so just go with the flow.”
Kaitlyn Favalora:
“Try to learn something new every day and to ask as many questions as you can. Congrats and good luck to everyone!”
Eryn Field:
“Don't be afraid to ask for help and use the resources that Salus gives. All your preceptors want you to succeed and you can always go back to them and ask any questions that you have as well as the upper classes.”
Holly Forst:
“Try not to worry as much as you can, because you will end up where you're meant to be, and just congrats to everyone.”
Victoria Gouveia:
“Find your people, don't think you have to go at it alone. Your person can be a preceptor, classmates, upperclassmen, whatever, just find someone and get through it together. Congrats, everyone!”
Nina Grant:
“We all came from really far and wide places and to have a group of people to depend on has been very, very uplifting. Especially within this last year, I think a lot of us have dealt with big things, pandemic, losing loved ones, financial issues, mental health issues, and it's been huge to have personal moments shared and uplift each other. Everybody should try to reach out to your squad. I mean, it's huge. I know that the pandemic has really hit us but go for a walk in the woods or hiking, go have a picnic. It's been a great experience, and I'm going to miss you guys so much.”
Jordan Hennessee:
“The piece of advice that I always give underclassmen is that, school is really important, but you are more important. So, make sure to schedule time to take care of yourself and do things that aren't audiology. I love all of you. It's good to see all of you guys.”
Sahiban Katari:
“If you think that you aren't going to make it, well, we had doubts about that too. But we are right here making a toast to going off for externships. We whined a lot but here we are and we made it to this point so, so can you.”
Anna Kinyak:
“Family and friends are great, but your classmates are the only ones who get what you are going through so make sure you ask for help, ask for advice or just find a company to have a drink - whatever helps you. Good luck.”
Connor Lawrence:
“1. Don't procrastinate on things, get stuff done early; 2. Never stop learning, I think we're students for life. So good luck to everyone.”
Bianca Liquori:
“Remember that comparison is the thief of happiness. It's very easy to do, because I guess we're so used to doing that in undergrad. We want to be the best. But I mean, we're technically all the best here, we got here in grad school and we're all really smart. So, try not to do that to yourself.”
Kara Little:
“Definitely use Quizlet, study groups and the words of Dr. A, there's enough As to go around. Definitely using your classmates to study is a big help, and also your preceptors are a great resource for you. If you have any questions, if there's anything you're unsure about, reach out to them. Good luck everyone.”
Lauren Lucas:
“Really enjoy every moment. It may seem very stressful in the moment, but I promise looking back on it, you're going to say I can't believe I worried about that. Also, some advice, start your practice's outline right now because you want to start when you're in the class because it took me hours and hours to do mine - just start it right now. Good luck everyone.”
Elizabeth Napolitano:
“I think my biggest advice for first years, even second years at this point is to find your people. Find the people who you want to study with, who you want to hang out with, who you want to vent to, who you want to cry to, because you're going to do all of the above during the next couple of years and you know that they're going through the same thing. So find those people who you want to come to and who you can stand for the next couple of years. They're there, I promise. All right. Love everybody in my class. Good luck to everybody in their externship years and all the years to follow.”
Michele Normant:
“Definitely ask your preceptors questions when you have them. Now's the time to do it, and they're there for you for a reason. I think now's the best time to ask, find your people because you need them and they really make going through this process so much better.”
Carley Popielski:
“I'll just say, always have faith and just don't have fear. That's what I've always kind of gone by. Good luck everyone.”
Joseph Shimo:
“Just go for it. Any opportunity that you're offered just take it. I couldn't say that I had some of the greatest places in my life when I have to travel, a couple hours away. But I've had the most meaningful experiences just saying yes, and just being willing to go the extra mile and find that going out on that limb, you really are rewarded because I really do feel prepared going into my fourth-year externship, just because I took the bait and it's honestly just go for it, there's anything you can do.”
Chantal Simard:
“Take a deep breath, you'll all do great even if you don't do great the first time on Dr. P's exams, it's not the end of the world. It will be okay and you'll get through it and just try your best and that's all you can do. Good luck.”
Jace Singer:
“Like a bunch of other people said, lean on your people, find your friends, they'll be your support system. They'll be your shoulder to cry on. They'll be your everything. That's my advice to you guys. You'll do great. Good luck. It's not the end of the world, I promise. You'll do fine.”
Rebecca Sochin:
“My words of wisdom are don't stress too much about school because you're more important and you learn as you go.”
Andrea Telatovich:
“Be yourself, preceptors and patients are going to like you a lot more if you're very genuine and you're yourself. Good luck to everyone.”
Danielle Walter:
“Be a sponge in clinic, absorb everything and take in what your preceptors say and really take what's best for you. Good luck everyone.”
Meghan Westman:
“Two pieces of advice. My first would be, don't write anything off just because you think you won't like it. I came into grad school thinking I would never work with any kids and now I'm going to be with all kids and I'm really excited about it. The second thing is, don't doubt yourself, manifest every little victory and success, believing in yourself, those little pieces when you manifest something, I think you're subconsciously holding yourself accountable for it, and it will just lead to success in the long run. So good luck to everybody in their placements, it's good to see everybody.”
