Frequent readers of these articles know that I very rarely mention Berkeley Hearing Center, and even then only as a reference/example on some other topic. I don’t write these pieces to ‘sell myself’ or the practice (and I hope that always shows through, if you know what I mean). One of our main goals is to educate our patients, their loved ones, other medical partners and our community. Because knowledge is power and our patient’s best choice is an informed one.
In furtherance of that goal, for several years now, we have been a training site for two different programs- University of the Pacific’s AuD (Doctor of Audiology) and LifeLong Medical Care’s Family Medicine Residency. We recognized that one of the best ways to make a difference was to help train the next generation of Audiologists and help primary care physicians better understand the critical importance of (good) hearing healthcare to overall health.
What prompted me to write this article was the recent addition of our first “extern”. An extern is an AuD student who’s finished their formal scholastic learning, had a few relatively brief internships at different sites and is now practicing under the supervision of a licensed Audiologist. Externs are required to amass 1850 hours of patient care within one year in order to get their licensure. Up to now, we’d hosted interns, students in their second year. They’re still a little green, kind of like deer-in-headlights. We try to impart as much information as they can integrate with their newly expanding knowledge base. And they get to see a very diverse patient population & variety of cases.
But there’s a very big difference between observing the provider and being the provider. Externs are eventually (quickly!) expected to perform all of the duties of a practicing Audiologist. Knowing what I know, that’s expecting a lot. Actually, it’s expecting far too much! I have 27 years of clinical and industry experience, plus 6 more years before that as a Paramedic and Psychiatric Technician. To say the least, it would be quite unreasonable to expect anything close. My job is to impart knowledge, lessons, techniques and strategies synthesized from all of that. To help him dovetail what he’s learned in school with how it works in the real world.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the Audiology practice. I’m learning things from my extern! To be honest though, it’s not really a surprise as it’s by design. I love what I do, and I try to stay abreast as much as I can (on top of the 12 hours of continuing education that Dispensing Audiologists are required to do each year).
But I don’t have even more time to dive into the latest research on so many things. Well, now I can tap into this amazing, eager, ‘drank-the-kool-aid’ audiology nerd. He’s fresh out of school and cites research he’s been studying! He’s keeping me on my toes, already adding to our patient care and helping me be a better caregiver. And that’s how I think it should be. A good teacher learns from their students. New blood!
Please continue to love your community by getting vaccinated/boosted & masking up where and when appropriate. And please always support our local businesses.
