CSD Researchers and Clinicians Collaborate with ENTs from UT Otolaryngology
by Anne Adams
Interprofessional models of care, education, and research are a strength of the clinical programs offered by the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD). They help CSD faculty stay on the forefront of research and practice. They also provide CSD graduates with well-rounded training and the preparation needed to be leaders in the field after graduation. The School has several faculty members who collaborate with ear, nose, and throat (ENT) faculty from the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). In addition to providing clinical care, these relationships provide opportunities for CSD faculty and students to participate in interprofessional clinical education and research.
Associate Professor Miriam van Mersbergen and clinical instructor Amy Nabors collaborated with UT laryngologist, Sandra Stinnett, to treat voice and upper airway disorders for several years. When asked what prompted her to approach UT about offering services collaboratively, Dr. van Mersbergen explained that the medical and behavioral causes of voice and upper airway disorders are closely interrelated. The interconnected nature of the disorders makes multidisciplinary service models the standard of care in clinical settings. Dr. van Mersbergen and Ms. Nabors travel to MMG-ENT to conduct evaluations in tandem with other medical professionals. Ms. Nabors also provides services onsite at Methodist Medical Group (MMG) one day a week (with the remaining 3 to 4 days spent at Memphis Speech and Hearing Center, where several patients from MMG-ENT are then seen for therapy services) At both locations, graduate clinicians have the opportunity to work alongside Ms. Nabors to learn more about voice and upper airway disorders.
Student clinicians see this multidisciplinary model in action through their clinical placements with Ms. Nabors at the School’s clinic, Memphis Speech and Hearing Center (MSHC), and at MMG offsite placements. Student clinicians see this multidisciplinary model in action through their clinical placements with Ms. Nabors at the School’s clinic, Memphis Speech and Hearing Center (MSHC), and at MMG offsite placements. This collaboration has also produced grant funded joint research projects. Dr. van Mersbergen, Dr. Stinnett and Ms. Nabors had an inter-institutional grant to study super spreaders during the COVID pandemic. Dr. van Mersbergen is also developing an NIH (National Institutes of Health) grant proposal that includes faculty from UT Otolaryngology as co-investigators. She explained, “letters of support and collaboration from the head of the ENT department are important to demonstrate that our program has access to patient populations.”
Clinical Assistant Professor, Dr. Jordan Alyse Coffelt, and Assistant Professor Dr. Sarah Warren collaborate with UTHSC’s Dr. Robert Yawn to provide cochlear implant (CI) services. Dr. Coffelt conducts CI evaluations at MSHC and refers patients to Dr. Yawn for implantation. After implantation of the device, patients return to MSHC for activation services and follow up care.
Dr. Warren has collaborated with Dr. Yawn on several of her grant applications, and the three have numerous national presentations and publications resulting from their collaborations. These collaborations have also led to employment opportunities for CSD graduates. Dr. Cristina Tefel (Au.D. ’21) is working as an audiologist with Dr. Yawn’s office at MMG.