Speech-Language-Pathology Fellowship in Voice, Swallowing, and Upper Airway
The CU Department of Otolaryngology Clinical Fellowship is led by an inter-professional team that includes voice-specialized speech language pathologists, a dysphagia-specialized speech language pathologist, three fellowship-trained laryngologists and two fellowship trained head and neck surgeons. The entire field of voice, airway and swallow-related pathology is addressed in this fellowship with the benefit of utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and techniques. This program aims to provide fellows with an excellent exposure to the full spectrum of voice, airway and swallowing disorders, and their medical and surgical management. Through bimonthly, interdisciplinary voice and swallow rounds, clinic-based teaching, and progressive responsibility in behavioral treatment of voice and swallowing disorders, the fellows receive a well-balanced academic experience. Each fellow will learn to hone their teaching skills by participating in the training of medical students and residents when appropriate, and by participating in resident didactics.
Clinical Fellowship Mission of the University of Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå​
This one year Speech-Language-Pathology (SLP) clinical fellowship is designed to provide an educational experience with progressively increasing clinical responsibilities. This program will allow the trainee to become an expert in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with voice, airway, and swallowing disorders in an interprofessional setting. Clinical Fellows will be provided an in-depth survey of the field based on clinical, didactic, and research exposure.
Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå and Philosophy
​The education of the SLP clinical fellow is viewed as a dynamic process with active didactic learning that is then applied to patients in a clinical practice setting. The program’s learning objectives will provide clinical fellows with exposure to all aspects of patient care, research opportunities and teaching experience. The clinical fellow will learn from a team of five SLPs, three fellowship-trained laryngologists and two fellowship-trained head and neck surgeons to optimize the diversity of training during the year.
Speech Pathology Fellowship Goals and Objectives
The Speech Language Pathology fellowship experience at The University of Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå is geared towards the development of competency in the assessment and treatment of voice, airway and swallowing disorders. Fellows will have exposure to all aspects of patient cases on the behavioral, medical and surgical levels. As a participatory member of the inter-professional team, each fellow will be involved in the treatment of patients in an outpatient setting for the purpose of learning and taking history, physical examination skills, and developing skills with instrumental assessment of voice and swallowing disorders. Diagnostic skills are further challenged through monthly “Voice Rounds” or “Dysphagia Rounds” where the fellow will be responsible for presenting difficult voice cases from previous weeks, and expected to understand and convey all of the issues as they pertain to the diagnosis and treatment of the patient. Fellows also work in close conjunction with on-site laryngologists and singing specialists to improve their understanding of the role of surgical treatment and physical rehabilitation of the speaking and singing voice.
Fellows will perform numerous office-based procedures, including videostrobolaryngoscopy, flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing skills (FEES), videoflouroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS), and acoustic and aerodynamic testing in addition to developing expertise in the clinical/ perceptual assessment of upper aerodigestive disorders.
Following completion of the Speech-Language-Pathology Clinical Fellowship at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå, fellows will:
- Have comprehensive knowledge of voice, airway and swallowing disorders.
- Be competent in the assessment and treatment of patients with voice, airway and swallowing disorders.
- Be able to perform the full array of office-based procedures for voice disorders.
- Become skilled in behavioral treatment planning and implementation for voice, airway, and swallowing disorders.
- Have met all requirements to complete the ASHA Clinical Fellowship Year and apply for the Certificate of Clinical Competence.
Research
Under the mentorship of Marie Jetté, the Clinical Fellow is expected to: complete at least one clinical research project, submit at least one abstract to a national meeting for oral presentation, and submit one manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal during training.
Length of Fellowship
This fellowship is a twelve-month, full-time, paid position in the University of Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. Preferred start date is August 1, but exceptions may be made in specific circumstances.
Application
Applications for the 2025-2026 fellowship year are now closed. Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year will open in January, 2026.
Minimum Qualifications
- Completion of an accredited graduate program in speech-language pathology, with completion of a master's level course of study by June 2025.
- Experience in an academic medical center.
- Experience in the evaluation and treatment of voice and swallowing disorders through graduate student work.
Individuals with exceptional qualifications who aspire to thrive in the areas articulated by our mission and philosophy are invited to apply.
Required documents for application include:
- Please provide a personal statement, no more than 1 page, that addresses the following: 1) Your motivation to work with individuals with disorders of voice, upper airway, and the aerodigestive tract. 2) How you envision this fellowship helping you achieve your career goals. 3) What it means to be a culturally responsive clinician, and your approach to caring for someone whose life experience is very different from yours.
- CV/Resume that is no more than 2 pages
- Two letters of recommendation
Any clinical fellow in our program must have work authorization that allows the fellow to legally train at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå, School of Medicine as of the start date for this position. The program is unable to provide visa sponsorship for clinical fellows. The program is located in the Denver metro area.
For more information regarding Clinical Fellowship Guidelines and practices here at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå, click here to read the Clinical Fellowship Handbook.
For more information regarding Clinical Fellowship Guidelines and practices here at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå, click here to read the Clinical Fellowship Handbook.
Voice and Upper Airway Resources
Foundations of a Voice Clinician - A free virtual series highlighting topics relevant for SLP graduate students to achieve their goals within the field of voice. @voiceclinician
VoiceProEd - Paid webinars hosted by an SLP and singing voice teacher providing high level, evidence-based training that addresses care of voice disorders. @voiceproed
University of Wisconsin - Madison Voice and Swallow Lectures - Free expert lectures recorded live during private offerings held at the UW Voice and Swallow Clinic