Adult Acute Speech Pathology Clinical Fellow

Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center:  Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your uniqueness is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

Organization:

Medical Speech - Adult

Job Summary:

This is an adult acute care clinical fellowship position. It is a one-year training position.

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Acute Care Speech Pathology Clinical Fellowship – Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Location: Nashville, TN
Department: Acute Care Speech Pathology
Schedule: Full-time, salaried term position
Start Date: Mid to late Summer 2026

About Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in Nashville, Tennessee, is a Level I Trauma Center and Joint Commission Certified Stroke Center. As one of the largest healthcare providers in the Mid‑South, VUMC is co‑located with Vanderbilt University on a vibrant campus in the heart of Nashville. The Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences sits on the main medical center campus and supports a clinical enterprise with more than 85,000 patient visits annually. The Clinical Fellow will work within the Adult Acute Hospital.

Position Summary

The Acute Care Speech Pathology team is seeking a highly motivated and collaborative Clinical Fellow for a full‑time, one‑year fellowship. The Fellow will rotate through multiple acute‑care settings, receive 1:1 supervision, and develop comprehensive clinical competencies in medically based speech‑language pathology.

As Part of Your Clinical Fellowship Experience, You Will:

Clinical Rotations & Training

• Follow a competency‑based model with rotations across varied acute‑care areas.

• Receive 1:1 supervision and training in:

  • Clinical Swallow Evaluations

  • Video-fluoroscopic Swallow Evaluations (VFSS)

  • Cognitive‑Communicative Evaluations

  • Trach/Vent Communication Evaluations

• Assist in performing Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES).

• Work with a wide variety of patient diagnoses in the ICU and step‑down units.

Professional Practice

• Employ evidence‑based clinical problem solving as part of a collaborative care team.

• Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct at all times.

• Document patient care thoroughly and develop individualized treatment plans.

• Build foundational knowledge of billing and coding procedures.

• Use reflective learning and self‑assessment to support professional growth.

Educational & Professional Development

• Participate monthly in the Dysphagia Journal Club and Dysphagia Case Conference.

• Attend the Medical Speech Pathology: Best Practices Conference in Winter 2027.

Position Details

• Full‑time, salaried term position expected to last approximately one year.

• Term positions exist for a period longer than six months but are not expected to extend beyond one year.

• ​Employment is for an indefinite period within the appointment limit, and continued employment is not guaranteed within or beyond the term.

• Includes full‑time benefits.

• Expected workload is 40–45 hours per week, including one weekend day.

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