USF Au.D. Program Website:
http://www.usf.edu/cbcs/csd/graduate/aud.aspx
USF Student Academy of Audiology:
https://www.facebook.com/USFStudentAcademyOfAudiology/info?tab=page_info
Interested in the USF Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) Program?
If you are looking for a program with compassionate professors, a wide range of clinical experiences, and opportunities for research experience, you have found the right place!
Professors and Clinical Faculty
The professors in the audiology department at USF care about each student and want to take the time to help students understand and apply their coursework. Clinical instructors are always willing to help students improve upon clinical skills and professionalism with patients. USF is also unique in that professors and instructors generally teach courses in the area they specialize.
Here are a few examples of our USF Audiology professors and instructors as of August 12, 2015
Gail Donaldson, Ph.D.
- Teaches the Cochlear Implants course
- Research interest includes speech perception in adults with cochlear implants.
- In the classroom, Dr. Donaldson is skilled at breaking down complex material, which facilitates student learning. Students regularly comment on their appreciation of her teaching style, support, and approachability.
Ann Eddins, Ph.D., M.B.A
- Teaches the Medical Audiology course
- Research interests include understanding the neurophysiological bases of normal and impaired hearing.
- Dr. Ann Eddins is a co-director of the Auditory and Speech Sciences Laboratory where she conducts research and mentors undergraduate and graduate audiology students.
David Eddins, Ph.D.
- Teaches the Amplification I course
- Research interests include hearing enhancement devices, auditory/speech perception, and cortical evoked potentials.
- Dr. David Eddins is a co-director of the Auditory and Speech Sciences Laboratory where he conducts research and mentors students. He loves all things hearing aids.
Jennifer Lister, Ph.D.
- Teaches the Psychoacoustics and Instrumentation Courses
- Research interests include aging, auditory processing, auditory training, cortical auditory evoked potentials, and the relationship between hearing and cognition.
- In addition to teaching and conducting research, Dr. Lister is very involved in the audiology community, and she currently serves as the interim chair of the department. Students comment on her professionalism and enthusiasm for the courses she teaches.
Joseph Walton, Ph.D.
- Teaches the Electrophysiology Course
- Research interests include auditory physiology, neural correlates of auditory processing in aging and hearing loss, and neural plasticity.
- Dr. Walton has an extensive background in electrophysiology in both the clinical and research facets of audiology. He shares his great enthusiasm for the field in his electrophysiology course and has developed a strong lab component of the course.
Patricia Carr, Au.D.
- Teaches the Pediatric Audiology course
- Pediatric audiologist and clinical instructor
- Dr. Carr has an interest auditory processing disorder (APD) and is helping students work on audiology doctoral projects on this topic.
- Dr. Carr is one of the most approachable and caring clinical instructors. She is always willing to provide a listening ear to students who need to talk to her.
Devon Weist, Au.D.
- Teaches the Amplification II course
- Dr. Weist serves the USF Hearing Clinic director. She is also in charge of coordinating third-year clerkship placements and fourth-year externship clinical experiences.
- In addition, Dr. Weist has extensive clinical background in amplification and is an active clinical instructor at the USF Hearing Clinic.
- Dr. Weist is a caring clinician whom students enjoy working with. She is an excellent resource for any questions students may have about third- or fourth-year clinical experiences.
Clinical Experiences
The clinical training component of the USF Au.D. Program is broken into stages. The sequence of training allows students to begin training in the classroom, then transition to audiology practice in clinical settings outside of USF.
During Year 1, students take two clinic lab courses. These courses allow students to become familiar with the equipment and testing procedures by practicing testing on other classmates and undergraduates. Students leave these courses with a solid background for understanding how to perform a full diagnostic hearing evaluation utilizing multiple pieces of equipment.
During Year 2, students begin seeing patients in the USF Hearing Clinic. Each semester, students are assigned to 3 half-day time blocks with a clinic partner (classmate) and clinical supervisor. Students have the opportunity to participate in a broad range of clinical experiences in the USF Hearing Clinic including: adult diagnostics, pediatric diagnostics, newborn hearing screenings, cochlear implant activation and programming, hearing aid fitting and follow-up, and aural rehabilitation.
During Year 3, each student is assigned to a clerkship rotation at a clinic in the Tampa Bay Area for 2 days per week. Students have the opportunity to complete 3 rotations (summer, fall, and spring semester). These opportunities allow for students to see a wide range of audiology practices including: VA medical center, hospital setting, ENT office, private practice, and educational audiology in the school system.
During Year 4, each student completes a one year long externship experience at an audiology clinical facility within the US. Most externship positions require an application process and formal acceptance. Students can choose to apply to sites that provide experience in their fields of interest (i.e. pediatrics, cochlear implants, vestibular, tinnitus).
Research Opportunities
The USF audiology department has a large array of research experiences for Au.D. students. Gaining research experience in the first 2 years of the Au.D. Program can help you determine if the dual degree Au.D./Ph.D. program is something you would like to pursue.
Students say that their experiences in the research lab are helpful in practicing their clinical skills. You may have the opportunity to complete audiograms, hearing aid fittings, run electrophysiology testing, and practice other clinical skills as you work with participants on a research project.
The Global Center for Hearing and Speech Research (GCHSR) at USF is one of the major research facilities where students can participate in research. Within the GCHSR are the Auditory & Speech Sciences Laboratory and the Auditory & Neural Engineering Laboratory. Students working in these labs get to work with research scientists, visiting scholars, postdoctoral fellows, research audiologists who have diverse academic backgrounds and experiences.
There are also other research labs in the USF Communication Sciences and Disorders building with different specialties. A list of research facilities can be found at:
http://www.usf.edu/cbcs/csd/research/research-facilities.aspx
More information on the Auditory & Speech Sciences Laboratory can be found at:
http://www.usf.edu/cbcs/csd/labs/assl/
Audiology Doctoral Project
A requirement of the Au.D. Program at USF is the completion of an Audiology Doctoral Project (ADP). Each student must have a professor that serves as the chair of their project committee, to oversee and provide guidance for the project. Students are able to choose a project based on an audiology-related topic that fits their interests.
Visit the USF Audiology Department
To arrange a visit to the Audiology Department at USF, you can contact the Au.D. Program Director, Dr. Gail Donaldson at gdonalds@usf.edu
Recent USF Audiology Student Events
Celebrate Sound Walk for Hearing Health 2015, hosted by the Tampa Gem Sertoma Club
Volunteers at the Mr. Central Florida Event 2014
This annual event benefits the Central Florida Speech & Hearing Center in Lakeland, FL
Class of 2017 White Coat Ceremony
Special Olympics Healthy Hearing Screening at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, FL
