The AG Bell 2007 Cochlear Implant Fellowship Program, made possible through grants from Advanced Bionics Corporation and Cochlear Americas, is intended to address the challenges that face North American cochlear implant centers as well as the cochlear implant field at large. A recent study by Simon Parisier, M.D., (Laryngoscope. 2003 September; 113(9):1470-2) identified problems faced in the application of cochlear implants to the half-million to one million people with severe-to-profound hearing loss who could potentially benefit from this technology. Dr. Parisier concluded that rapid application of cochlear implants is being hampered by inadequate reimbursement and a critical shortage of cochlear implant-trained audiologists. These audiologists and related professionals in the fields of speech-language pathology and education are required to provide lifelong services to children and adults who listen with cochlear implants. As the numbers of cochlear implant candidates and recipients increase, these professionals often do not have the benefit of additional, well-trained personnel to accommodate a continuously expanding caseload.
The Cochlear Implant Fellowship Program is designed to facilitate the training of professionals in the field of cochlear implants and to alleviate staffing pressures. Further, this program may allow centers to engage in clinical research to foster advances in cochlear implant technology, leading to enhanced listening abilities for cochlear implant users.
Center Eligibility/Requirements
Centers must be located in the United States or Canada and must be able to provide a Fellow with the following:
- Significant number of hours per week experience in the area of cochlear implants. This may include pre-evaluations, device fitting, rehabilitation, habilitation, counseling and/or research.
- Direct and indirect supervision by an experienced cochlear implant professional.
- All requirements to be performed by the Fellow as stated under the guidelines and the agreement.
Fellow Eligibility/Requirements
Individuals pursuing careers as cochlear implant professionals with focus in the following disciplines are eligible for sponsorship under this program:
- Clinical audiology, including aural (re)habilitation
- Research audiology or related cochlear implant fields
- Speech-language pathology
- Education of the deaf and hard of hearing
- Auditory-Verbal therapy
Awards
Number of Awards
AG Bell will grant 13 awards in the amount of $15,000 USD each to centers meeting the eligibility criteria listed below. The funds are to defray the salary or educational costs (books, attendance at conferences, etc.) of the sponsored fellow.
Centers must meet the criteria for training and mentorship identified below in order to apply for a fellowship. Centers meeting these requirements must complete an application with AG Bell. Centers submitting an application must have a high degree of confidence they will be able to hire a fellow if awarded the fellowship.
Terms of Award
The center is required to hire the Fellow, as an employee of the center, no later than December 1, 2007. You must have a high degree of confidence that your center will have the ability to hire someone by this date. Funding will be available as of the Fellow's first date of employment at the center. Funding will not be sent prior to the Fellow's start date. Selected centers must provide a Fellow Identification & Invoice Form to AG Bell no later than December 1, 2007.
Applications
Applicants must submit all materials to AG Bell via e-mail no later than 6:00 p.m. (Eastern time zone) January 18, 2007. There will be no extensions to this deadline. The AG Bell Cochlear Implant Fellowship Committee will review all applications. AG Bell will notify centers regarding the committee's decision on their applications by March 1, 2007.
Download the application
AG Bell Contact Information
Judy Harrison, Senior Director of Professional Programs
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
3417 Volta Place, NW
Washington, DC 20007
Phone: (202) 337 5220, ext. 122
TTY: (202) 337-5221
Fax: (202) 337-8314
Email: jharrison@agbell.org
Web: www.agbell.org
Taken from www.agbell.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?p=Cochlear_Implant_Fellowships
