edu-ma-cation

I am currently working on my Doctorate of Audiology (Au.D.) On May 19, 2013 - I will officially be Dr. Emilie Galemore.  Holy cow.  I have been in college for nearly 8 years pursuing this degree (4 years of undergrad, 4 years of grad work - one piece of paper).  I have spent the last 4 years of my life devoted to learning about a body system that covers space smaller than a roll of duct tape.

Can you hear me now??
Image from here.

When I tell people what I've chosen to devote my life to, there are two groups of people.  The first group of people say "Huh?" and laugh it out.  Cute you little jokers! The other half of people say "What's an audiologist?"  Well for those of you who aren't jokers and need some explanation, and audiologist is someone who diagnoses and treats hearing loss and is also trained in balance problems and treatments.  We do comprehensive hearing evaluation, sell and fit hearing aids.  Evaluate individuals who have balance problems (vertigo, dizziness, etc.), and we do evaluations on individuals who are deaf and help to indicate whether or not they are good cochlear implant candidates.  What's a cochlear implant you ask?? Check here for more information:  What is a Cochlear Implant?

I am currently in a year long externship, I guess that is a fancy word for internship or what we like to call residency because it sounds fancy and official.  I work 40 hours a week at an audiology clinic here in Kansas City.  It is a great cochlear implant center here in the city and I'm learning so much! I get to see adults and children with cochlear implants and with hearing aids as well.  Don't worry, I'm not the one who does the surgery for the implant, a neurotolgist does that and then the patients come back to us for programming their devices, we make them hear.  It really is a pretty beautiful thing, allowing someone to hear for the first time, or the first time in a long time! 

It has been a really long road to this point.  I can't say that I've always been 100% thrilled with my choice.  But, today, I'm happier with my decision to stay in this career path than I ever have been.  I know that I don't have a lot of readers or anything, but I guess it's just nice for me to even be able to put out a really soft explanation of what I do all day everyday! I have some really great colleagues at my job and I have amazing, amazing learning opportunities each day, with each patient, whether it's learning about something specific to do with ear problems, or whether it's learning to sit, be still and listen to what someone has to say, showing some compassion.  What a blessing it has been so far, and will continue to be!