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Alston Yen’s grandfather had hearing problems, which was the first time Yen learned about audiology as a profession. As he grew older, Yen often wore headphones to listen to music. Together, these experiences inspired him to consider a career in audiology.
“I needed to learn how to protect my hearing,” said Yen.
And, that’s exactly what he’s in the process of doing right now. In July 2025, Yen was one of seven audiology and speech-language pathology students from Chung Shan Medical University (CSMU) participating in a month-long clinical training program alongside Doctor of Audiology (AuD) and Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) students at Drexel University’s Elkins Park Campus.
The program is administered by Drexel’s Global, Interprofessional, and Specialized Programming (GISP) – led by Melissa Vitek, OD ‘95, FAAO, dean of GISP, along with senior academic coordinator, Sarah Tinkoff, and academic coordinators, Margie Singer and Stella Lee. Academic instruction is provided by Osborne Audiology and SLP departments.
The learning objectives for audiology were defined and delivered under the leadership of chair and program director of Osborne Audiology. These included core competencies such as understanding Pure Tone Air and Bone Conduction Audiometry, interpreting audiometric results to determine the type and degree of hearing loss, and recognizing key principles in hearing aid assessment and fittings. Additional objectives introduced students to practical knowledge in auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing and vestibular evaluations.
Notably, for the first time, students at CSMU were exposed to the emerging role of artificial intelligence (AI) in both audiologic diagnostics and health care delivery. This new content aimed to spark curiosity and awareness of how AI can support clinical decision-making, enhance patient care, and contribute to evolving models of interprofessional health care practice.
The learning objectives for SLP students were defined and delivered by the program’s faculty and staff under the leadership of Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, chair and program director. Among those objectives included gathering insight into treatment approaches used to minimize the effects of dysphagia (difficulty swallowing); an introduction to pediatric feeding and swallowing; assessment and intervention of voice disorders; understanding the causes of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI); understanding the areas of cognition which are affected by people with TBI; and identifying general neuroanatomy relevant to cerebrovascular accidents and aphasia (inability to swallow).
There was also a week of interprofessional learning, the objectives of which included recognizing the concepts of Auditory Processing Disorders, understanding the various tests of Auditory Processing, recognizing and understanding the fundamentals of cochlear implantation, and reviewing the foundational concepts of auditory rehabilitation.
CSMU has been sending students to this program for several years with the hopes that students broaden their global perspective, deepen their understanding of the latest trends in SLP and Audiology, and gain practical skills through observation, case discussion, and hands-on training, according to Yuna Jhang, PhD, faculty member at CSMU in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
“The programs are attractive because they offer clinical and academic resources that are not yet fully developed in Taiwan. The SLP and Osborne Audiology programs on Drexel University’s Elkins Park Campus are renowned for cutting-edge clinical practice, interdisciplinary training, and advanced teaching in communication sciences,” said Dr. Jhang, who accompanied the students to the U.S. for the first week of the program. “Students can gain first-hand exposure to a wide variety of real clinical cases, state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, and modern therapeutic approaches that complement and expand what they learn at CSMU. In particular, the immersive experience helps bridge a gap of at least 10 years compared to the level of clinical practice in Taiwan.”
For Yen, the experience provided him with the opportunity to observe in the clinical facility, which the second-year CSMU student hasn’t yet been able to do in Taiwan.
“It’s all so new, and it’s helpful to see how it’s done in person,” said Yen. “It’s also good for me to see how to communicate with a patient, to make the patient feel calm, comfortable, and confident with the audiologist.”
Chloe Nieh, a second-year student in SLP at CSMU, became interested in the profession after her sister, who is a special education teacher, shared the needs of some of her students. “It’s very different in the U.S. than in Taiwan in how we do our SLP therapy,” said Nieh. “For me, it’s a good experience to take a look at how to do the therapy and think about how I can use it in my career. If I can, I would like to introduce concepts to my colleagues on how to improve the therapy environment in Taiwan.
According to Dr. Jhang, the students do indeed take back practical knowledge about what they’ve learned in the program to share with other students in Taiwan. These include modern clinical procedures, advanced assessment and treatment strategies, and interdisciplinary collaboration models.
“They often share these through departmental seminars, reports, and peer discussions,” said Dr. Jhang. “Some even integrate these insights into their undergraduate research projects or use the experience as preparation for applying to graduate programs abroad. Their new knowledge directly enriches their clinical practice during domestic internships and helps raise local professional standards.”
It wasn’t all work for the CSMU students while they were in the U.S. They were treated to academic field trips to places such as Jefferson Moss-Magee Rehabilitation Center and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, and to cultural outings that included sightseeing in Philadelphia and a chance to see the Liberty Bell.
Dr. Jhang said the feedback she’s received from students in this year’s cohort has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Students have reported that their exposure to different professional systems has greatly enhanced their confidence and motivation,” she said. “Many have expressed that they now have a clearer vision for pursuing advanced degrees abroad and applying what they learned to improve local services.”
