July 2019 Advisors Corner

Happy summertime! With July 4 comes thoughts of independence, as well as grilling burgers and enjoying with the beverage of your choice, of course. The independence we enjoy as a nation did not come without conflict, as with most things that usher in change and a new way of doing things. Being the nerd that I am, I can’t help but see some parallels with Independence Day and professional autonomy, the notion of breaking away from a more established group in an effort to establish a better model and deserved recognition. The Louisiana and Texas Academies of Audiology most recent Future Leaders of Audiology Student Conference (FLASC) participants just graduated. The conference is designed to foster an attitude of leadership and demonstrate the importance of professional advocacy. The students were amazing and engaging, and it always charges my batteries to watch soon to be professionals develop a passion for advocacy! It is important to recognize the need for professional autonomy/independence and making strides to achieve it; the earlier in your career you start the better! A doctoral profession should not be linked to another profession, and no one should be satisfied until we have achieved the recognition and autonomy that the depth and breadth of our clinical and academic training justifies. I hope everyone has a wonderful summer!