Role: Clinical Instructor
School: Audiology & Speech Sciences
Location: Williams Lake
As a young adult, Kelsey Miller became fascinated by language acquisition when she left her home in rural Manitoba for two years abroad in Spain — a journey that led her to learn Spanish from scratch, while meeting many other adults doing the same.
Her interest in language development and neuroplasticity prompted her to study speech sciences at UBC, eventually earning a master’s degree from the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s School of Audiology and Speech Sciences. After graduation, she moved to northern B.C. to pursue her dream job as a pediatric audiologist at the Williams Lake Public Health Unit.
Now, alongside her work as a practicing audiologist, Kelsey helps UBC learners understand how theory meets practice, and empowers them to feel confident meeting the needs of people in rural B.C. communities.
We spoke with Kelsey about the best teaching advice she received, how the Faculty’s vision guides her approach and how her personal passions build community and accessibility in mountain recreation.
What do you enjoy most about teaching and mentoring?
Being a mentor is an opportunity to deeply reflect on your own clinical practices, and to have raw, honest conversations with students about how we as audiologists can be better for our patients. I enjoy the challenge of scaffolding learning such that students practice on the edge of their comfort zone — it is this edge where most learning and confidence building takes place.
Most of all, I love seeing them empowered to try their best and to trust that they have knowledge to rise to the unexpected — and to always remember that “if they can’t today, then they can try again a different day or a different way.”
How does the Faculty’s vision Transforming Health for Everyone guide your approach to teaching?
My approach to teaching is guided by principles of equity, accessibility and reconciliation. With my students, we focus on cultivating humility with patients, cultural sensitivity and safety, and listening whole-heartedly. With each appointment, we strive to build lasting positive relationships between patients and the healthcare system, while supporting them in navigating its challenges and advocating for necessary changes.
What is the best piece of teaching advice you received from a fellow clinical faculty member?
During my own hospital practicums as a student, my clinical educators asked me to “zoom out” from audiology and see the whole patient. This was especially important during educational counselling and hearing rehabilitation with a patient, or with the parents of a pediatric patient.
As clinicians, we must take into consideration the broader context of our patients’ lives to serve them best. We have to observe and listen carefully as we ask thoughtful questions grounded in empathy. We need to understand what our patients’ goals are, and identify barriers and facilitators to access the next steps in their care. Genuine listening and addressing the whole of the individuals — that’s the key to family-centred care.
Describe one of your favourite hidden gems in your local community?
The best hidden gem in our area is our grassroots climbing club, the Williams Lake Climbing Association. It is an unbelievably welcoming community of supportive climbers. There is no ego here — only fist bumps, big laughs and sharing ropes and mentorship. We also have very dedicated climbing route developers who volunteer to improve the access and safety of sport climbing on incredible limestone rock at Esler Bluffs, just 20 minutes from town.