Site:
Tomah VA Medical Center – La Crosse

Location:
4000 St HWY 16
La Crosse, WI 54601
United States

Description:
The Tomah VA Audiology department is looking to extend an externship position to a 4th year Doctoral Audiology student. Our department is focused on growing the services we offer to the veterans in our territory. Recently, our staff has added vestibular assessment & progressive tinnitus management to the list of audiologic services we provide. Our growing department is looking for an extern who is highly motivated to grow their audiology knowledge and skills, and assist our staff in providing exceptional care to our Veterans.

The primary location for the externship is the La Crosse CBOC. The extern will have the opportunity to complete a rotation through the main hospital in Tomah, and potentially a rotation through the Wausau CBOC.

Number of externship positions:
1

Funding is assigned by the Office of Academic Affairs and may not have been determined by the application deadline. OAA funding is announced nationally at the same time which should allow sites to know funding at approximately the same time. Historically, our site:  Funding for this externship position is undetermined at this time, and is contingent upon award from the Office of Academic Affairs. If funding is not awarded, a without compensation position will be offered.

Clinical opportunities provided during the externship:  
Audiologic evaluation
Immittance measures
Otoacoustic emissions
Hearing aid selection
Hearing aid fitting
Assistive listening devices
Vestibular evaluation
Vestibular rehabilitation
Electrophysiology evaluation
Tinnitus management
Auditory Processing evaluation
Auditory Processing management
Cerumen Management
Telehealth program

Clinical opportunities not listed above:
No

Externship site expects the extern to have mastered these skills before they begin their clinical externship: 
Comprehensive audiometric evaluation, hearing aid troubleshooting and fitting skills consistent with completion of 3 years clinical practice in an accredited AuD program.

Externship site expects the extern to learn/demonstrate these skills during their clinical externship:
Vestibular evaluation, electrophysiologic evaluation, auditory processing evaluation, tinnitus management, telehealth.

Number of audiologists at site:
8

Number of staff at site:
12

Audiologists holding CCC-A certification:
4

Audiologists holding ABA certification:
0

What level of supervision is provided:
Level of supervision is determined based on knowledge and skills demonstrated by the extern.

Number of patients seen per year:
9000

How many students per year both interns and externs:
1

Continuing Education opportunities:
Externs are invited to join the bi-annual hearing aid contract updates.

Travel to satellites required?:
Yes

Are there interdisciplinary opportunities? If so what:
Physical Therapy, Whole Health, Mental Health

Are there research opportunities? If so what?:
No

Do you have a consortium or collaborative arrangements with other sites that provides additional experience?:
No

What communication or other support do you expect or require from university during externship?
Communication is as needed as directed by the university.

Site’s application requirements:

• 2 Letters of recommendation
• Cover Letter
• Resume or CV
• Graduate transcripts – may be official or unofficial
• Interview – may be in person or virtual

Steps for the student/university to follow the application process:
Email all application documents to veronica.holmes@va.gov

Site’s application deadline:
Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Site’s externship contact: 
Veronica Holmes

Anticipated decision date:
Friday, October 4, 2024