Site:
Central Virginia VA Health Care System

Location:
1201 Broad Rock Blvd
Richmond, Virginia 23249
United States

Description:
The Central Virginia VA Health Care System (CVHCS) Audiology Department will offer a 4th year externship program for the 2027-2028 academic year. The program will provide the extern with clinical training in a full range of diagnostic and treatment areas including hearing impairment, balance disorders, auditory processing disorders, selection and fitting of hearing aids and other assistive listening devices, aural rehabilitation, tinnitus management, hearing conservation, cerumen management, ototoxicity monitoring, auditory osseointegrated devices and cochlear implants.

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:
Is funded for the current academic year.

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 evaluation
Tinnitus management
Cochlear Implant evaluation
Cochlear Implant management
Auditory Processing evaluation
Auditory Processing management
Cerumen Management
Telehealth program
ENT clinic
Industrial/hearing conservation

Clinical opportunities not listed above:
Ototoxicity monitoring

Externship site expects the extern to have mastered these skills before they begin their clinical externship:
Basic audiological evaluation skills: otoscopy, conventional pure tone air and bone conduction audiometry, clinical masking, speech audiometry, immittance testing and some introduction to vestibular assessment and electrophysiology.

Basic hearing aid evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation skills: basic hearing aid selection (all styles), hearing aid fitting and follow-up, simple ALD selection and fitting, probe microphone measurements, and earmold impressions.

Good report writing skills.

Externship site expects the extern to learn/demonstrate these skills during their clinical externship:
Mastery of basic audiological evaluations, hearing aid evaluation/ALD evaluation and treatment (independent in hearing aid fittings, REM, ALDs, hearing aid repair and adjustments).  Demonstrate competency in vestibular assessment and management, tinnitus assessment and management, diagnostic ABR and threshold estimation, APD testing administration and management, cerumen management, ototoxicity testing and management, cochlear implant and AO device evaluation, fitting, and rehabilitation.

Number of audiologists at site:
9

Number of staff at site:
4

Audiologists holding CCC-A certification:
5

Audiologists holding ABA certification:
1

What level of supervision is provided:
Direct and area

Number of patients seen per year:
54,859

How many students per year both interns and externs:
1

Continuing Education opportunities:
The extern may participate in all in-house manufacturer trainings and may choose one national training to attend. Additional training opportunities must be approved by COS and DEO.

Travel to satellites required?:
Yes

Are there interdisciplinary opportunities? If so what:
Yes, externs will have the opportunity to work with the following disciplines through the STAR, Vestibular, CI, APD and tinnitus programs: ENT, PT/OT, SLP, TBI/Polytrauma, Neurology, Oncology, Pulmonology, Pharmacology, and Mental Health. Please note this list is not exhaustive.

Are there research opportunities? If so what?:
Yes, the student will participate in lean and system redesign projects as determined by leadership. There may also be research opportunities in collaboration with other disciplines such as ENT.

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?
Formal quarter reviews and informal meetings as needed.

Site’s application requirements:
Enrollment in an accredited audiology doctoral program.
Completion of all university academic and clinical prerequisites prior to start of externship.
Clinical competency in basic audiologic assessment and intervention along with basic hearing aid assessment and treatment.
Good report writing skills.

Steps for the student/university to follow the application process: 
Please email resume or curriculum vitae, graduate transcript, letter of intent and 3 letters of recommendation to Sharea Leavy, Au.D., CCC-A, Audiology HPT site director at sharea.leavy@va.gov

Site’s application deadline:
Friday, August 7, 2026

Site’s externship contact:
sharea.leavy@va.gov

Anticipated decision deadline:
Friday, September 11, 2026