Site:
VA Augusta Health Care System

Location:
1 Freedom Way (126U)
Augusta, GA 30904

Description:
In Augusta, GA. The weather is warm here all year long and we are the home of the Masters Golf tournament. We offer a full range of clinical experiences which include diagnostic evaluations, hearing aid fittings, hearing aid aftercare, vestibular and electrophysiological testing, aural rehabilitation, cerumen management, and cognitive screenings. Specialty clinics included Ototoxic monitoring, TBI, Blind Rehab, Diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease,  Telehealth, and PTM. Additionally, students may have the opportunity to participate in innovation and process improvement projects.

Number of externship positions:
2 funded positions

Clinical opportunities provided during the externship:

• Audiological evaluation
• Immittance measures
• Otoacoustic emissions
• Hearing aid selection
• Hearing aid fitting
• Assistive listening devices
• Vestibular evaluation
• Vestibular rehabilitation
• Electrophysiology evaluation
• Tinnitus evaluation
• Tinnitus management
• Telehealth program
• ENT clinic

Extern site expects the extern to have mastered:
At the VA Augusta Healthcare System, we expect a 4th year extern to arrive with a strong foundation in diagnostics, aural rehabilitation, counselling, report writing, dependability, and communication skills.

Externship site expects the extern to learn:
Our expectation for growth during the externship includes an increase in proficiency in clinical reasoning and problem solving, time management, and an overall strengthening of established clinical skills allowing the clinician to function independently towards the end of their placement.

Number of audiologists at site:
9

Number of staff at site:
17

Audiologists with CCC-A:
5

Level of supervision:
Graduated level of supervision

Number of patients seen per year:
14838

How many students per year:
2

Continuing education opportunities:

• Virtual vendor trainings
• In-house vendor trainings
• Professional Conferences (i.e. AAA, JDVAC)

Travel to satellites required?:
Yes- Travel to our Aiken, SC CBOC location

Interdisciplinary opportunities:

• Blind Rehab
• ENT
• PT
• Neurology
• Speech Pathology
• Primary Care
• TBI
• Mental Health
• Community Living Center

Research opportunities:
Not required

What communication or other support do you expect or require from university?
Communication for mid-term and final evaluations. Additional support if remediation processes are required.

Application requirements:

1. Cover Letter
2. Resume or CV
3. Two letters of recommendation
4. One letter ideally from a non-university supervisor.
5. Transcript (Unofficial is fine)

Steps for the student/university to follow the application process:

Please email Dr. Debra Spencer with questions at debra.spencer@va.gov no later than COB on September 30, 2024.

After externs have been officially selected, the University will work with us on the academic affiliation agreement.

Site’s application deadline:
09/17/2025

Sites externship contact:
Debra Spencer, Au.D.

Anticipated decision date:
October 2025