Site:
Atlanta VA Health Care System

Location:
1670 Clairmont Rd
Decatur, GA  30033
United States

Description:
The Atlanta VA is located in Decatur, GA- not far from the heart of Atlanta. We are a large facility with 14 audiologists and 5 health technicians on-site. We have 8 double sound suites and 8 additional hearing aid fitting stations. We are looking for motivated externs who have a strong desire to take on a true educational experience in our specialty heavy clinic environment. In addition to audiologic evaluations & hearing aid fittings, externs will have extensive experiences with vestibular clinics, cochlear implants, ABR testing, progressive tinnitus management & telehealth services. The Atlanta VA is also an ENT surgical site which allows for multiple opportunities to work with ENT patients and to observe surgeries.  We also have several satellite locations that the externs may rotate through during their experience.

Number of externship positions:
2

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:
Historically our site has been awarded 2 externship positions each year. Our site typically interviews extern candidates in September/October of each year.  After the interviews, we select our top candidates but we do not make official offers for funding until OAA nationally announces the release of funds.

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

Externship site expects the extern to have mastered these skills before they begin their clinical externship:
The Atlanta VA views the 4th year externship as a true educational experience. We expect externs to arrive with knowledge and skills for audiologic testing, hearing aid fittings & after-care, ABR’s, vestibular testing & working with implantable technology. However, it is expected that the externs will refine and master these skills throughout their externship. Externs should be proficient with basic writing skills and use of grammar.

Externship site expects the extern to learn/demonstrate these skills during their clinical externship:
The Atlanta VA expects the externs to become proficient with the following skills during their externship:
– Audiologic Evaluations (immittance, SRT’s, pure-tones, word recognition testing, speech-in-noise testing, OAE’s, etc)
– Hearing Aid Fittings (real ear measurements always performed)
– Hearing Aid After-Care
– ABR Testing
– Vestibular Testing (VNG’s w/ calorics, vHIT, VEMPs, rotary chair)
– Cochlear Implant Candidacy Exams, Mapping & After-Care
– Tinnitus Management
– Telehealth

Number of audiologists at site:
14

Number of staff at site:
24

Audiologists holding CCC-A certification:
13

Audiologists holding ABA certification:
(No response)

What level of supervision is provided:
Graduated level of supervision

Number of patients seen per year:
26400

How many students per year both interns and externs:
5

Continuing Education opportunities:
– Externs will be able to attend all in-house hearing aid manufacturer & vendor trainings
– Externs will be approved to attend 2 off-site Specialty Trainings (i.e. tinnitus, CI)
– Externs will be approved to attend 2 Professional Conferences (i.e. AAA, JDVAC, GAA)

Travel to satellites required?:
YES

Are there interdisciplinary opportunities? If so what:
Externs will have the opportunity to work with a variety of interdisciplinary clinics including:
– Low Vision Clinic
– Neurology
– Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic
– Speech Pathology
– ENT – both clinics & to observe surgeries
– Physical Therapy (including vestibular rehab therapy)
– Geriatrics Clinic
– Community Living Center
– Pediatric Rotations

Are there research opportunities? If so what?:
Although the audiologists at the Atlanta VA perform limited research, there are many research opportunities are available through our GRECC program and we highly encourage externs to participate in research.

Do you have a consortium or collaborative arrangements with other sites that provides additional experience?:
Emory University

What communication or other support do you expect or require from university during externship?
Communication for Mid-Term & Final Evaluations; Additional Support if Remediation Processes are Required

Site’s application requirements:
– Cover letter
– Curriculum vitae
– Transcripts
– 3 letters of recommendation

Steps for the student/university to follow the application process:
Applicants should submit application packages either through email or the mail to Alyssa Coxwell, Au.D.

Email: Alyssa.coxwell@va.gov

Address: Attn: Dr. Coxwell
1670 Clairmont Rd
Audiology 126
Decatur, Ga 30033

After externs have been officially selected, the University will work with the Atlanta VA on academic affiliation agreements.

Site’s application deadline:
9/15/2023

Site’s externship contact:
Alyssa Coxwell, Au.D.

Anticipated decision date:
TBD