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Birmingham VA Healthcare System

Site:
Birmingham VA Healthcare System

Location:
2415 7th Ave S
Birmingham, AL 35233
United States

Description:

The Birmingham VA Healthcare System has been awarded one 4th year externship position for the 2024-2025 year. The Audiology service is comprised of  8 audiologists and 4 audiology technicians at the Birmingham Annex, 5 audiologists and 2 audiology technicians at the Huntsville Clinic, and 2 audiologists and 1 audiology technician at the Anniston Clinic.  We offer diagnostic and rehabilitative services including comprehensive audiological evaluations, amplification fittings and hearing aid follow up care, tinnitus evaluations and treatment, telehealth, electrophysiological testing, vestibular evaluations, and cochlear implant evaluations and mapping.  At the Huntsville Clinic we offer mobile audiology services that travel to rural north Alabama clinics for audiological testing and hearing aid fittings.

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 one position.  Currently pending renewed funding for 2024-2025.

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
  • Cerumen Management
  • Telehealth program
  • ENT clinic

Clinical opportunities not listed above:
Mobile audiology, real ear measurements

Externship site expects the extern to have mastered these skills before they begin their clinical externship:
Basic foundation of knowledge for audiological evaluation, hearing aid fitting, and vestibular evaluation.

Externship site expects the extern to learn/demonstrate these skills during their clinical externship:
The extern will develop clinical knowledge and the skills to become independent in the areas of: audiological evaluations; hearing aid selection and fittings; real ear measurements; vestibular testing; tinnitus management; and cochlear implant evaluation and mapping. The extern will demonstrate best practices in Audiology, as well as integrity and professionalism that aligns with the VA core values.

Number of audiologists at site:
15

Number of staff at site:
25

Audiologists holding CCC-A certification:
9.5

Audiologists holding ABA certification:
0

What level of supervision is provided:
Graduated level of supervision

Number of patients seen per year:
19000

How many students per year both interns and externs:
1

Continuing Education opportunities:
There will be manufacturer training opportunities available on-site. There is also the possibility for manufacturer training off-site.

Travel to satellites required?:
Yes, 1-2 times a month travel to Huntsville Outpatient Clinic and/or Anniston CBOC.

Are there interdisciplinary opportunities? If so what:
Externs will have the opportunity to engage with Speech-Language Pathology, Mental Health Services, and ENT Clinic.

Are there research opportunities? If so what?:
None

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?
Affiliation agreement with the university is required. Communication regarding expectations, evaluations, and deadlines.

Site’s application requirements:

  • Cover Letter
  • Resume or CV
  • Two Letters of Recommendation
  • Transcript

Steps for the student/university to follow the application process:
Interested applicants should submit the above electronically to janna.weier@va.gov

Site’s application deadline:
September 15, 2023

Site’s externship contact:
Janna Weier, Au.D.

Anticipated decision date:
TBD

My AVAA

My AVAA