Site: 
Cincinnati VA Medical Center

Location:
Cincinnati, OH

Description: 
Cincinnati VAMC is proud to offer an externship experience to one highly motivated candidate.  Students will primarily work at the main hospital in face-to-face clinic settings, but will also be able to provide face-to-face care at our smaller outpatient clinics.  Cincinnati has a robust telehealth clinic with two outpatient clinics that are in our most rural areas.

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: provides 1 paid position and will offer 1 unpaid position when student applicants are qualified and interested.

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
Tinnitus management
Cochlear Implant evaluation
Cochlear Implant management
Auditory Processing evaluation
Cerumen Management
Telehealth program
ENT clinic

Clinical opportunities not listed above:
Ototoxicity Monitoring

Externship site expects the extern to have mastered these skills before they begin their clinical externship: 
Pure tone audiometry (air and bone) including masking
SRT and word recognition testing
Audiogram interpretation
Basic counseling skills
Hearing aid verification measurements
Basic hearing aid repairs
Otoscopy
Clinical report writing
Good interpersonal skills, professionalism, and willingness to accept feedback

Externship site expects the extern to learn/demonstrate these skills during their clinical externship: 
Students are expected to develop into independent clinicians.  Students will have opportunities to participate in Progressive Tinnitus Management, Auditory Processing evaluation, vestibular evaluation, cochlear implants, and baha devices.

Number of audiologists at site: 
10

Number of staff at site: 
3

Audiologists holding CCC-A certification: 
10

Audiologists holding ABA certification: 
0

What level of supervision is provided: 
Direct, line of sight supervision is provided daily

Number of patients seen per year: 
17000

How many students per year both interns and externs: 
5

Continuing Education opportunities: 
Students are encouraged to attend professional conferences during their externship year.  Students will also have the opportunity to attend training provided by the hearing aid manufacturers currently on the government contract.

Travel to satellites required?: 
Yes

Are there interdisciplinary opportunities? If so what: 
Traumatic Brain Injury; Cochlear Implant Workgroup

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? 
Our University partners should outline the specific requirements they have for the extern.

Site’s application requirements: 
Cover letter, Resume, 3 letters of reference.  Letters of reference may come separately.

Steps for the student/university to follow the application process: 
The student should submit their materials to the externship contact.

Site’s application deadline: 
October 1, 2023

Site’s externship contact: 
Mary Kelly Bone, marykelly.bone@va.gov

Anticipated decision date: 
October, 2023