Site:
Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System

Location: 
400 Veterans Avenue
Biloxi, MS 39531

Description:
The Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System (GCVHCS) is excited to announce two (competitive) 4^th year audiology doctoral externship opportunities.  Both positions are located at the Biloxi VA Medical Center, Audiology & Speech Pathology Service (ASPS), Biloxi, Mississippi.

Biloxi VA Medical Center Audiology & Speech Pathology Service offers a comprehensive 4^th year doctoral audiology training program inclusive of, general audiometry, hearing aid/ALD fittings, cochlear implant, aural rehabilitation, progressive tinnitus management, tele-audiology, ABR, DPOAE, VNG, VEMPs, VHit, Posturography, and Rotary chair.  Audiology services are offered in both the inpatient outpatient settings, with inter-disciplinary care provided in the Community Living Center, Blind Rehabilitation Center, TBI/Polytrauma Clinic, Behavioral Health, and Physical Therapy.

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: We have secured funding for 2 externship positions.

Clinical opportunities provided during the externship:  
Audiologic evaluation
Immittance measures
Otoacoustic emissions
Hearing aid selection
Hearing aid fitting
Assistive listening devices
Vestibular evaluation
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
In-patient audiologic services

Clinical opportunities not listed above:
Real ear measurements

Externship site expects the extern to have mastered these skills before they begin their clinical externship: 
Students are expected to have knowledge of basic audiometric evaluations and have experience selecting and fitting appropriate amplification with real ear measurements.

Externship site expects the extern to learn/demonstrate these skills during their clinical externship:
At the conclusion of their externship, students are expected to show proficiency in cerumen management, vestibular evaluations, tinnitus counseling, and independently complete audiologic evaluations and hearing aid fittings in the allotted time including a well written report with appropriate coding.

Number of audiologists at site:
7

Number of staff at site:
14 (Audiologist, Speech Pathologist, and Supporting Staff)

Audiologists holding CCC-A certification:
6

Audiologists holding ABA certification:
0

What level of supervision is provided:
Graduated levels starting at 100% and reducing direct supervision as extern demonstrates their skills

Number of patients seen per year:
29667

How many students per year both interns and externs:
2 externships

Continuing Education opportunities:
We have in-house trainings from all hearing aid manufacturers on contact for each technological update. We also allow the extern to attend ONE off-site vendor training of their choosing.

Travel to satellites required?:
Not required but available to visit our Mobile, AL clinic.

Are there interdisciplinary opportunities? If so what:
Yes: inter-disciplinary care provided in the Community Living Center, Blind Rehabilitation Center, TBI/Polytrauma Clinic, Behavioral Health, and Physical Therapy.

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:
Please provide a cover letter, resumé, and three letters of recommendation.

Steps for the student/university to follow the application process:
Our administrative officer will reach out to the accepted applicant to fill out all the appropriate documentation needed in the hiring process, as well as, contact the university of an affiliation agreement is needed.

Site’s application deadline:
September 4th, 2024

Site’s externship contact:  Please include email address, as well
Misty Dedeaux
Misty.dedeaux@va.gov

Anticipated decision date:
Mid October 2024