Site:
James H. Quillen VA Medical Center

Location:
Corner of Lamont & Veterans Way
Mountain Home, TN 37684
United States

Description:
The James H. Quillen VA Medical Center (“Mountain Home”)  is now accepting applications for two Audiology Externships for 2024-2025. The positions are full-time, not-to-exceed 12 months (2080 hours), and are open to Au.D. candidates in their final year of their training programs. At least one of the positions will be funded by the Office of Academic Affiliations, and we strive to fund as many positions as possible.

Located in beautiful northeast Tennessee (Johnson City), the James H. Quillen VAMC consists of 240-acres including over 50 buildings, a beautiful pond,  and a National Cemetery.  The medical center is a teaching hospital providing a full range of patient care services with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research. East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is located across the street from the VAMC and the latest in medical technology enhances the James H. Quillen’s VAMC’s reputation as a true tertiary care center.

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:
Receives funding for one paid externship; confirmation of funding is generally announced in December/January.

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
• Telehealth program
• Industrial/hearing conservation
• Clinical opportunities not listed above:
• Possibilities to participate in auditory and/or vestibular research

Externship site expects the extern to have mastered these skills before they begin their clinical externship: Externs are expected to be able to perform a hearing evaluation and perform basic hearing aid fittings. Our clinic is looking for externs with strong diagnostic skills, good interpersonal skills and motivation to learn.

Externship site expects the extern to learn/demonstrate these skills during their clinical externship: Externs should be able to independently perform diagnostic hearing evaluations, hearing aid programming and verification, vestibular evaluation, and auditory evoked potentials. Externs should be proficient in cochlear implant evaluation and mapping and tinnitus assessment and treatment.

Number of audiologists at site:
12

Number of staff at site:
5

Audiologists holding CCC-A certification:
11

Audiologists holding ABA certification:
0

What level of supervision is provided:
Direct supervision; you will not have your own schedule

Number of patients seen per year:
20000

How many students per year both interns and externs:
15

Continuing Education opportunities:
Students are required to attend our monthly case conference conducted with East Tennessee State University. You will be asked to present at least once during the year.

Students may also use their time to attend ASHA, AAA and/or JDVAC conferences.

Students will have the opportunity to attend on-site and virtual hearing aid training provided by hearing aid manufacturers.

Travel to satellites required?:
Externs will have the opportunity to visit the Knoxville Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) at least once during the externship, dependent upon current Covid-19 protocols.

Are there research opportunities? If so what?:
Students may have the opportunity to work in the Mountain Home Hearing and Balance Research Program on funded and unfunded research studies.

Do you have a consortium or collaborative arrangements with other sites that provides additional experience?:
No

Site’s application requirements:

Letter of Intent
CV or Resume
3 Letters of Recommendation (two should address clinical skills)
Transcripts (unofficial is acceptable), please include total number of clinic hours to date

Steps for the student/university to follow the application process:
All materials must be submitted in one email, however, letters of recommendation may be delivered separately. All materials should be submitted to Jennifer Sears, Au.D., Jennifer.Sears@va.gov, no later than Friday, September 23^rd.

Site’s application deadline:
Friday, September 23, 2023

Site’s externship contact:
Jennifer Sears, Au.D., (Jennifer.Sears@va.gov)

Anticipated decision date:
Anticipated date of offers 9/26/2023 through 10/23/2023