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Phoenix VA Health Care System (PVAHCS)

Site:
Phoenix VA Health Care System (PVAHCS)

Location:
650 E. Indian School Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85012
United States

Description:
PVAHCS Audiology is looking for proactive, motivated, and energetic externs focused on Veteran centered care. We provide a rich educational environment with our clinical and educational expertise that spans more than 23 years of VA experience. Our training program has been in existence for more than 40 years and is grounded in providing exceptional healthcare to Veterans as well as a well-rounded clinical education for students. The medical center is located near downtown Phoenix while our CBOCs where face to face audiology services are offered are located in the suburbs of Gilbert and Surprise. We also provide diagnostic and hearing aid services via teleaudiology in partnership with telehealth technicians at 4 additional CBOCs.

Number of externship positions:
3

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:

Because of the breadth and depth of our training program, our site has been awarded three (3) funded 4th year externships. After the application deadline, all applications are reviewed, and interview requests are sent out to students soon thereafter. Selections will be made NLT October 20 with the understanding that funding is not guaranteed until OAA releases official information, often this occurs in mid-late 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
  • Cerumen Management
  • Telehealth program
  • ENT clinic
  • Industrial/hearing conservation
  • Interventional Audiology

Externship site expects the extern to have mastered these skills before they begin their clinical externship:
Knowledge and skills consistent with completion of 3 years in a clinical and didactic program of study in an accredited AuD program.

Externship site expects the extern to learn/demonstrate these skills during their clinical externship:
1) Veteran centered care delivery.
2) Understanding and demonstration of foundational audiological principles and techniques.
3)Emerging skills in subspecialty areas such as implantables, vestibular assessment, and progressive tinnitus management.

Number of audiologists at site:
23

Number of staff at site:
Surprise: 6; Gilbert: 6; Phoenix: 12

Audiologists holding CCC-A certification:
18

Audiologists holding ABA certification:
0

What level of supervision is provided:
Direct and indirect depending on knowledge and skills of extern

Number of patients seen per year:
35,000

How many students per year both interns and externs:
3

Continuing Education opportunities:
Externs are offered and involved in the same on-site (or virtual) training opportunities available to full-time staff. Funded externs are permitted to request approval to attend off-site trainings as they are available.

Travel to satellites required?:
Yes

Are there interdisciplinary opportunities? If so what:
Low vision/Blind rehab
ENT
Physical Therapy
Mental Health
Speech Pathology
Systems Redesign
Telehealth
CLC
TBI
Interventional Audiology

Are there research opportunities? If so what?:
No current research offerings; however, students may certainly participate if opportunities become available.

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?
Deadlines for evaluations/assessments, program expectations, etc.

Site’s application requirements:
Cover letter
CV/resume
3 letters of recommendation
Graduate and undergraduate transcripts (unofficial or official)
Virtual interview required

Steps for the student/university to follow the application process:
Please electronically submit all required materials to: sarah.hallowitz@va.gov

Site’s application deadline:
September 20, 2024

Site’s externship contact:
Sarah Hallowitz, Au.D., CCC-A

Anticipated decision date:
October 18, 2024

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