Site:
Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System

Location:
University Drive C 112 AU-U
Pittsburgh, PA 15240
United States

Description:
The Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System is proud to offer 4 Au.D. externship positions. Students will primarily work at the main medical center where they will gain experience in all audiology specialty areas. In addition to the well-rounded clinical experience, students have the opportunity to attend monthly audiology seminars hosted by the University of Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh VA is also a Geriatric Research and Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) where the audiology externs attend a weekly interdisciplinary conference to learn about other disciplines as well as to educate other professional students about the services audiology provides.

Number of externship positions:
4

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 2 paid positions and 2 unpaid positions. We strive to provide as many funded positions as possible.

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
Auditory Processing evaluation
Auditory Processing management
Cerumen Management
Telehealth program
ENT clinic
Industrial/hearing conservation
In-patient audiologic services

Clinical opportunities not listed above:

Bedside testing (audiologic and vestibular)

Ototoxicity monitoring

Vestibular evaluation includes cVEMPs, oVEMPS, VHIT, rotary chair, oculomotor testing, calorics, positional/positioning testing, and posturography.

Telehealth program includes remote cochlear implant programming, audiologic evaluations, hearing aid fittings, and hearing aid follow-ups.

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
Participation in research

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, specifically in the domains of audiometric testing, hearing aid selection and fitting, and follow up care.

Students are also expected to be able to be proficient in tinnitus management, cochlear implant evaluation / programming, auditory processing disorder diagnosis / treatment, vestibular evaluation / interpretation, and electrophysiologic testing.

Number of audiologists at site:
17

Number of staff at site:
4

Audiologists holding CCC-A certification:
11

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:
27069

How many students per year both interns and externs:
12

Continuing Education opportunities:

Students are able to attend the University of Pittsburgh’s Audiology Friday Morning Seminars which occur once per month from October – April. In addition, students are encouraged to attend professional conferences during their externship year. Historically students have attended the Joint Defense-VA Audiology Conference (JDVAC) or the American Academy of Audiology conference. Students will also have the opportunity to attend training provided by the hearing aid manufacturers currently on the government contract.

Travel to satellites required?:
Rarely

Are there interdisciplinary opportunities? If so what:
The VA Pittsburgh Audiology department is part of the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) that meets weekly to discuss specialty topics and provide case studies. The audiology externs are expected to attend these meetings where they will learn from other medical specialties as well as provide information to other professional students about the field of audiology and the services that are offered by the Pittsburgh VA Audiology Department. Externs will also observe in the ENT and Speech Pathology clinics.

Are there research opportunities? If so what?:
Students are encouraged to complete a clinically-based research project as an extern. Historically students completing a research project have presented their findings at JDVAC or AAA during poster sessions.

Do you have a consortium or collaborative arrangements with other sites that provides additional experience?:
University of Pittsburgh

What communication or other support do you expect or require from university during externship?
Our University partners should outline the specific requirements they have to our chief audiologist (Maureen Wargo, Maureen.Wargo@va.gov) to ensure our facility is able to provide all required items for the extern.

Site’s application requirements:
Cover letter, CV/resume, unofficial transcript, and 2 letters of recommendation.  Please submit all of your application materials to Dr. Emily James. Letters of recommendation can be sent separately if preferred.

Steps for the student/university to follow the application process:
The student should submit their materials to the externship coordinator, Dr. Emily James (Emily.James@va.gov).

Site’s application deadline:
September 6, 2024

Site’s externship contact:
Dr. Emily James Au.D.  Emily.James@va.gov

Anticipated decision date:
Late September 2024