Site:
San Diego VA Healthcare System

Location:
3350 La Jolla Village Dr (126)
San Diego, CA 92161
United States

Description:
The VA San Diego Healthcare System is pleased to offer three funded and one unfunded (total of four) Audiology Externship positions for the 2027–2028 academic year. Our multi‑site audiology program operates from the main hospital in La Jolla, CA, with three additional outpatient clinics in Oceanside, Kearny Mesa, and Chula Vista. Externs gain broad, hands-on experience across diagnostic and rehabilitative services, including comprehensive hearing evaluations, cerumen management, OAEs, hearing aid selection and verification, aural rehabilitation, electrophysiology (ABR, ECOG), vestibular testing (rotational chair, VEMPs, vHIT), bone‑anchored systems, cochlear implant evaluations and mapping, assistive listening devices, tinnitus management, and ototoxic monitoring. As part of the Polytrauma team, we also evaluate and treat complex auditory and vestibular concerns in this specialized population. Our department includes a highly experienced team of 16 audiologists and 12 audiology technicians dedicated to training and mentoring externs.

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:
has received funding for 3 externs

Clinical opportunities provided during the externship may include:

• 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
• Cerumen Management
• Telehealth program
• ENT clinic
• Industrial/hearing conservation

Externship site expects the extern to have mastered these skills before they begin their clinical externship:

• Diagnostic hearing exams (including OAEs, tympanometry, acoustic reflexes, acoustic reflex decay and masking)
• Basic hearing aid fittings with real ear measures
• Basic hearing aid selection
• Basic hearing aid troubleshooting
• Solid report writing skills
• Knowledge of electrophysiologic measurements (experience preferred but not necessary)
• Knowledge of vestibular examinations (experience preferred but not necessary)

Externship site expects the extern to learn/demonstrate these skills during their clinical externship:

• Improve professionalism
• Increase clinical proficiency and time management
• Ability to synthesize results and make appropriate independent clinical decisions
• Increase confidence as an independent clinician

Number of audiologists at site:
16

Number of staff at site:
35

Audiologists holding CCC-A certification:
8

How many students per year both interns and externs:
13

Site’s application requirements:
Our application requirements include:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Graduate school transcripts (may be unofficial)
• 3 letters of professional recommendation
• 3 professional references (different individuals from those who provided your letters of recommendation.)

Steps for the student/university to follow the application process:
You may submit electronically (which is preferred) to Krishafaye Rosete at krishafaye.rosete@va.gov

Alternatively, you may apply via mail to the following address:
VA San Diego Healthcare System
Audiology/Speech Pathology Service (126)
ATTN: Krishafaye Rosete
3350 La Jolla Village Dr.
San Diego, CA 92161

Site’s application deadline:
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until positions are filled.  Priority given to those who submit by September 14, 2026.

Site’s externship contact:
Kimberly Santangelo, Au.D., SD VA ASPS Academic Director – kimberly.santangelo@va.gov

Anticipated decision date:
Offers may be extended any time after September 15th until all positions are filled.