Site:
San Francisco VA Health Care System

Location:
4150 Clement St 126
San Francisco, CA 94121
United States

Description:
The San Francisco VAHCS offers the opportunity host externs at the San Francisco VA Health Care Center. The anticipated start date is May/June 2025. Externs will gain clinical experiences with audiometric evaluations, hearing aid selection and fittings (including assistive devices), otoacoustic emissions (OAE), electrophysiology (ABR, ASSR, VEMP), cochlear implant evaluations and fittings, Progressive Tinnitus Management (PTM), vestibular evaluations and video-telehealth. Our video-telehealth program offers audiometric evaluations, hearing aid fittings, follow-ups, and hearing air repairs, to locations in California, Florida, and the Pacific Islands.

Number of externship positions:
2 (1 funded and 1 pending OAA decision on funding)

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. 

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
• Cerumen Management
• Telehealth program
• Ototoxic monitoring
• Aural rehabilitation

Externship site expects the extern to have mastered these skills before they begin their clinical externship:
-Adult audiometric evaluations and interpretation
-Hearing aid fittings and repairs
-Clinical report writing

Externship site expects the extern to learn/demonstrate these skills during their clinical externship:
-Demonstrate appropriate and independent audiometric evaluation skills, selecting and fitting amplification, and repairing hearing aids
-Performing best practices
-Increased proficiency and time management
-Confidence in completing video-telehealth appointments
-Demonstrate the ability to complete vestibular evaluations, Progressive Tinnitus Management classes, and evaluate and fit cochlear implants and BAHAs

Number of audiologists at site:
9

Number of staff at site:
6

Audiologists holding CCC-A certification:
7

What level of supervision is provided:
100% at the beginning gradually and declining as the extern masters skills

Number of patients seen per year:
23000

How many students per year both interns and externs:
8

Continuing Education opportunities:
Students participate in manufacturer trainings (onsite) and are encouraged to attend off-site manufacturer trainings and national conferences (JDVAC, AAA, state conference, etc.).

Travel to satellites required?:
No

Are there interdisciplinary opportunities? If so what?:
-Physical Therapy
-ENT
-Mental Health
-Community Living Center

Are there research opportunities? If so what?:
Yes, students are encouraged, not required, to complete a research project to present at JDVAC or the SF VAHCS research day. The student coordinator works with the extern to determine their interest and develop a research project based on their interest.

What communication or other support do you expect or require from university during externship?
Expectations and dates for evaluations

Site’s application requirements:
-Cover letter
-Resume
-3 letters of recommendation
-Official or unofficial graduate school transcript.

Steps for the student/university to follow the application process:
Students can submit their electronic application to Dr. Bethany Wiseman (bethany.wiseman@va.gov).

Site’s application deadline:
9/27/2024

Site’s externship contact:
Dr. Bethany Wiseman (Bethany.wiseman@va.gov)

Anticipated decision date:
10/25/2024