Site:
Southern Arizona VA Hospital

Location:
3601 S. 6th Ave.
Building 38
Tucson, AZ 85724

Description:
The Southern Arizona VA Hospital is currently accepting applications for 4th year Audiology externships – 2024-2025. Trainees will have the opportunity to work in a fast-paced clinic offering a wide range of services including comprehensive audiometric testing, hearing aid selection, fitting & troubleshooting, cerumen management, in addition to evaluation and management in our specialty Vestibular, Tinnitus, and Cochlear Implant (implantable) clinics.

Tucson VA Medical Center is a teaching hospital that provides a full range of health services for Veterans with state-of-the-art technology. Our medical center is affiliated with more than 67 academic institutions.

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: 2 funded position

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
Industrial/hearing conservation

Clinical opportunities not listed above:
Basic comprehensive audiometry
Hearing aid checks and troubleshooting
Basics of a hearing aid fitting and orientation
Earmold impression experience
Basic counseling skills
Good foundational understanding of vestibular and tinnitus evaluation

Externship site expects the extern to have mastered these skills before they begin their clinical externship: 
Basic comprehensive audiometry
Hearing aid checks and troubleshooting
Basics of a hearing aid fitting and orientation
Earmold impression experience
Basic counseling skills
Good foundational understanding of vestibular and tinnitus evaluation

Externship site expects the extern to learn/demonstrate these skills during their clinical externship:
Growth in the areas of assessment and management of hearing loss as well as the ability to think critically about all data collected for use toward differential diagnosis and appropriate management.

Number of audiologists at site:
7

Number of staff at site:
13

Audiologists holding CCC-A certification:
5

Audiologists holding ABA certification:
0

What level of supervision is provided:
Varying levels depending on the need of student

How many students per year both interns and externs:
2

Continuing Education opportunities:
Manufacturer provided training typically every 2 months

 Travel to satellites required?:
No

Are there interdisciplinary opportunities? If so what:
The tinnitus program consists of a collaboration with poly trauma and whole health.

Are there research opportunities? If so what?:
No

Do you have a consortium or collaborative arrangements with other sites that provides additional experience?:
No, but we do telehealth with 5 different CBOCs

What communication or other support do you expect or require from university during externship?
As needed depending on the needs of the student

Site’s application requirements:
Resume and letter of intent, transcripts, 3 letters of recommendation

Steps for the student/university to follow the application process:
Email documents to Fadyeh.barakat@va.gov

Site’s application deadline:
Friday, September 15, 2023

Site’s externship contact: 
Fadyeh Barakat

Anticipated decision date:
Sunday, October 15, 2023