Site:
VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System

Location:
10701 East Blvd
Cleveland, Ohio 44106

Description:
The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is based in Cleveland, Ohio where the main medical center is located. We have 7 soundbooths and a full balance lab, including VNG, rotary chair, VEMP, VHit, and posturography. The staff consists of 23 audiologists and 1 health technician. In addition to the main hospital, we have audiology clinics at four outpatient clinics and two mobile medical units. The fourth-year externship will provide students with a wide range of opportunities including hearing evaluations, hearing aid selection/fitting/troubleshooting, real-ear measurements, electrophysiologic measures (ABR, VEMP), vestibular testing, and OAEs. We also have a cochlear implant program, tinnitus management program, and telehealth program.

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: We will be offering two fully funded extern positions.

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
• ENT clinic
• Industrial/hearing conservation

Externship site expects the extern to have mastered these skills before they begin their clinical externship:
The student should have mastered routine diagnostic hearing exams and have familiarity with fitting hearing aids and performing real ear measurements.

Externship site expects the extern to learn/demonstrate these skills during their clinical externship:
The student will be able to independently perform diagnostic hearing exams, hearing aid fittings with real ear measures, balance exams, and electrophysiologic tests.

Number of audiologists at site:
23

Number of staff at site:
23

Audiologists holding CCC-A certification:
19

Audiologists holding ABA certification:
4

What level of supervision is provided:
Direct on-site supervision

Number of patients seen per year:
13770

How many students per year both interns and externs:
2

Continuing Education opportunities:
N/A

Travel to satellites required?:
Yes

Are there interdisciplinary opportunities? If so what:
Rotations in Physical Therapy, Neurology, ENT, Blind Rehab and Geriatrics.

Are there research opportunities? If so what?:
N/A

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?
As needed.

Site’s application requirements:
Letters of Recommendation
Resume
Letter of request/intent

Steps for the student/university to follow the application process:
The student or university representative should email ashleigh.wells@va.gov with a cover letter, resume, and three letters of recommendation. The students will be interviewed and, if accepted, the university will be contacted to complete an affiliation agreement if one does not currently exist. Interviews will be held at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center.

Application deadline:
Saturday, September 6, 2025

Site’s externship contact:
ashleigh.wells@va.gov

Anticipated decision date:
Friday, September 26, 2025