Site:
William C. Tallent Outpatient Clinic – Knoxville Annex I

Location:
Knoxville Annex I 1557 Downtown West Blvd
Knoxville, TN 37919
United States

Description:
The William C. Tallent Department of Veteran Affairs Outpatient Clinic is accepting applications for one fourth year audiology externship position. The position is a full time position, not to exceed 12 months and is open to audiology doctoral candidates who are in their final year of their training programs and are U.S. Citizens.  The William C. Tallent Clinic is a growing community based outpatient clinic offering several specialties which allow for interdisciplinary care for veterans in the Knoxville area. The audiology clinic is located in  west Knoxville which is approximately one hour from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Number of externship positions:
1

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:
Receives funding for one paid externship position. Confirmation of funding is generally announced in late December or early January for all VA positions.

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 management
• Cochlear Implant evaluation
• Cochlear Implant management
• Cerumen Management
• Telehealth program
• Industrial/hearing conservation

Clinical opportunities not listed above:
Quarterly Cochlear Implant Group – Discussion with Audiologist, CI users and CI candidates

Externship site expects the extern to have mastered these skills before they begin their clinical externship:
Externs are expected to have a mastery of basic hearing evaluation and hearing aid fittings as well as a solid foundational knowledge and some clinical exposure to the specialty areas listed above. Our clinic is looking for an extern who works well on a team, has good interpersonal skills, and a motivation to learn.  Most importantly, the desired candidate will take good care of our veterans.

Externship site expects the extern to learn/demonstrate these skills during their clinical externship:
Externs should be independent or require minimal assistance in all the above clinical skills prior to the end of their externship.  The extern will have an assigned supervisor throughout the year, but will be given graduated levels of autonomy as deemed appropriate.

Number of audiologists at site:
5

Number of staff at site:
10

Audiologists holding CCC-A certification:
4

What level of supervision is provided:
Direct supervision is provided

Number of patients seen per year:
9500

How many students per year both interns and externs:
6

Continuing Education opportunities:
On site and virtual trainings are available with hearing aid vendors and cochlear implant vendors throughout the year. Audiology trainees are given permission to use paid leave to participate in any appropriate continuing educational opportunities.

Travel to satellites required?:
No

Are there interdisciplinary opportunities? If so what:
Externs have the potential to interact with primary care, social work, psychology, neurology and physical therapists specializing in vestibular rehabilitation

Are there research opportunities? If so what?:
No

Do you have a consortium or collaborative arrangements with other sites that provides additional experience?:
Yes.  Opportunity to travel to Mountain Home VAMC for limited experience during year

What communication or other support do you expect or require from university during externship?
Review of extern performance is discussed each semester

Site’s application requirements:

1. Resume with description of practicum experiences
2. Two to three signed professional letters of recommendation with contact information
3. Transcripts including one page summary of clinic hours to date
4. Contact information for clinical coordinator for externs

Steps for the student/university to follow the application process:
Please submit the above to : susan.lytle@va.gov or fax to Attn: Susan Lytle at 423-979-3030
Confirmation from coordinator that applicant is anticipated to meet all educational requirements will be needed before offers are finalized.  Applicants or their clinical coordinators may reach out with questions to Dr. Lytle at 865-545-4592d, ext. 4182

Site’s application deadline:
Friday August 16, 2024

Site’s externship contact:
susan.lytle@va.gov

Anticipated decision date:
Friday, October 25, 2024