4th Year Externships with VA San Diego Healthcare System

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. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled, with priority given to those submitted by September 14, 2026 . Interviews will begin on September 15, 2026 . Once all positions are filled, this posting will close and all applicants will be notified.

Externship Information:

Primary Practice Setting:

VA medical center Number of Audiologists at the site: 0 FTE Masters Degree 16 FTE Au.

D. 0 FTE

Ph.

D. 0 FTE

Other Doctorate (ScD) 12 FTE professional support staff (technicians/audiometric assistants) 7 FTE Clerical Support Staff Number of Audiology Students each year: 0 1st year AuD Clinical Rotations 0 2nd year 10 3rd year 3 4th year Externships Financial arrangements: Stipend Benefits Will interview travel be compensated?

No Vacation Days:

13 Continuing education opportunities? Yes Semi-annual in-services provided by the five hearing aid manufacturers on contract. Monthly case study presentations by staff and/or externs

Start Date:

May/June 2027 Expected hours/days a week: 5 days/week (40 hrs) Travel to satellite centers required? Yes Externs will complete 3 to 6 month rotations at various clinical sites to provide exposure to different specialties (ex. cochlear implants, progressive tinnitus management, vestibular, etc.) Local students preferred: No Does the externship site provide orientation to relevant clinical policies and procedures? Yes Does the externship site provide instructions about patient's rights and providing patient education? Yes Does the externship site provide orientation to quality assessment, quality assurance and quality improvement? Yes 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 Clinical opportunities that will be given to the extern: Rarely Hearing Screenings Never Pediatric evaluations: infant/toddler Never Pediatric evaluations: school-age Everyday Adult hearing evaluations Everyday Tympanometry Everyday Acoustic Reflexes Rarely Auditory processing evaluations Rarely Hearing Screenings Regularly Evoked potential assessments Never Intra-operative monitoring cases Everyday Otoacoustic emissions Rarely Industrial/hearing conservation Regularly Vestibular assessments Rarely Vestibular rehabilitation Everyday Hearing aids dispensed Everyday Hearing aid selection/fitting Everyday Audiologic rehabilitation (group or individualized) Regularly Cochlear implant evaluations Rarely Cochlear implant rehabilitation Regularly Tinnitus assessments Regularly Tinnitus rehabilitation Regularly Cerumen management Research opportunities?

No Consortium or collaborative arrangements with other sites? No How frequently will the externship site communicate with the university during the externship? As Needed Communication or other support do expected or required from the university during the externship:

• Timely completion of the affiliation agreement, if needed
• Provide timely awareness of all student evaluations

Application Deadline:

Rolling Application Requirements:

Letters of Recommendation Resume Transcript Letter of request/intent 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 in the application process: Applications may be submitted electronically (which is preferred) to 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

Contact Person:

(preceptor, supervisor or extern coordinator) Kimberly Santangelo, Au.

D.

• kimberly.

santangelo@va.gov Are all externs supervised? Yes