The Tomah VA Audiology department is looking to extend an externship position to a 4th year Doctoral Audiology student. Our department is focused on growing the services we offer to the veterans in our territory. Recently, our staff has added progressive tinnitus management, inpatient audiology, and cochlear implant services to the list of audiologic services we provide. Our growing department is looking for an extern who is highly motivated to grow their audiology knowledge and skills, and assist our staff in providing exceptional care to our Veterans. The primary location for the externship is the La Crosse CBOC in La Crosse WI. Comprehensive audiometric evaluation, hearing aid troubleshooting and fitting skills consistent with completion of 3 years clinical practice in an accredited Au.

D. program.

Externship Information:

Primary Practice Setting:

VA medical center Number of Audiologists at the site: 2 FTE Masters Degree 6 FTE Au.

D. 0 FTE

Ph.

D. 0 FTE

Other Doctorate (ScD) 4 FTE professional support staff (technicians/audiometric assistants) 0 FTE Clerical Support Staff Number of Audiology Students each year: 0 1st year AuD Clinical Rotations 1 2nd year 0 3rd year 1 4th year Externships Financial arrangements: None Will interview travel be compensated?

No Vacation Days:

15 Continuing education opportunities? Yes Externs complete bi-annual hearing aid contract update trainings alongside the audiologists. Externs are welcome to complete manufacturer student, virtually on-site as well as in person at the manufacturer facility. Externs are also highly encouraged to sign up to attend and be a volunteer at the annual JDVAC conference.

Start Date:

5/24/2027 Expected hours/days a week: 40 Travel to satellite centers required? Yes 40 miles maximum to main hospital in Tomah for inpatient audiology clinic days. Externs are welcome to reserve a government vehicle to drive from La Crosse to Tomah on these clinic days.

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: Comprehensive audiometric evaluation, hearing aid troubleshooting and fitting skills consistent with completion of 3 years clinical practice in an accredited Au.

D. program. Externship site expects the extern to learn/demonstrate these skills during their clinical externship: Vestibular evaluation, electrophysiologic evaluation, auditory processing evaluation, tinnitus management, cochlear implants, and telehealth. Clinical opportunities that will be given to the extern: Regularly 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 Regularly Hearing Screenings Regularly Evoked potential assessments Never Intra-operative monitoring cases Everyday Otoacoustic emissions Rarely Industrial/hearing conservation Regularly Vestibular assessments Regularly Vestibular rehabilitation Everyday Hearing aids dispensed Everyday Hearing aid selection/fitting Regularly Audiologic rehabilitation (group or individualized) Regularly Cochlear implant evaluations Regularly Cochlear implant rehabilitation Regularly Tinnitus assessments Everyday Tinnitus rehabilitation Regularly Cerumen management Research opportunities? No 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: Communication is as needed as directed by the university.

Application Deadline:

9/25/2026

Application Requirements:

Letters of Recommendation Resume Phone interview Steps for the student/university to follow in the application process: 2 Letters of recommendation Cover Letter Resume or CV Graduate transcripts - may be official or unofficial Interview - may be in person or virtual

Contact Person:

(preceptor, supervisor or extern coordinator) Veronica Spencer, Au.

D, CCC-A

- veronica.spencer@va.gov Are all externs supervised? Yes Comprehensive audiometric evaluation, hearing aid troubleshooting and fitting skills consistent with completion of 3 years clinical practice in an accredited Au.

D. program.