James H. Quillen VA Medical Center 4th Year Externship

The James H. Quillen VA Medical Center is pleased to announce a funded audiology externship available for the 2027-2028 year. This full-time position, available for up to 12 months (2080 hours), is intended for Au.

D. candidates in their final year of training, with an anticipated start date of May 17, 2027. Situated in the picturesque region of northeast Tennessee (Johnson City), the James H. Quillen VAMC spans 240 acres, featuring over 50 buildings, a scenic pond, and a National Cemetery. As a teaching hospital, the medical center delivers comprehensive patient care services using cutting-edge technology, while also focusing on education and research. Our Audiology clinic has a longstanding tradition of preparing graduate students for rewarding careers in audiology. Many of our former trainees have gone on to become staff members at our facility or at other VA healthcare sites. Must be a U.S. citizen Must be from an accredited university. Must be able to start mid-May 2027.

Externship Information:

Primary Practice Setting:

Hospital VA medical center Number of Audiologists at the site: 1 FTE Masters Degree 8 FTE Au.

D. 4 FTE

Ph.

D. 0 FTE

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

No Vacation Days:

4 hrs per pay period Continuing education opportunities? Yes Externs are required to attend our monthly case conference conducted with East Tennessee State University. You will be asked to present at least once during the year. Externs may also attend ASHA, AAA and/or JDVAC conferences as well as on-site and virtual hearing aid manufacturer training.

Start Date:

5/17/2027 Expected hours/days a week: 40 hours per week Travel to satellite centers required? Yes Externs will have the opportunity to visit the Knoxville Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) at least once during the externship.

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 evaluation (pure tone and speech audiometry, immittance, otoscopy); should have good understanding of masking principles
• Basic hearing aid fittings utilizing real-ear measurements
• Basic hearing aid repair
• Timely and accurate report writing
• Good interpersonal skills and motivation to learn Externship site expects the extern to learn/demonstrate these skills during their clinical externship:
• Enhance clinical skills and improve time management
• Analyze findings and make informed, autonomous clinical decisions
• Independently perform diagnostic hearing evaluations, hearing aid selection and hearing aid fitting
• Become proficient in vestibular evaluation and treatment, cochlear implant evaluation and management, and tinnitus management Clinical opportunities that will be given to the extern: Never 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 Never Hearing Screenings Regularly Evoked potential assessments Never Intra-operative monitoring cases Rarely 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 Rarely Tinnitus assessments Regularly Tinnitus rehabilitation Regularly Cerumen management Research opportunities?

Yes Strong externs may be considered for participation in the auditory and vestibular research labs. 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: In addition to completing the necessary VA documents before the extern's start date, we anticipate regular email communication regarding the timeline for student evaluations.

Application Deadline:

9/1/2026

Application Requirements:

Other Cover letter CV/resume (including total number of clinical hours to date) Unofficial transcripts 3 Letters of Recommendation

• At least one must be from an off-campus placement
• Can be emailed directly from the author Steps for the student/university to follow in the application process: All materials must be submitted in one email, however, letters of recommendation may be delivered separately.

Do not submit any application materials or questions through the Hearcareers.org website. All materials should be submitted to Jennifer Sears, Au.

D., Jennifer.

Sears@va.gov.

Contact Person:

(preceptor, supervisor or extern coordinator) Jennifer Sears, Au.

D. - Clinical Education Coordinator, Audiology - Jennifer.

Sears@va.gov Are all externs supervised? Yes Must be a U.S. citizen Must be from an accredited university. Must be able to start mid-May 2027.