Audiologist (Clinical Specialist)

Veterans Health Administration•Clarksburg, WV

6d•Onsite

About The Position

This Audiologist (Clinical Specialist) position is in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Section under Diagnostic Services at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Duties are performed throughout the medical center and its corresponding community-based outpatient clinics, including clinical and patient-care areas. The position coordinates the audiology student training program, including interns, externs, paid and unpaid students, and observation requests. It works with the Designated Education Officer and the Office of Academic Affiliations to establish and maintain university affiliation agreements. The Education Coordinator communicates with affiliates and students, supports selection and placement, monitors student progress and clinical hours, develops student and preceptor procedures and training, and ensures students complete required training. The role also provides advanced tinnitus management and education. This includes teaching Progressive Tinnitus Management classes, providing individual care for complex tinnitus or sound-sensitivity cases, training staff and students, reporting program progress, and reviewing Care in the Community requests related to advanced tinnitus services. Clinical work includes evaluating hearing and balance disorders using diagnostic tests, histories, record review, and consultation; applying independent clinical judgment and adapting procedures to patient needs; consulting with physicians and other practitioners; and planning and delivering patient-focused treatment services. Department operating hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The specific tour is based on facility needs and discussed during the interview. A compressed or flexible schedule may be available based on facility needs. Telework is not available, and this is not a virtual position.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
A full, current, unrestricted doctoral-level license to practice audiology in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
A Doctor of Audiology (AuD) from an ACAE- or CAA-accredited audiology program, or another doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
At least two years of experience as a professional audiologist, including at least one year comparable to the next lower grade level.
Skill in determining the nature, type, and severity of hearing, communication, or vestibular disorders; counseling patients and families; advising other health care professionals; and independently applying contemporary audiologic treatments across patient populations.
Advanced knowledge in a focused area of contemporary audiology practice sufficient to oversee a specialty program.
Ability to evaluate a specialty program against deadlines and goals; coordinate initiatives and build interdisciplinary consensus; monitor and report progress and adjust workload and processes; and serve as a subject-matter expert and provide specialty-program education.
Must meet applicable federal employment, security-investigation, onboarding, and application-document requirements; males born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
Must participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program and serve the required one- or two-year trial period.
May need to pass a pre-employment evaluation.

Nice To Haves

Experience in advanced tinnitus management.
Experience with Progressive Tinnitus Management.
Preceptor experience.

Responsibilities

Coordinate all aspects of the specialty-care student training program in accordance with local, VISN, national, and affiliate guidelines.
Coordinate audiology interns and externs, including paid and unpaid students at all education levels, and manage student shadowing and observation requests.
Work with the facility Designated Education Officer or designee and the Office of Academic Affiliations to establish university affiliation agreements.
Maintain university-affiliate contact and program information, and communicate application criteria and placement information to affiliates and students.
Serve as the point of contact for university matters, including student disciplinary and grading actions.
Gather staff input on student progress and issues, and ensure preceptors regularly document student clinical contact hours according to affiliation agreements.
Conduct interviews when appropriate and recommend candidates for competitive positions to the Supervisory Audiologist or designee.
Develop and maintain an Audiology Student Trainee handbook and Standard Operating Procedures for students and preceptors; obtain supervisory concurrence and review procedures with students and staff.
Develop and provide initial and ongoing training for audiology students, and ensure completion of required TMS, CPR, and other training.
Teach Progressive Tinnitus Management classes, including virtual classes, and provide one-to-one clinical care when warranted for complex tinnitus or sound-sensitivity cases.
Provide advanced tinnitus management and device training, including continuing education for staff audiologists, student trainees, and interdisciplinary providers.
Provide quarterly updates on program progress and initiatives, including utilization reports, at service-level meetings or when requested.
Review and process Care in the Community requests related to advanced tinnitus management and treatment.
Evaluate hearing and balance disorders using diagnostic tests and techniques, patient histories, record review, and consultation with family members and other practitioners.
Use independent clinical judgment and adapt clinical procedures and techniques to patient-specific conditions, needs, and expectations.
Consult with physicians and other health care practitioners regarding diagnostic evaluation and treatment.
Plan, coordinate, and implement patient-focused treatment services designed to optimize function.