The goal of the externship is to provide veterinary students with aspirations for a career in equine medicine and surgery an opportunity for an in-depth clinical experience in a private referral hospital. The practice is committed to providing the extern with a rewarding clinical educational experience. The scope and depth of any hands-on experience will vary with the maturity, aptitude, clinical skills, and “common sense” of each extern. The extern’s primary responsibilities will involve assisting the interns, specialists, and technicians with the evaluation, management, and care of hospital patients, as well as participating in surgery and anesthesia for cases that require it. Externs may have the opportunity to assist with surgical procedures and anesthesia. The externs are also responsible for assisting with the administration of treatments, application of bandages, and performing other tasks in the hospital. While accompanying ambulatory clinicians, the externs will become familiar with ambulatory emergencies, routine health care, theriogenology, and lameness evaluations. The extern will be expected to be available to assist the interns, specialists, and ambulatory doctors with all emergencies. When multiple externs are scheduled, emergencies may be seen on a rotating schedule. The externship also provides an excellent opportunity for a mutual assessment of a good fit for an internship.

Typically, we have accommodations in the clinic building for up to three externs at one time. Due to COVID precautions, we can only currently house one extern at a time at the clinic; housing for an additional extern may be available for select weeks. Externs are currently restricted to the hospital but will have an opportunity to meet ambulatory clinicians as well.