Offsite Electives

Externs will be exposed to all aspects of turkey primary breeding. Experiences may include visits to one or both of our hatcheries, turkey rearing farms, turkey egg production farms, and our company laboratory. Daily activities may include observing everything from flock inspections, production visits, communications with R&D team (geneticists), and communication with production team, to vaccination plan development and administration, turkey transport, animal welfare audits, and biosecurity training and assessment. 

The student will rotated through the cardiology service with three full time cardiologists.  Focus will be placed on physical examination, diagnostic plan creation, ECG interpretation, thoracic radiograph interpretation, and treatment of cardiovascular disease in the clinical setting. 

Our clinic is a 46 year old general practice in rural southeastern Ohio. While we were originally a truly mixed animal practice, we are now primarily small animal. Dogs & cats make up the gross majority of our patients, but we do see a small amount of chickens, rodents, snakes, horses, and occasionally food animal patients when they are brought into the clinic. We no longer make farm calls. We have over 1,700 clients, and see a wide variety of medical and surgical cases. 

Based on the students comfort level, they will shadow during appointments giving opportunities to also perform examinations, suggest ddx, suggest testing, review testing results, help develop treatment plans etc. They are encouraged to assist with surgical and dental procedures.

Description of Elective Experience

Maricamp Animal Hospital – Ocala, Florida

Maricamp Animal Hospital is a full-service small animal veterinary hospital offering a comprehensive elective experience for veterinary and veterinary technician students seeking hands-on clinical exposure in a progressive, team-oriented practice.

Participants in the elective experience will gain practical insight into the daily operations of a modern veterinary hospital, including preventive care, diagnostics, surgery, client communication, and integrative therapies.

Clinical Exposure Includes:

Preventive & Wellness Medicine

Comprehensive physical examinations

Vaccine protocols and preventive care planning

Parasite prevention and client education

Diagnostic Medicine

Digital radiology interpretation

Ultrasound procedures

In-house laboratory diagnostics

Cytology and case work-ups

Surgical Experience

Observation and/or assistance with routine spay/neuter procedures

Soft tissue surgery exposure

Surgical preparation and sterile technique

Anesthesia monitoring and patient recovery

Advanced & Integrative Therapies

Laser therapy treatments

Acupuncture

Regenerative medicine applications

Client Communication & Practice Management

Case presentation and treatment plan discussions

Estimate review and client education strategies

Understanding workflow efficiency and hospital SOPs

Exposure to team-based patient care

Learning Objectives:

Develop confidence in patient assessment and diagnostic planning

Strengthen understanding of anesthesia and surgical protocols

Improve communication skills with pet owners

Gain exposure to both conventional and integrative treatment modalities

Understand hospital systems that support quality patient care

Participants will work alongside experienced veterinarians, technicians, and customer care representatives in a supportive learning environment focused on high medical standards and compassionate service.

Mobile cattle veterinary practice focusing on herd health and Reproduction. 

Small Animal General Practice & Clinical Integration (2-Week Rotation)

This two-week elective is designed to provide a comprehensive, hands-on experience in small animal general practice across two companion animal hospitals. The experience emphasizes progressive clinical responsibility, integration of diagnostic reasoning, client communication, and development of fundamental technical skills.

Students will have the opportunity to:

• Participate in appointments from start to finish, with graduated responsibility
• Obtain and present thorough patient histories
• Develop diagnostic and differential plans with supervising veterinarians
• Interpret radiographs and laboratory data
• Formulate and communicate treatment plans with clients
• Strengthen core technical skills, including IV catheter placement, fluid calculations, and bandaging

Structure of the Experience

The rotation is structured to provide exposure to both general outpatient medicine and procedural/surgical workflows.

Week 1 focuses on orientation, shadowing, and progressive clinical involvement. Students will:

• Be introduced to hospital teams and workflows
• Shadow multiple veterinarians during appointments and procedures (including dentistry and sedated examinations)
• Participate in medical rounds
• Begin contributing to diagnostic planning and case discussions
• Work closely with a high-functioning technical team to refine procedural skills

Week 2 emphasizes increasing clinical integration and independent thinking. Students will:

• Continue appointment participation with deeper involvement in case workups
• Engage in diagnostic interpretation and treatment planning discussions
• Collaborate with technical staff to strengthen procedural proficiency
• Participate in a structured team-based Fear Free® discussion focused on low-stress handling and patient experience
• Conclude the rotation with a reflective wrap-up to ensure learning goals were met and identify areas for continued growth

Throughout the elective, students are mentored by multiple experienced veterinarians and credentialed technicians, allowing exposure to diverse clinical approaches and communication styles. Emphasis is placed on clinical reasoning, collaborative care, client-centered communication, and practical skill development in a busy general practice setting.

By the end of the rotation, students should demonstrate improved confidence in case management, diagnostic planning, and professional communication, along with enhanced technical competency in fundamental clinical skills.

The oncology elective at Animal Cancer and Referral Center (ACRC) provides senior veterinary students with immersive exposure to a specialty small animal oncology practice. Students will work directly alongside board-certified medical and surgical oncologists in a referral-based hospital setting.

The elective is designed to provide hands-on clinical experience and deepen understanding of the diagnosis, staging, and management of neoplastic disease in companion animals. Students will participate in daily case rounds, treatment planning discussions, and client communication under direct supervision.

Learning objectives include:

• Diagnostic evaluation and staging of oncology patients (cytology, biopsy interpretation, advanced imaging including CT, ultrasound, and radiography)
• Chemotherapy calculations, preparation protocols, safety standards (USP <800> compliant handling), and administration techniques
• Radiation therapy case selection and coordination (if applicable during rotation)
• Surgical oncology principles, including tumor margins, biopsy techniques, and perioperative management
• Management of oncologic emergencies (tumor lysis syndrome, hypercalcemia, hemorrhage, etc.)
• Pain management, palliative care, and quality-of-life discussions
• Client communication in complex and end-of-life scenarios
• Integration of Fear Free principles in oncology patient care

Students will be expected to actively participate in case discussions, review current literature when applicable, and present at least one brief case or topic review during the rotation.

The rotation emphasizes collaboration, advanced specialty workflow, and compassionate care for patients with complex oncologic conditions in a high-standard referral hospital environment.

Students in the Banfield Externship Program will: 

• Gain real-world experience through exposure to full-service hospitals and techniques under the watchful care of a personal coach 

• Develop medical and surgical skills under the care of a licensed coach as allowed by state regulations. 

• Learn to practice veterinary medicine within a well-equipped hospital. 

• Perfect physical examination skills using Banfield's proprietary computer-guided exam minimum standards. 

• Learn about the business of veterinary practice through exposure to Banfield's marketing and leadership initiatives.

Veterinary Student Externship

At Lancaster Animal Clinic

Join our fun, collaborative 7-doctor practice for a hands-on externship experience working with dogs, cats, and exotic mammals and reptiles. Students gain exposure to both surgery and clinical medicine in a supportive, team-oriented environment.

Each extern is paired with a different doctor each day to follow the flow of appointments, develop diagnostic plans, create differentials and treatment plans, and build practical clinical skills. Students are encouraged to actively participate and gain meaningful hands-on experience while learning in a positive, mentorship-focused setting.

If you’re looking for strong clinical exposure in a welcoming, privately owned practice, we’d love to connect!