Offsite Electives

Our fast-paced two doctor practice in Fresno, California, is one of the few clinics in the area that caters to both small animals and exotics. We treat a diverse patient population that includes dogs, cats, reptiles, chelonians, pocket pets and a wide variety of avian species ranging from finches to red-tail hawks. Students will gain comprehensive, hands-on exposure to daily exams, diagnostic interpretations (including radiographs, ultrasounds and laboratory results) as well as both routine and more complex soft tissue and some light orthopedic surgeries. Additionally, we feature an advanced veterinary dentistry program that encompasses everything from routine cleanings to guinea pig/rabbit teeth trimmings and extractions. Students will also have the opportunity to observe specialized maintenance procedures, such as beak trimming for birds and chelonians.  

Student will spend two weeks with our emergency clinicians with exposure to patient evaluation, case work up, management of hospitalized cases and emergency procedures. Student will also work collaboratively with the specialists in our Surgery, Internal Medicine, Ophthalmology, and Neurology departments. 

Medium/large open admission shelter with multiple locations offering instruction in shelter medicine principles and infectious disease control. Students will be able to particpate in rounds, animal pathway planning, infectious disease discussions/ control measures/ treatment, and occasionally surgery.  Also potential for participation in non-spay/neuter surgeries (amputations, enucleations, dental procedures). 

• Our practice has been a part of the community for over 100 years continuing to grow and evolve through the times.  You will receive collaborative and one-on-one mentorship from our team to help guide you through your career.  From our mentorship, our low-stress practices, modern diagnostics and your hard work, you will be able to guide the journey for your cases as well.  We see general practice wellness, sick and urgent cases daily, emergencies are only seen if we can add in. 
• For weeks 1-2 (depending on length of time), we will have you shadow the doctor.  For appointments we will have you get histories and take vitals.  You can then review the history with the doctor and help develop a treatment plan.  Surgeries may be done under supervision depending on your skill level. We are a full-service animal hospital and we welcome emergency cases as well as patients in need of routine preventive care.
• For weeks 3-4 (alter to go along with length of time), you will still be shadowing the doctor, but we will have you start managing drop off appointments and developing treatment plans.  Surgeries may be done under supervision depending on your skill level.
• The more interactive, proactive, knowledgeable you are, the more you will be able to do.

Brooksville Veterinary Clinic is a small animal general practice in Brooksville, FL.  Elective experience will cover a wide range of wellness and sick appointments, along with various soft tissue surgeries. 

We are a mixed large animal hospital and see pretty much anything that has hooves. We offer wellness services, reproduction services, sports medicine services, surgical services, hospital services, emergency services, just to name a few. Students can work with their choice of doctors based on their particular interests. Daily appointments vary in type and students are encouraged to tailor their day to experiences they have interest in. We offer a mix of in clinic appointments and farm calls, externs are allowed to attend whichever appointments they'd like.

Grace Animal Hospital is an AAHA-accredited, small animal and avian/exotic hospital located in beautiful Bridgeport, West Virginia. We are a full service, well-equipped, and progressive 4-doctor practice. While most of the patients we see are canine and feline, we also see small mammals, reptiles, birds and poultry. 

Grace Animal Hospital is privately-owned and family-centered with no on-call, overnight, or weekend responsibilities. Our culture is one of compassion, collaboration, thoroughness, and building strong bonds with our clients and their pets. Our entire team is committed to providing the highest standards of veterinary care and exceptional client communication and service. 

Our externship program offers veterinary students the chance to work alongside experienced and collaborative veterinarians in a private practice setting.  You’ll receive one-on-one mentorship while building critical clinical skills such as history taking, physical exams, diagnostic interpretation, treatment planning, anesthesia protocols, and end-of-life care discussions. We will also tailor the externship focus to the individual, helping you develop skills in areas of personal interest or areas where you feel you need more experience.  You will also participate in morning rounds discussions, and be involved in case management for both in-patients and out-patients. 

DESCRIPTION

Animal Emergency Hospital, a thriving emergency veterinary practice on the East Coast in Bel Air, Maryland, is excited to announce openings for first- through fourth-year veterinary student externships. Our full-service emergency facility offers mentorship in outpatient, ICU, and surgical care in a caring, compassionate environment where you will learn and grow in your career.

Program Overview:

Our externship program is loosely structured to accommodate each student’s needs, and you can rotate in two- to eight-week blocks, according to your school requirements and schedule. During your three 12-hour weekly shifts, you will shadow your assigned mentor, assist with patient triage, attend ICU rounds, contribute to patient care decisions, and scrub into procedures and surgeries. Shifts will focus on inpatient ICU care or outpatient triage and surgery.

Why choose Animal Emergency Hospital?

Animal Emergency Hospital’s 50-plus team members enjoy a culture focused on caring, compassion, and dedication not only to patients and clients, but also to fellow team members. We do not hesitate to help each other, and we spend time together outside work, supporting local charities and attending fun events. Our hospital includes endoscopy, ultrasound, and a full in-house laboratory, and our veterinarians’ proficiency and skill allow them to perform more surgeries than most other hospitals.

This elective is with the Pedigree Stage Stop dog sled race (https://wyomingstagestop.org/). This race runs annually for ~10 days and takes place in Western Wyoming. Students have the opportunity to examine sled dogs, diagnose racing-related injuries and illnesses, collect samples for performance-enhancing drug testing, all while working directly with the veterinary team (4-5 sled dog veterinarians).

1. Clinical & Diagnostic Expectations

Externs are expected to actively transition from classroom knowledge to hands-on case management. Key clinical duties include: 

• History Taking & Exams: Efficiently gathering dermatological histories from clients and conducting comprehensive skin and otic examinations. 
• In-House Diagnostics: Developing proficiency in performing and reading diagnostic tests. This heavily includes skin scrapings, fine needle aspirates (FNA), trichograms, and surface cytology. 
• Specialized Technology Exposure: Observing and assisting with advanced specialty equipment, including multi-head teaching microscopes, video otoscopy for deep ear flushes, and CO2 lasers. 
• Case Synthesis: Presenting physical findings to the attending dermatologist, formulating differential diagnoses (ranging from common environmental allergies to rare immune-mediated diseases), and discussing treatment options

2. Engagement & Academic Participation

An externship is highly collaborative, and students are evaluated on their enthusiasm and integration into the specialty team. Expectations include: 

• Punctuality & Presence: Arriving early for morning rounds and remaining engaged throughout high-volume clinic days.
• Proactive Shadowing: Actively volunteering to assist technicians and clinicians while asking thoughtful, concept-driven questions.
• Rounds & Presentations: Participating in clinical rounds, literature reviews, or journal clubs.

3. Logistical & Professional Standards

• Soft Skills: Demonstrating strong client communication and teamwork. Dermatology relies heavily on client compliance for long-term allergy or chronic ear management, so observing how clinicians navigate difficult client conversations is a major component.