Offsite Electives

Description of Elective Experience:

The Banfield Externship Program provides veterinary students in their clinical year the opportunity to practice medicine one-on-one alongside an experienced coach veterinarian as a “doctor-in-training” to develop medical and surgical skills. Each extern is assigned a DVM coach and is expected to complete an individual set of weekly goals based upon their interests and Banfield hospital procedures. Externs will be exposed to a wide range of experiences geared towards developing their clinical skills in a nurturing, supportive environment, ranging from technical applications to inter-personal relationship techniques.

In accordance with the State Practice Act, Externship participants are provided with the opportunity to:

• Gain experience in general pet medicine in a bond-centered practice.
• Understand Banfield’s best practice standards, code of conduct, and ethics.
• Understand the concepts of quality medicine and preventive care.
• Understand how both high quality and high case load can complement each other.
• Learn to perform a physical exam and to record a thorough medical history.
• Improve technical skills such as: drawing blood, placing catheters, giving injections, starting fluids, assisting with anesthesia and surgeries under the mentor doctor’s direct supervision.
• Collect and interpret laboratory specimens.
• Learn how to order the appropriate diagnostic tests.
• Learn to establish effective therapeutic plans.
• Learn how to properly restrain dogs, cats, and exotic pets for different medical procedures.
• Learn how to efficiently and effectively use hospital equipment.
• Learn how to charge appropriately for services provided and why this is important.
• Learn and practice effective client and team communication skills.
• Learn to work effectively with hospital associates and others critical to their success."

Spend time with specialist or ER service with appointments and surgeries 

Shadow of 3 dvms, with primary being Dr. Bennett (Practice Owner). Present for examinations of patients for wellness, rechecks, diagnostic appointments. Shadow in surgery for procedures, most commonly seen; OVH, castration, mass removals, dentistry, etc. Assist DVM with sedated procedures; torn nails, aural hematoma repair, laceration repair, abscess, etc. 

Externs will be involved in physical examinations, case discussions, and may help with formulating treatment plans. Opportunities for viewing radiographs, ultrasound exams, and performing elective surgeries under supervision. 

The opportunity for hands on learning and mentorship. in a state of the art facility.

We are a rural independently owned, small animal GP practice with a touch of urgent care that cares deeply about our staff, clients and patients. We are a 2 FTE doctor practice with special interests in gentle handling (working on practice Fear Free Certification), dentistry, soft tissue surgery, and exotics (new and developing). We also have many high quality diagnostics. 
Our owner loves veterinary medicine and has a strong desire to share a positive practice owning experience. We want to provide hands on experience for medicine, surgery and practice ownership. 

We offer urgent and sick patient care, routine preventative care, and cutting-edge dental and surgical care for companion animals that range from domestic to exotic. We offer immersive hands-on experience to students and tailored mentor ship plans to new graduates. 75% of our doctors have been with us for 75% of their career or longer! 

Our practice offers a wide variety of experiences for a student.  We work on Thoroughbred race horses at Thistledown and Mahoning Valley Racetracks as well as have an extensive farm practice.  Our farm practice encompasses everything from miniature ponies to draft horses.  We are back yard pets, show horses, driving horses and work horses.  In addition to our daily workload, we also offer emergency services after hours.  Our practice is entirely mobile.   Students get a wide range of exposure and experiences.

You can fully customize your MVES externship to your interests and academic needs. We accommodate students in two- to eight-week rotation blocks in the department of your choice that will anchor your experience, but allow you to spend time on other services and go where the cases take you. When you enter the program, we will design an experience that includes time in our sister hospital in Overland Park and participation in rounds with our rotating interns. All veterinary student levels are welcomed. Possible concentration areas include: Emergency, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Anesthesia/ pain management, and Neurology.

Strictly racetrack practice operating at Canterbury Park Racetrack during the duration of the student’s externship.   Our practice cares for the majority of the racehorses stabled at Canterbury Park Racetrack for the racing season.  

This externship is provided as a collaborative effort with the RMTC to help give veterinary students exposure to both private practice and regulatory roles at the racetrack.  

This is the second year of the collaboration with the RMTC.  Last year was a big success among the students and veterinary practices.  Interest this year has been even greater than the prior.  

On the private practice side, students spend the entire day with our practice, for a minimum of 7 days.  Exposure and involvement includes lameness exams and subsequent diagnostics and treatment (diagnostic blocks, digital radiography, ultrasound, PEMF therapy, shockwave therapy, etc), general wellness exams and care, upper airway endoscopy, acute care, internal medicine, sports medicine, etc.  

In general, we are a sports medicine focused practice that provides 24/7 care to our equine patients during the duration of the Canterbury Park race meet.  We refer to a local hospital for colic surgeries, and to various hospitals throughout the country for orthopedic surgery.