Offsite Electives

This clinic offers both high-volume spay/neuter and other soft-tissue surgeries as well as general practice services. Hands-on and/or shadowing experience in all of these departments will take place during the designated externship time.

We enjoy mentoring students and tailor externship experiences to meet each student’s goals for their time with us. We encourage each student to think about their goals and objectives for their externship with us before they come. Students are encouraged to participate and ask questions while they are with us.

Veterinary DVM students will get an even mix of working with our doctors in appointments and in surgery. Veterinary students will get to present cases, differential diagnoses, desired diagnostic testing and review diagnostic results and treatment plans. Students will discuss preventative medicine and practice talking with clients about the value of preventative care. Students can practice setting IV catheters, intubating, and discussing anesthesia protocols. We are happy to allow students to perform spays and neuters (under supervision) on dogs, cats, and rabbits based on their comfort and skill level. Students also have the opportunity to scrub in and assist with other surgeries as well.

If students have an interest in learning more about pocket pet/exotic pet medicine and surgery, orthopedics, business management, or reproductive medicine, they will have the opportunity to have extra focus in those areas.

We will work hard to ensure all school criteria is met during the externship. If there are any specific criteria that needs to be completed during your externship, please make sure we are aware of it prior to or at the start of your time with us.

This elective externship provides a comprehensive, hands-on clinical learning experience. The externship is designed to enhance clinical competence, diagnostic reasoning, and professional communication skills through active participation in daily veterinary operations.

During the externship, the veterinary student will work closely with the medical lead as well as support staff in a fast-paced, small animal practice environment. The student will participate in outpatient appointments, physical examinations, and case workups, with progressive involvement based on skill level and supervision. Exposure will include preventive care, sick-patient evaluations, and chronic disease management for canine and feline patients.

Clinical learning opportunities may include:

• Assisting with patient histories, physical exams, and diagnostic planning
• Participating in morning rounds to discuss cases for the day
• Participation in routine and advanced diagnostic procedures (e.g., laboratory testing, imaging interpretation, cytology)
• Observation and assistance with common surgical and dental procedures
• Development of treatment plans and client education under veterinary supervision
• Exposure to anesthesia monitoring, pain management, and post-operative care
• Collaboration with the veterinary team to support high standards of patient care and hospital workflow

Emphasis is placed on clinical reasoning, evidence-based medicine, client communication, and ethical decision-making. Students are expected to demonstrate professionalism, curiosity, and a strong commitment to learning while adhering to practice policies, safety protocols, and veterinary medical standards.

This externship is well-suited for veterinary students seeking real-world experience in small animal general practice and those interested in building foundational clinical skills in companion animal medicine.

This off-site elective provides veterinary students with a comprehensive clinical experience in an adequate-volume small animal general practice setting. Students will participate in day-to-day operations alongside veterinarians and support staff, gaining hands-on exposure to preventative care, diagnostics, and treatment of a diverse caseload.

Responsibilities include assisting with physical examinations, developing diagnostic plans, interpreting laboratory results, and observing or assisting in routine surgical procedures. Students will also gain experience in client communication, including discussing treatment plans, wellness recommendations, and follow-up care.

The elective emphasizes practical skill development, clinical reasoning, and efficient workflow within a team-based environment. Students will be encouraged to take an active role in case discussions and decision-making while working under direct supervision.

Board Certified: Neurology, IM, CC, Surgery, Ortho, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Anesthesiology, Oncology

Emergency

We are a 4 doctor primary care facility. We treat a range of medical and surgical conditions with a heavy weight on dentistry and preventive care. Students will see a wide variety of cases including routine wellness, chronic disease management, and end of life care. Students will see appointments and development treatment plans for a wide variety of causes under the supervision of our veterinarians. Students will have opportunities to both observe and participate in anesthetic procedures. We also hope to help students with an interest in practice ownership see how a privately owned clinic operates. 

The All Pets Offsite Elective Program is designed for 4th-year veterinary students seeking a high-exposure clinical experience in small animal and exotic companion animal practice during the final stage of their veterinary training. Students participating in this elective will work alongside experienced veterinarians and clinical staff in a busy private practice setting, gaining practical exposure to case management, diagnostic reasoning, client communication, and day-to-day clinical workflow.

The elective is intended to help senior veterinary students transition from academic training toward real-world clinical practice. Students will observe and, where appropriate and permitted, participate in physical examinations, diagnostic workups, treatment planning, surgical and anesthetic procedures, dentistry, inpatient management, and outpatient care. The experience may also include exposure to urgent care presentations, preventive medicine, chronic disease management, and species-specific care for exotic pets.

A major emphasis of the elective is the development of practical clinical judgment, efficiency, medical record awareness, and communication skills in a private practice environment. Students will have opportunities to discuss cases directly with attending veterinarians, review diagnostic and treatment decisions, and better understand how medicine is practiced within the operational, financial, and interpersonal realities of a functioning veterinary hospital.

This elective is well suited for students who want meaningful exposure to companion animal general practice, exotic animal medicine, and the pace and expectations of community-based veterinary care. By the end of the experience, students should leave with greater confidence in clinical reasoning, stronger familiarity with private practice workflow, and a clearer understanding of the responsibilities and decision-making demands of early veterinary practice.

This is a hands on immersion in small animal private practice.  Students work to their capacity in all areas of small animal practice.  Students will be exposed to every aspect of working as a veterinarian in a small animal practice.  Students will be supported by a mentor every step of the way and will be given the autonomy to make their own decisions with the safety net of having that mentor standing by.  Students will be deeply involved in everything from physical exam, lab testing, diagnostic discussions, surgery, client communication, team communication, economics and even marketing.

Students will gain a hands on experience in a high volume, multi-doctor rural mixed practice, providing wellness, sick patient, surgical, and emergency medicine both in the clinic and on the farm. 

This elective rotation at Veterinary Specialty Hospital offers fourth-year veterinary students a comprehensive clinical experience in small animal surgery, including soft tissue, orthopedic, and neurological surgery. Because the caseload consists primarily of complex referral cases, students will function largely in an assistant role rather than as primary surgeons, as routine procedures are not a focus of this practice. A significant portion of the surgical caseload involves oncologic surgery, and students will also follow patients requiring chemotherapy planning and monitoring. In addition to surgery, students will be exposed to internal medicine cases, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of specialty practice. Cardiac workups are performed and submitted to a double board-certified internist and cardiologist for evaluation and treatment recommendations. Diagnostic imaging,  including radiography, ultrasound, and CT is reviewed by an off-site board-certified radiologist.  Students will participate in all aspects of patient care, from initial examination and case planning through pre-operative workup, anesthetic planning, surgical assistance, and post-operative management. Under the mentorship of a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, this rotation will challenge students to think critically, communicate professionally within a specialty hospital team, develop surgical confidence, and embrace the ethical responsibilities of veterinary practice.