Copley Fairlawn Veterinary Clinic, a full-service small animal general practice located in Northeast Ohio, offers a comprehensive elective experience for veterinary students seeking exposure to a broad range of clinical services in a high-quality, team-oriented setting. Students will have the opportunity to engage in all facets of general practice, including preventative care, internal medicine, dermatology, ophthalmology, behavior, and client communication.
The clinic also manages a variety of urgent and emergent cases, allowing students to develop their triage and critical thinking skills in real-time. Surgical experience includes both routine and advanced soft tissue procedures, with exposure to orthopedic surgery one day per week. Students will also participate in advanced dental procedures, including full-mouth extractions, and will gain hands-on experience with digital dental radiology.
Diagnostic capabilities at Copley Fairlawn include full IDEXX in-house laboratory services, digital full-body radiography, and advanced imaging such as abdominal ultrasounds and echocardiograms performed on-site by specialists from Imaging4Pets. Therapeutic modalities include laser therapy for pain management and healing support. At Copley Fairlawn Veterinary Clinic our doctors have a strong interest and passion in anesthesia and pain management. The students will be encouraged to help formulate a multi-modal anesthetic and pain protocol tailored to each of our surgical patients.
Throughout the rotation, students will work closely with experienced veterinarians and support staff, actively participating in patient care, diagnostics, surgical prep and monitoring, and client communication. This elective provides a well-rounded experience in a busy general practice, ideal for students interested in developing their clinical competency across a wide range of medical and surgical cases.
Our hospital is a two-doctor general practice located right in the center of the Cleveland, Akron, and Medina communities—making us uniquely positioned to serve a diverse and growing client base. As a full-service small animal clinic, we are proud to offer a wide range of medical services supported by modern technology and a dedicated, skilled team.
We are equipped with state-of-the-art digital radiography, Midmark dental X-ray, comprehensive in-house IDEXX diagnostic labs, and full send-out capabilities. This allows us to provide efficient and thorough diagnostic workups for both routine and urgent cases. Preventive care is a cornerstone of our practice, and we consistently educate clients on the importance of wellness panels and proactive health maintenance for their pets.
Due to our central location between two major emergency facilities, we often see a high volume of urgent and emergent cases. This presents an exceptional opportunity for veterinary students to gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced, real-world clinical setting, while still having the support and mentorship of a small, cohesive team.
Our staff is passionate about practicing high-quality medicine and is equally dedicated to continual learning and education—both for themselves and the students they may mentor. We foster a collaborative and supportive environment where communication is key, and team members work seamlessly together to provide exceptional care. We believe that veterinary medicine can be both rigorous and rewarding, and our culture reflects a balance of professionalism, compassion, and fun.
We are excited about the opportunity to potentially serve as an externship site for OSU veterinary students and are committed to providing a valuable, well-rounded clinical experience that supports their growth as future veterinarians.
The clinic is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8-6 and Wednesday, Friday from 8-5. The clinic is not open on the weekends. The students will have one on one support with a doctor at Copley Fairlawn Veterinary Clinic and will be encouraged to jump into cases and give input that will allow for discussions and learning, our expectations are that the students are able to have a highly interactive and hands-on clinical experience.
242 South Cleveland Massillon Road
Fairlawn, OH 44333
United States