East Springfield Veterinary Hospital, Inc., MA

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.

East Springfield Veterinary Hospital, Inc (ESVH, Inc.) is composed of two hospitals: East Springfield Veterinary Hospital and Wilbraham Animal Hospital.  The hospitals are exclusively small animal general practice, offering full service veterinary care to our patients.

The entire team consists of 37 full-time and 10 part-time members.  We employ 9 doctors, 1 hospital administrator, 2 practice managers and 1 surgery department manager.  Andrew Hersman, DVM and Amy Zander are the owners of the practice.  Andrew is the Chief Medical Officer as well as one of the general practitioners and Amy Zander is the hospital administrator.  They have been operating these facilities for over 25 years.  Five of our nine doctors completed internships which include emergency and critical care at Ocean State Veterinary Specialist in Greenwich, RI; Equine Sports Medicine in Lexington, KY; Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, MA; and emergency medicine at Pieper Memorial Veterinary Center in Middletown, CT. 

Of the 27 full time technicians, 11 are certified in the Commonwealth of MA and 4 are pre-veterinary students.  Most recently, ESVH, Inc has sent 7 technicians to veterinary schools throughout the US to fulfill their lifelong goals of becoming veterinarians.  We are well positioned to mentor and promote our team to reach their highest potential.

East Springfield Veterinary Hospital and Wilbraham Animal Hospital are full-service veterinary hospitals.  Each hospital is equipped with extensive in-house diagnostic equipment including digital radiography, digital dental radiography, ultrasonography,  Idexx Catalyst DX, Procyte DX, Sedivue DX and Invue DX.  In addition, each hospital hosts a surgical suite, 5 exam rooms, and a full pharmacy.

We are a family-owned practice and are proud to serve our communities for almost 50 years. 

Student Responsibilities

Schedule & Hours
The student is expected to attend all scheduled clinical days during the two-week rotation (Monday–Friday, excluding travel days), averaging approximately 35–40 hours per week. Daily start and end times vary by hospital location and caseload and will be communicated in advance of the start date. Students are expected to arrive on time, remain for the duration of assigned shifts, and communicate promptly regarding any schedule concerns.

Clinical Participation
This is a supervised clinical experience. Students will initially shadow veterinarians and technical staff, with progressive involvement based on their level of training, comfort, and demonstrated competence.

Under direct supervision, students are expected to:

• Obtain thorough patient histories
• Perform physical examinations when appropriate
• Present cases to supervising veterinarians
• Participate in the development of diagnostic and differential plans
• Assist with procedures and treatments as permitted
• Practice technical skills (e.g., IV catheter placement, bandaging, fluid calculations) under supervision
• Contribute to client communication discussions and observe or participate in treatment plan delivery

Students may not independently diagnose, prescribe, or perform procedures without direct veterinary oversight.

Educational Engagement
Students are expected to actively participate in:

• Medical rounds and case discussions
• Team-based learning sessions (including Fear Free–focused discussions, when scheduled)

Active participation includes asking questions, contributing to case analysis, and reflecting on clinical decision-making processes.

Professional Conduct
Students are expected to:

• Maintain professionalism with clients and all team members
• Comply with hospital policies, safety standards, and biosecurity protocols
• Protect client confidentiality
• Seek and respond constructively to feedback
• Communicate learning goals and areas of interest to supervising clinicians

2424 Boston Rd
Wilbraham, MA 01095
United States