Partner Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center (Henrico, VA)

This fourth-year clinical rotation offers an immersive experience within a high-volume Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) service at a busy specialty referral hospital. Students will participate in the assessment, diagnosis, stabilization, and management of a diverse caseload of emergency and critically ill patients, working alongside board-certified specialists and experienced emergency clinicians.

Students will gain hands-on exposure to a wide variety of medical and surgical emergencies, including trauma, respiratory distress, neurologic crises, cardiovascular emergencies, toxicities, endocrine disorders, and critically ill hospitalized patients requiring intensive monitoring and advanced supportive care. Responsibilities may include patient evaluation, development of diagnostic and therapeutic plans, emergency procedures, case presentations, medical record documentation, and client communication under clinician supervision.

A unique aspect of this rotation is the close collaboration with multiple specialty services, providing students direct exposure to Neurology, Surgery, Cardiology, Oncology, and Internal Medicine. Through interdisciplinary case management, students will learn how specialty consultation enhances patient care and will develop a deeper understanding of referral-level medicine.

Students will also have access to advanced diagnostic imaging and diagnostic modalities, including:

• Computed Tomography (CT)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Comprehensive abdominal and thoracic ultrasonography
• Echocardiography
• Advanced laboratory and critical care monitoring techniques

This rotation is designed to strengthen clinical reasoning, emergency decision-making, patient stabilization skills, and understanding of specialty referral medicine. By the completion of the rotation, students will have gained valuable experience managing complex cases in a fast-paced environment while working within a multidisciplinary team dedicated to delivering advanced veterinary care.

Institutional and Educational Resources

The externship is conducted within a high-volume specialty and emergency referral hospital that provides advanced veterinary care through a collaborative, multidisciplinary team. Externs will have direct access to a broad range of clinical resources, specialty services, and educational opportunities designed to enhance their clinical training and professional development.

Clinical Staffing and Specialty Support

Externs work alongside:

• Board-certified Emergency and Critical Care specialists (2 on staff)
• Emergency veterinarians (12+ staff veterinarians; steady relief DVMs)
• Specialty clinicians in: 
  • Neurology
  • Surgery
  • Cardiology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Oncology
• Rotating internship
• Experienced veterinary technicians and critical care nursing staff
• Diagnostic imaging personnel and support staff

This collaborative environment allows students to observe and participate in interdisciplinary case management and specialty consultations for complex referral and emergency cases.

Equipment and Diagnostic Resources

Externs will have exposure to advanced diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, including:

• Multi-slice Computed Tomography (CT)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Comprehensive abdominal and thoracic ultrasonography
  • Hands on training in Point-of-Care ultrasound 
• Echocardiography
• Digital radiography
• In-house laboratory services 
  • CBC, chemistry profiles, coagulation testing, blood gas analysis, lactate monitoring, and urinalysis
• Advanced patient monitoring equipment 
  • ECG monitoring
  • Blood pressure monitoring
  • Pulse oximetry
  • Capnography
• Oxygen therapy and critical care support systems including high-flow oxygen therapy 
• Blood donor program and blood product administration capabilities
• Surgical suites and recovery facilities

Educational Resources

The hospital maintains an active internship training program that serves as an additional educational resource for externs. Externs are encouraged to participate in:

• Weekly intern topic rounds covering specialty-focused subjects
• Case discussions and morbidity/mortality reviews
• Daily whole hospital specialty service rounds and consultations; evening staff rounds
• Journal club discussions (when scheduled)
• One-on-one case-based teaching during clinical shifts

Participation in these educational activities provides externs with exposure to advanced clinical reasoning, current standards of care, and referral-level case management while fostering interaction with specialists, interns, and emergency clinicians in a dynamic learning environment.

Student Responsibilities

Externs are expected to actively participate in the clinical service and function as members of the Emergency and Critical Care team under the direct supervision of emergency clinicians and specialists. The externship is designed to provide hands-on clinical experience while allowing students to develop skills in emergency medicine, critical care, and specialty referral practice.

Time Commitment

• Externs are expected to complete a minimum of three (3) 12-hour clinical shifts per week when on ER. 
• Shifts may include day, swing, or overnight emergency service coverage, depending on scheduling needs and educational opportunities.
• When on specialty service, externs to follow specialty service schedule (generally (4) 10-hour clinical shifts per week)
• Additional shifts may be arranged based on student interest and caseload availability.

Surgical Exposure

• Externs may participate in weekend Emergency Surgery on-call opportunities based on caseload and surgeon availability.
• These experiences may include observation and/or supervised participation in emergency surgical case management, perioperative care, anesthesia monitoring, and postoperative patient management.

Clinical Responsibilities

Externs are expected to:

• Participate in patient triage, assessment, and monitoring of emergency and critically ill patients.
• Obtain patient histories and perform physical examinations.
• Develop differential diagnoses and diagnostic plans.
• Review laboratory results and diagnostic imaging findings with supervising clinicians.
• Present and discuss cases with emergency veterinarians, specialists, and interns.
• Assist with patient treatments and procedures appropriate to their level of training and comfort.
• Participate in hospitalization rounds and patient updates.
• Maintain accurate and timely medical record documentation as permitted by hospital policy.
• Engage in discussions regarding case management, treatment planning, and prognosis.

Students are encouraged to move beyond passive observation whenever appropriate and may have opportunities for supervised involvement in procedures such as:

• Venipuncture and catheter placement
• Patient restraint and monitoring
• Wound management
• Emergency stabilization procedures
• Diagnostic sampling
• Critical care nursing support activities

Educational Expectations

Externs are expected to:

• Attend weekly internship topic rounds and educational discussions conducted as part of the hospital's internship training program.
• Participate in case discussions, specialty consultations, and teaching rounds when available.
• Demonstrate professionalism, initiative, and a willingness to engage in clinical learning opportunities.
• Prepare for cases and actively contribute to discussions regarding diagnostics, treatment options, and patient care.

1616 Three Chopt Rd
Henrico, VA 23233
United States