Offsite Electives

Preceptors in this eight week (US) or 10-12 week (international) program will receive clinical training in captive zoological medicine, including amphibians, birds, fish, mammals (marine and terrestrial), reptiles, and invertebrates.  The program is designed in compliance with the mentorship and training requirements of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV) Education Committee for a preceptorship.

Successful completion of the preceptorship will provide the student:

• Mentorship with ACZM and ECZM (ZHM) Diplomates.
• Involvement in the medical, diagnostic, surgical, and therapeutic management of the collection in a nationally recognized zoological and aquarium facility (American Zoo and Aquarium Association).
• Participation in remote drug delivery, clinical pharmacologic protocol design, radiograph positioning, sample collection, venipuncture/catheter placement, anesthetic monitoring and endotracheal tube placement, gross necropsy protocols, and other clinical procedures as assigned.
• Understanding of husbandry and nutrition specific to each taxa within the collection.
• Knowledge of anatomy, parasitology, pathology, physiology, pharmacology, preventive medicine, taxonomy, and toxicology within zoological and aquarium facilities.
• Experience in preparation and presentation of professional topics in captive zoological medicine through journal reviews, keeper and staff discussions, case report, and in-house seminars.
• Standardized record keeping by computerized system, current with the zoo community standards.
• Appropriate time to complete clinical investigation, literature reviews, and project preparation.

An externship at VCA is an opportunity to practice and gain constructive feedback working along with our medical teams in case management and procedural skills. Students will be expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner. The externship includes but is not limited to the immersion in daily operational tasks such as medical rounds, client communications, diagnostics, and patient planning. They can discuss situations and collectively put together treatment plans. Students will have the opportunity to practice various forms of imagining including ultrasound and radio graphic interpretation. Exposure to surgeries including dentistry are also offered. Externship length is typically 2-4 weeks based upon school programs but can be flexible.

Small animal medical/surgical practice with emphasis on Point of Care Ultrasound.   General Practice with busy surgical case load.  Equine reproduction practice with emphasis on broodmare management and development of a frozen semen breeding program.  Some stallion work.   Student will be expected to participate in all aspects of practice including physical exams, diagnostic plans, surgical assistance, treatments, record keeping in both practice settings. 

Medicine amd surgery

Observational rotations through internal medicine, surgery, emergency, and general practice. Students rotate with both specialists, staff doctors, and current interns.

To provide students with broad exposure to general small animal practice with heavy emphasis on small animal (primarily canine) reproduction. We also can provide experience in canine breeding and breeding management, performing vaginal, surgical and transcervical inseminations, c-sections, pregnancy ultrasound, prostatic and testicular ultrasounds, semen collection, evaluation and freezing, ovarian sparing surgery and vasectomies.

Overall experience will encompass preventive care medicine, routine surgeries (OVH, castration, mass removals), dental prophylactic care, medicine in primary care setting.

Extern works with all the veterinarians in the practice and get to see a wide range of cases. The extern also helps the interns with emergencies and hospital patients. 

Student will gain experience in a busy (40-50 patients per day) walk-in clinic. 

The practice operates as an urgent care/emergency  clinic as well as seeing routine 

Preventive care.  Student will also participate in a variety of surgeries including 

Sterilizations, dental care, mass removals and whatever else needs care.

Gain hands on experience honing your technical ability assisting our doctors and support staff with daily duties. You'll have the opportunity to work with a number of our diversely experienced veterinarians discussing cases, reviewing diagnostics and being asked to come up with your own plan. Our doctors will coach you through your decision making process and test your critical thinking ability. You will be able to assist in surgery with the opportunity to perform surgery to allow for your confidence to build. You will be able to assist with dental radiographs, nerve blocks and dentistry. You will be provided with access to our robust protocol guide to familiarize yourself further with common general practice presentations.