Offsite Electives

Potential experiences includes animal capture by physical and chemical means, field assistance to biologists and managers, biological sampling of
animals, sample logistics and preparation, necropsy, data analysis, general office work - reports, data analysis and presentation of data and summaries.

The USDA-ARS Avian Disease & Oncology Laboratory is part of the in-house research branch of USDA. Our laboratory focuses on avian tumor viruses. The student will experience poultry research within a laboratory setting. This may include time in necropsy identifying lesions and collecting samples, as well as time in the laboratory performing techniques such as virus isolation/cell culture, DNA/RNA isolation, PCR, real-time PCR, sequencing, pyrosequencing, flow cytometry, fluorescent microscopy, and immunohistochemistry.

Small animal general practice- offers opportunities in learning more about general health exams, problem exams, radiology, laboratory and surgery. Some participation in surgery is possible. 

Three doctor mixed animal practice in NW PA.. Student will participate in small animal surgery and small animal outpatient appointments. In addition, student will have the opportunity to provide primary management to "day patients", including examination, diagnostics, client communication, therapeutic treatments, and surgical intervention, with oversight by perceptor.  

Interact with clients during examinations, developing communication skills as you gather history and create a treatment plan.   Gain experience with diagnostic equipment, which includes digital x-rays, ultrasound and in-house laboratory testing.  Gain experience with anesthesia induction and monitoring during surgical procedures and post operate care.  Develop understanding of business and back office tasks associated with veterinary practice. 

Our hospital is open 7 days a week; students will assist doctors in exams (taking histories, handling etc) for well and sick pets.  Observe and assist in surgery and all other positions in the hospital, and assist the ward nurses.   This is done in an effort to provide the student with a full understanding and appreciation of how a hospital functions.    7% of our practice is Exotic and small mammals.

The primary purpose of the externship is to expose the veterinary student to the many aspects of wildlife population health. Major objectives are to acquaint the veterinary student with (1) the role of veterinarians in the maintenance of healthy wildlife populations, (2) the interaction of wildlife management and wildlife health, and (3) examples of major diseases of free-ranging wildlife.

Learning objectives that an extern is expected to achieve upon completion of the SCWDS externship in relation to the (modified) AVMA Clinical Competencies are as follows:

1. Problem Solving and Diagnostic Skills: An extern should be able to develop accurate differential diagnoses to wildlife mortality events and develop an appropriate diagnostic plan including samples to take, and ancillary tests to request.
2. Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, Zoonosis, and Food Safety: An extern should have an appreciation for biosafety, biosecurity, and zoonotic diseases of free-ranging wildlife including appropriate personal protective equipment and procedures for diagnostic investigations. Externs should also appreciate how to appropriately package and ship samples to a laboratory.
3. Demonstration of Knowledge of Wildlife Diseases: An extern should gain basic knowledge of common wildlife diseases through participation on the diagnostic service, rounds, seminars or teleconferences, as well as their assigned project.
4. Written and Oral Communication: An extern should gain experience with writing gross necropsy reports as well as scientific and translational writing for a lay audience, and be required to do a 10-15 minute oral presentation on a wildlife health topic.
5. Professionalism: An extern will have opportunities to interact with faculty, students, staff, and potentially wildlife agency representatives, and is thus expected to maintain a professional demeanor throughout his/her externship.
6. Proficiency at Necropsy and Diagnostic Sampling: An extern should gain experience at necropsy of a variety of wildlife species including birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians depending on the case load. In general, a SCWDS extern completes the rotation with a good understanding of avian anatomy and should be able to determine the sex and approximate age of a bird. An extern should be confident in obtaining appropriate samples for histology, bacteriology, toxicology, and virology as well as determining when each ancillary test may be appropriate for a particular work up.
7. Appreciation for Research in Veterinary Medicine: An extern should develop an appreciation for challenges and complications involved in wildlife research and be familiar with current topics. They should also gain an appreciation of where additional information on wildlife disease topics can be found.

 Equine-only ambulatory hospital with small clinic on-site. Students will ride along on ambulatory calls, assist with in-clinic cases

The Animal Health Department of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium accepts veterinary students in their clinical year for externships. The Animal Health Department serves the medical and surgical needs of the mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians and fish that make their home at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.

Externships are 6-8 weeks long, with a work schedule of Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (weekend hours are possible). Externs will play an integral role in the day-to-day operations of the animal health team.

Dr. Ginger Sturgeon, DVM will supervise.

We are a Specialty Hospital and 24-Hour Animal Emergency, with a referral base of more than 200 veterinarians. We have boarded diplomats in Internal Medicine, Emergency/Critical Care, Neurology, Oncology, Surgery, Dermatology, and Canine Rehabilitation.