Offsite Electives

We are a three doctor small animal general practice in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. We offer preventative care for dogs and cats, as well as appointments for illness. We do daily anesthetic dental cleaning with extractions as needed, spay and neuter surgeries.  We occasionally perform other surgeries including mass removals, cystotomies, gastrointestinal foreign body and explores as needed. Students would be involved in all types of appointments and procedures. 

The student will have an opportunity to participate in small animal physical exams, venipuncture, vaccination, surgical preparation, surgical assist, radiology, dental radiology and assist in COHATs. In addition the student will observe and participate in client communication.

The student will be given opportunity to evaluate lab results and observe echocardiograms and abdominal ultrasounds.

Animal Care Clinic is a small animal practice that focuses on canine and feline patients. We see patients almost daily for wellness check-ups, sick or wounded appointments and routine surgeries incuding spays, neuters and occasionally doctors will remove masses, repair ACL tears and amputations. The student will be able to float and see all of these while they are here at the clinic.

Externs will be exposed to all aspects of turkey primary breeding. Experiences may include visits to one or both of our hatcheries, turkey rearing farms, turkey egg production farms, and our company laboratory. Daily activities may include observing everything from flock inspections, production visits, communications with R&D team (geneticists), and communication with production team, to vaccination plan development and administration, turkey transport, animal welfare audits, and biosecurity training and assessment. 

The student will rotated through the cardiology service with three full time cardiologists.  Focus will be placed on physical examination, diagnostic plan creation, ECG interpretation, thoracic radiograph interpretation, and treatment of cardiovascular disease in the clinical setting. 

Our clinic is a 46 year old general practice in rural southeastern Ohio. While we were originally a truly mixed animal practice, we are now primarily small animal. Dogs & cats make up the gross majority of our patients, but we do see a small amount of chickens, rodents, snakes, horses, and occasionally food animal patients when they are brought into the clinic. We no longer make farm calls. We have over 1,700 clients, and see a wide variety of medical and surgical cases. 

Based on the students comfort level, they will shadow during appointments giving opportunities to also perform examinations, suggest ddx, suggest testing, review testing results, help develop treatment plans etc. They are encouraged to assist with surgical and dental procedures.

Description of Elective Experience

Maricamp Animal Hospital – Ocala, Florida

Maricamp Animal Hospital is a full-service small animal veterinary hospital offering a comprehensive elective experience for veterinary and veterinary technician students seeking hands-on clinical exposure in a progressive, team-oriented practice.

Participants in the elective experience will gain practical insight into the daily operations of a modern veterinary hospital, including preventive care, diagnostics, surgery, client communication, and integrative therapies.

Clinical Exposure Includes:

Preventive & Wellness Medicine

Comprehensive physical examinations

Vaccine protocols and preventive care planning

Parasite prevention and client education

Diagnostic Medicine

Digital radiology interpretation

Ultrasound procedures

In-house laboratory diagnostics

Cytology and case work-ups

Surgical Experience

Observation and/or assistance with routine spay/neuter procedures

Soft tissue surgery exposure

Surgical preparation and sterile technique

Anesthesia monitoring and patient recovery

Advanced & Integrative Therapies

Laser therapy treatments

Acupuncture

Regenerative medicine applications

Client Communication & Practice Management

Case presentation and treatment plan discussions

Estimate review and client education strategies

Understanding workflow efficiency and hospital SOPs

Exposure to team-based patient care

Learning Objectives:

Develop confidence in patient assessment and diagnostic planning

Strengthen understanding of anesthesia and surgical protocols

Improve communication skills with pet owners

Gain exposure to both conventional and integrative treatment modalities

Understand hospital systems that support quality patient care

Participants will work alongside experienced veterinarians, technicians, and customer care representatives in a supportive learning environment focused on high medical standards and compassionate service.

Mobile cattle veterinary practice focusing on herd health and Reproduction. 

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.