WVRC Veterinary Student Externships
Program Information
Externships are available to veterinary students in any year of school. Scheduling priority will be given to 4th year students. Student externs gain broad experience working in the Emergency department of a busy emergency/referral setting. Externs work in the ER department primarily unless a specialty focus is prearranged.
Externs shadow veterinary technicians, veterinary interns and emergency and critical care staff veterinarians. Externs are expected to be interactive with the staff, attend technician and DVM rounds when available, proactively discuss cases, and actively contribute to the general workload as appropriate. Hands on experiences are dependent on the individual, caseload, and supervising veterinarians.
Availability permitting, externs can gain exposure to additional specialties during their externship.
Veterinary student externships are generally 1-2 week in one department for First through third-year students and 2-4 weeks (1 or 2 departments) for fourth-year students. Special exceptions may be made to the schedule based the applicant’s level of expertise and the staff’s availability to accommodate longer/shorter requests.
Externs can expect to begin work by 8am, 12pm, or 4pm, depending upon the department, may be called upon to put in an 8-12hour day. As all our hospitals are 24hr/365-day facilities, Externs will be expected to work on the weekends when on the ER service.
Requirements
- Applicants must be students of accredited domestic or international veterinary schools, pursuing a DVM, VMD or foreign equivalent. First, second and third-year veterinary students who are interested in emergency/critical care are encouraged to apply.
- Students are required to have liability coverage either through their veterinary school or personal coverage through the AVMA’s student liability coverage program. AVMA insurance is free to all SAVMA members. Click for more Information and to apply for AVMA Insurance.
- Externs must provide their own lodging and transportation.
Externship Availability by Department
We currently offer externships in Emergency/Critical Care at our Waukesha and/or Racine/Kenosha locations.
If interested, it may be possible to schedule a day with a second specialty department. Options include Anesthesia/Pain Management, Cardiology, Dentistry, Dermatology, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Oncology, Ophthalmology, and Surgery.
- Emergency/Critical Care
Application Information
We currently offer opportunities at our Waukesha location in Wisconsin. Externships can take place at Waukesha, Racine/Kenosha or both locations. If you are interested in the Racine/Kenosha location, please indicate that in the additional information field of the application.
Once we’ve received your application, you will receive an email confirmation. If your application contains all the necessary information, please allow 2 weeks for us to schedule and confirm your externship.