Externship help in the States/Canada

[Sidney]

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Hi, guys!
I never thought I'd actually find a forum geared towards medical/veterinary students, but there you go. 🙂 I was wondering if I could get help from someone regarding externships in the US or Canada.

I'm currently in the 3rd year of my degree here in Australia, and we've been informed of when we'd be undertaking externships in our fifth and final year. I've been trying to find some places in the States or Canada that would be able to offer some kind of a preceptorship, and I've only managed to come up with some zoos so far.

If anyone is aware of any societies or whatever, especially equine practices, and would be able to offer some advice, please PM me! 😀 Cheers!

 

[birdvet2006]

Sidney,

It's very easy to find externships - you just have to ask a place that sounds interesting to you. Will you need accommodation? Would you like it to be a paid externship? These are things you'll need to decide. Also: where exactly do you want to go? Just anywhere or within a certain area of the US/Canada? What type of practice are you looking for, or are you also interested in seeing other areas of vet med (like lab animals or meat hygiene)?

If you're interested in equine medicine, I suggest you visit the AAEP website or similar. Often, you will find a list of externships on a special interest organisation website.

I know of one place in southern California that took externs a few years ago (things may have changed, with the new vet school becoming more active etc.). It's called Chino Valley Equine and it's near the new vet school (Western Uni. in Pomona), about 1 hour east of L.A. They provided accommodation and let you do a lot of stuff - great experience. It's a very busy referral-type practice that sees a lot of colics and orthopaedics (you know, the usual horsey stuff 🙂. Phone number there is 909-628-5545. You can ask for the office manager (used to be Tyra when I was there) to see if they will take students for externships.

If you're into small animals at all, I recommend any of the VCA animal hospitals (each is a bit different, but I've had great experiences with that corporation so far). http://www.vcapets.com

 

[Sidney]

Hi, Cindy!
Thank you so much, mate, you're a legend! I was searching up places on http://www.aazv.org for zoos and wildlife centers and was desperately trying to locate other places, especially equine ones.

I guess I'm hoping to be somewhere in either BC or Ontario (around the Toronto region - I used to study there, and hence, have friends that I can crash with) in Canada, and perhaps the Virginia, D.C., NYC region, but I'd pretty much go anywhere if someone of my choice (i.e. zoo or good equine place) would take me. That might sound a little sad, but I suppose that's just how it is. I don't want to end up doing the same rotations as others, 'just because it's there', but would rather go somewhere that would teach me some wicked skills. Cheers!

 

[CoffeeCrazy]

Some of the larger small animal companies (Banfield, VCA) offer paid externships. Check their websites for more information.

Zoo externships will really vary as to how much hands on experience you get. The better they know you, the more likely you are to be able to do something rather than just observe. Start contacting them early, like 1.5-2 years in advance! Smaller zoos with only one vet are also more likely to let you help out... larger zoos (San Diego, Brookfield, National Zoo) are more likely to only let you observe. Look for zoos that are in states with no vet students... most of the larger zoos have contracts with their in-state vet school to take that school's students on externships.

Good wildlife places are LSU, Tennessee, Tufts, and the Minnesota Raptor Center. I suggest you look for externships for equine rotation through US vet schools... often they are receptive to taking outside students, and you can sometimes live with a vet student for cheap.

 

[Sidney]

Hi, CoffeeCrazy (yeah, me too in the morning - then it's coasting on DC in the arvo)!

I'm unfamiliar with the states that have Veterinary schools, aside from Texas. What are your views on the Smithsonian in D.C.? I've been looking into that, and I really want to try for that, but I don't know what they'd really expect from me.

Yeah, I'm applying about 1.5 - 2 years ahead of time, and it already feels like people are beating me to it! Heck, this thing is stressing me out. Thank you for your input, though, I really appreciate it. 😀

 

[Sidney]

Also, do you know anything about the Wildlife Center of Virginia? Like, if people actually get to do hands on stuff? Cheers!

 

[birdvet2006]

I second CoffeeCrazy's recommendation of LSU for wildlife, exotic and zoo medicine. I did a 3 week externship there this summer (in the midst of Hurricane Katrina!) and really had a blast. They see a TON of wildlife, and plenty of exotics. They are associated with the Audubon Zoo, Baton Rouge Zoo, the Aquarium in New Orleans and some primate centre. But after Hurricane Katrina, I'm not sure how things will be w/the zoo/aquarium in New Orleans. They will gladly find you accommodation (I had to pay, but it wasn't bad) and transportation.

I'm applying for a small animal internship there.

 

[Sidney]

Very cool! Thank you guys so much! Seriously, the way we were told to just go find something (the database system is sooo not funny!) - it was equivalent to being thrown into the deep end.

Cindy, I had a look at the Chino site, but all it said was previous preceptorships - nothing about taking new ones. Ahh well, worth a try anyway. I'm sorry, but what does LSU mean?

 

[Sidney]

Also, just to add, I was starting to freak out about looking for places (some very competitive people out there) and I would really like to thank you guys for all the help. Cheers!

 

[Sidney]

Hang on - just found it. 🙂

 

[birdvet2006]

LSU = Louisiana State University. You can contact Dr. Mitchell about the externship - see the LSU website (http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu).

Re: Chino Valley Equine - I suggest you actually phone them about an externship/preceptorship. You never know, they may actually still offer them.

 

[Sidney]

Excellent - Thanks, Cindy!