Small Animal Rotating Internships (VIRMP Hunting)

[meweed]

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Hey everyone! I'm a current 4th year veterinary student who's already stressed about the VIRMP... I am just so overwhelmed about all of the internship options and wanting to choose one that's right for me.
Does anyone have a list/know of what internships actually let interns do surgery? I am super passionate about surgery (and potentially want to do a residency) but would love to get more experience actually getting to cut during my internship year. For example, if I don't end up doing a residency, I would like to have knowledge and practice in common emergency surgeries that I might have to perform as an ER vet. Thoughts? Opinions?

 

[supershorty]

Hey everyone! I'm a current 4th year veterinary student who's already stressed about the VIRMP... I am just so overwhelmed about all of the internship options and wanting to choose one that's right for me.
Does anyone have a list/know of what internships actually let interns do surgery? I am super passionate about surgery (and potentially want to do a residency) but would love to get more experience actually getting to cut during my internship year. For example, if I don't end up doing a residency, I would like to have knowledge and practice in common emergency surgeries that I might have to perform as an ER vet. Thoughts? Opinions?

The best way to get the most accurate info will be to contact programs you are interested in and get put in touch with current interns.

 

[TheGirlWithTheFernTattoo]

I think it also depends on goals. For my example, interns at my institution do get to cut a lot of ER surgeries during internship. However, I would likely not strongly recommend our internship for an applicant wanting to do a surgery residency because I think other programs would set them up better for the surgery match.

I agree with Shorty that the biggest thing is reaching out to current interns. VIRMP does have a box that specifies if interns can do surgery but that isn’t always accurate.

 

[pp9]

Hey everyone! I'm a current 4th year veterinary student who's already stressed about the VIRMP... I am just so overwhelmed about all of the internship options and wanting to choose one that's right for me.
Does anyone have a list/know of what internships actually let interns do surgery? I am super passionate about surgery (and potentially want to do a residency) but would love to get more experience actually getting to cut during my internship year. For example, if I don't end up doing a residency, I would like to have knowledge and practice in common emergency surgeries that I might have to perform as an ER vet. Thoughts? Opinions?

When I was looking, I toured VCA Valley - they made it a point that all interns do certain common surgeries by the time they were done. I just checked their listing and it appears that is still the case.

I think your goal here is perfectly reasonable. Primary surgeon experience as a rotating intern is hard to come by. Agreed with talking to programs as well, particularly current interns. Just because the VIRMP listing says you get to do x, doesn't mean you get to do it a lot.

 

[meweed]

I think it also depends on goals. For my example, interns at my institution do get to cut a lot of ER surgeries during internship. However, I would likely not strongly recommend our internship for an applicant wanting to do a surgery residency because I think other programs would set them up better for the surgery match.

I agree with Shorty that the biggest thing is reaching out to current interns. VIRMP does have a box that specifies if interns can do surgery but that isn’t always accurate.

What institution are you at? I'm still trying to decide whether I actually want to be a surgeon (with specialization) or just an internship-trained doctor that cuts... so any internships with surgery experience is something I'm looking into!

 

[TheGirlWithTheFernTattoo]

What institution are you at? I'm still trying to decide whether I actually want to be a surgeon (with specialization) or just an internship-trained doctor that cuts... so any internships with surgery experience is something I'm looking into!

PM me, I like to pretend I have some semblance of anonymity. 🙂

 

[freedom1414]

Does anyone have any insight on SA Rotating at Oregon State University? I emailed the program director for intern contact info but haven't heard back.

 

[cml156]

Does anyone have any insight on SA Rotating at Oregon State University? I emailed the program director for intern contact info but haven't heard back.

Current rotating intern at OSU! Feel free to shoot me a message with your questions and id be happy to answer

 

[freedom1414]

Hey everyone! I'm a current 4th year veterinary student who's already stressed about the VIRMP... I am just so overwhelmed about all of the internship options and wanting to choose one that's right for me.
Does anyone have a list/know of what internships actually let interns do surgery? I am super passionate about surgery (and potentially want to do a residency) but would love to get more experience actually getting to cut during my internship year. For example, if I don't end up doing a residency, I would like to have knowledge and practice in common emergency surgeries that I might have to perform as an ER vet. Thoughts? Opinions?

Has anyone on here had experience at Midwestern University or heard from those that have? What's the good, bad, and ugly?

 

[TheGirlWithTheFernTattoo]

Has anyone on here had experience at Midwestern University or heard from those that have? What's the good, bad, and ugly?

Midwestern has very few specialties/specialists at their hospital currently, particular for classic clinical specialties. If you look at VIRMP they have surgery, internal medicine, anesthesia, primary care. They have an ER but it functions more as an urgent care and they tend to refer sicker cases to private practice ERs in the area.

They have other things like pathology/microbiology/etc but those are not specialties rotating interns spend time with in most rotating internships.

The friends I know that have been there report it was a very cushy QoL for an internship, but that they were exposed to much less than most other interns. Unless you plan on doing GP, IM, or anesthesia after residency there are likely programs that would give more experience.

 

[EB73674]

No idea if this is the right space to ask this so happy to start a new thread if needed - does anyone know how common it is for private practice internships to agree to either a sign-on or relocation bonus? Not necessarily ones that offer it right out the gate, I know thats pretty rare, but eventually through negotiation? I’m trying to figure out how heinous/offensive it would be for me to ask for one - I am thankfully lucky enough to be able to depend on my parents a bit for help, but I’d love to not have to borrow from them if I don’t need it.

 

[JaynaAli]

No idea if this is the right space to ask this so happy to start a new thread if needed - does anyone know how common it is for private practice internships to agree to either a sign-on or relocation bonus? Not necessarily ones that offer it right out the gate, I know thats pretty rare, but eventually through negotiation? I’m trying to figure out how heinous/offensive it would be for me to ask for one - I am thankfully lucky enough to be able to depend on my parents a bit for help, but I’d love to not have to borrow from them if I don’t need it.

I think it’s highly unlikely you’ll get any extra money from an internship, especially if it wasn’t included in their VIRMP info about compensation. I haven’t ever heard of any offering that, though of course there’s tons of places that exist. I guess it doesn’t really hurt to ask other than risking making a weird first impression, but I’d assume the answer will be a strong “sorry, no”.

 

[VIN-Foundation]

When you go through the VIRMP, all of the salary information is listed in the program description. When you match to a program, you have agreed to work for that program under the terms listed in the program description. There is no negotiation.

 

[EB73674]

When you go through the VIRMP, all of the salary information is listed in the program description. When you match to a program, you have agreed to work for that program under the terms listed in the program description. There is no negotiation.

I’m realizing now that I definitely set myself up for this response lol, but I applied outside the match, so I think I might (?) have some tiny amount of negotiating power, especially given that I have some other similar offers in mentorship/training programs that offered both a relocation & signing bonus. But I hear you, I’ll definitely tread lightly!

 

[pp9]

I’m realizing now that I definitely set myself up for this response lol, but I applied outside the match, so I think I might (?) have some tiny amount of negotiating power, especially given that I have some other similar offers in mentorship/training programs that offered both a relocation & signing bonus. But I hear you, I’ll definitely tread lightly!

generally speaking internships don't offer the same degree of benefits that a training program does (thinking of Emerge, NERD, etc here) but by all means, ask. The worst they can tell you is no.

Hindsight is 20/20, but one of my biggest hurdles post graduation/prior to my internship is that I did not keep the max amount of my loans for that last semester of school. I was trying to do the 'smart' thing and keep my balances as low as possible for obvious reasons, but I left myself high and dry when it came to moving across the country, putting down apartment deposits, etc. So anyone reading this, budget your last semester loans to leave yourself enough wiggle room for that!

 

[katiemcat]

I’m realizing now that I definitely set myself up for this response lol, but I applied outside the match, so I think I might (?) have some tiny amount of negotiating power, especially given that I have some other similar offers in mentorship/training programs that offered both a relocation & signing bonus. But I hear you, I’ll definitely tread lightly!

I accepted a rotating outside of match despite having other offers and it was expected I would be accepting exactly what was offered on VIRMP.

 

[freedom1414]

Midwestern has very few specialties/specialists at their hospital currently, particular for classic clinical specialties. If you look at VIRMP they have surgery, internal medicine, anesthesia, primary care. They have an ER but it functions more as an urgent care and they tend to refer sicker cases to private practice ERs in the area.

They have other things like pathology/microbiology/etc but those are not specialties rotating interns spend time with in most rotating internships.

The friends I know that have been there report it was a very cushy QoL for an internship, but that they were exposed to much less than most other interns. Unless you plan on doing GP, IM, or anesthesia after residency there are likely programs that would give more experience.

Thank you sm! I would love to hear more about their experience there if you think any of your friends would be willing to connect and share.

 

[toebeans929]

I just found out my top internship on VIRMP also has an application outside of the match. If it's my top, would I have better chances outside of the match? I have a pretty boring application so I was hoping my letters of rec and full CV will help (the out-of-match application only asks for resume and cover letter). They said they try to let applicants outside of the match have an answer prior to when ranking is due.

 

[katiemcat]

I just found out my top internship on VIRMP also has an application outside of the match. If it's my top, would I have better chances outside of the match? I have a pretty boring application so I was hoping my letters of rec and full CV will help (the out-of-match application only asks for resume and cover letter). They said they try to let applicants outside of the match have an answer prior to when ranking is due.

I would say go for it as this could avoid you having to go through match completely, and I’ve heard it’s easier to get in somewhere outside of match (I accepted my top choice outside of match). If for some reason you weren’t selected outside of match you could still rank them as well.

 

[VIN-Foundation]

I just found out my top internship on VIRMP also has an application outside of the match. If it's my top, would I have better chances outside of the match? I have a pretty boring application so I was hoping my letters of rec and full CV will help (the out-of-match application only asks for resume and cover letter). They said they try to let applicants outside of the match have an answer prior to when ranking is due.

From the VIRMP Institution Terms of Service.

7. Not use the matching program to advertise for non-VIRMP programs/positions that are similar to programs/positions that we have placed in the VIRMP. By way of example, an institution or private practice may not place an internship program in the VIRMP and negotiate with VIRMP applicants prior to match day to fill additional positions in the same or similar program outside the VIRMP.

 

[toebeans929]

From the VIRMP Institution Terms of Service.

7. Not use the matching program to advertise for non-VIRMP programs/positions that are similar to programs/positions that we have placed in the VIRMP. By way of example, an institution or private practice may not place an internship program in the VIRMP and negotiate with VIRMP applicants prior to match day to fill additional positions in the same or similar program outside the VIRMP.

They didn’t advertise it thankfully, I kind of stumbled upon it. But this is good to know! So either go directly through the VIRMP or apply only outside of it. Thank you so much!