Job Description

An externship experience at an NVA Equine hospital will give students the opportunity to gain great practical experience in an independent equine practice and understand the daily operations of an equine hospital.

Students will work alongside veterinarians and interns to gain experience with lameness diagnosis and treatment, client communication skills, reproductive care, surgery, emergency medicine, imaging, ambulatory, dentistry and preventive medicine. Students may also assist with out-patient and hospitalized cases during business and after-hours emergencies.

Externships are available for current veterinary students regardless of class year, though preference may be given to fourth-year students.

Externship Opportunity

Retama Equine Hospital is a 100% equine veterinary facility providing services in Medicine, Surgery, Reproduction and Emergency. Our goal is to improve the health and welfare of the horse and to provide the highest quality of veterinary medicine, while providing exceptional customer service to our clients.

Staffing Number: Approximately20 employees, including veterinarians, interns, veterinary technicians, office manager, receptionist/clerical staff and barn crew.

Type of Practice: 100% Equine veterinary facility providing services in Medicine, Surgery, Reproduction and Emergency Referral Care.

Practice Facilities: 15 stalls in main hospital, 16 outside paddocks, 6 stall barn, 4 isolation stalls, 3 ICU stalls, 2 treatment rooms, radiology room, surgical suite and 2 padded recovery stalls.

Names of Veterinarians in Practice: Michael F. Martin DVM, Keith Huffman DVM, Sarah Grose DVM,

Lori Henderson DVM, Jose Casillas DVM

Case Load: Approximately 4000 in-hospital and ambulatory cases per year.

Types of Cases (%): 25% medical, 25% surgery (soft tissue and some orthopedic), 25% lameness, 15% neonatal, 10% reproduction.

Estimated Daily or Weekly Load: Varies with time of year and emergency case load. Normal business hours are 8am-5pm, Monday through Friday, and 8am-12pm by appointment on Saturday. Emergency services are provided 24 hours a day.

Goals of Externship: To provide a veterinary student the opportunity to gain exposure and practical knowledge of equine veterinary medicine and surgery.

Prerequisites of Externship: Current enrollment in a veterinary college.

Dates and Duration: Year round dates are available; two and four week blocks available, Summer and holiday positions are also available.

Practice Responsibilities to the Extern: To provide the extern with a learning environment that is conducive to the expansion of their knowledge and skills in equine veterinary medicine.

Externship Responsibilities to the Practice: To assist in the care and treatment of hospitalized patients, out-patients and emergencies.

Is the Externship a Prerequisite for Internship: No, but is encouraged.

Living Quarters: Limited availability for on-site housing.