Externship Program

Externship Program for Vets/Vet Techs at Saginaw Valley Equine Clinic

The externship at SVEC is designed to offer veterinary and veterinary technician students the opportunity to participate in “real world” veterinary practice. Students will be given chances to observe and participate in case management. Cases seen range from general equine practice to specialized surgical, reproductive, and lameness cases. The doctors at SVEC have a wide range of experience, specialties, and knowledge that they are willing to share with their future colleagues.

The program established at SVEC is structured to provide students with training in case set up, management, and follow through. The students will be able to rotate through the three SVEC services (sports medicine, theriogenology, and surgery) or specialize within just one. At the beginning of your externship, you will be provided with a confidential copy of our protocol manual, SVEC University, which describes protocols for how we do the most frequently performed procedures, including pictures, in order to prepare you for your experience at SVEC. Your degree of participation will progress from observation to assisted participation to independent participation, depending on your degree of preparation, previous and developing knowledge, and personal skills. Externs are expected to help with after-hours emergencies and hospital treatments, as well as daytime appointments. We try hard to give externs as much hands-on experience and case discussion as possible within the confines of our practice organization.

An externship is strongly recommended prior to applying for an internship at SVEC, since this is a valuable time for both you and us to determine if you and our practice would be a good fit. We are dedicated to promoting a team-oriented practice, where high quality equine medicine is fun!

• Housing on site is provided
• Externships available range in duration from 2 weeks to 6 weeks
• Broad scope of cases; in hospital, ambulatory, and horse shows
• Structured system to ensure that externs are taught as well as given the opportunity to participate and learn
• High case load including performance horses, foals, broodmares, and family pets