The Medical Center for Birds is an avian-specific practice, with no other species groups included in our patient database. This preceptorship program will include primary focused duties within the avian practice as well as our diagnostic in-house laboratory. Outside consultation and visitation of zoological facilities may be scheduled as a part of this training experience. Scheduled weekly rounds will be maintained in-house for in depth discussion of avian medical cases and subject material pertinent to avian medicine and surgery, as well as numerous informal discussions on a daily basis.
The practice is open six days each week, from the hours of 9:00am to 5:00pm.
The typical four week preceptorship program for veterinary students passes quickly. There are no specific scheduled “duties” for students, and the practice is staffed with adequate support to allow students to help out, but not be necessarily scheduled as a part of the support staff during this entire period. During this time, the resident will be encouraged to assume a role of “primary” responsibility for management of clinical cases under direct supervision. These responsibilities will include meeting clients, collection of history and initial physical examination findings, recommending and defending a diagnostic set of recommendations, interpreting these findings, and making sound therapeutic recommendations for specific patients. Students will be encouraged to partcipate in daily morning in-patient rounds, and weekly journal review rounds Friday mornings. There will be direct exposure to endoscopy, endosurgical procedures, microsurgical techniques as well as common medical procedures during this entire preceptorship. During the final week of the preceptorship, students are encouraged to select a topic of interest and present a formal lecture to the staff for discussion.
Staff: There are five full time veterinarians on staff, three of which are ABVP (avian practice) diplomates, and one of whom is both ABVP (avian practice) as well as ECZM (avian). There are a total of 16 support staff, including six registered veterinary technicians.
Key components of our practice equipment include:
Surgery: Monitors: ECG, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, capnography, digital temperature probe: Bionet BM3, Syringe pumps for fluid infusion.
Operating microscopy: Vasconsuellos operating microscope with up to 20X magnification capability
Surgitel magnification loupes with attached light source (3X)
Ellman radiosurgery: 4.0 Dual RF
Storz 2.7 mm rigid endoscopy / endosurgery system with video monitor and image capture capability
Wolf 1.8 mm rigid ensoscopy system with video monitor and image capture capability
Beak orthotics: We maintain a human dental acrylic light curing system, which is regularly used for repair and correction of beak injuries,
scissors beak deformities and mandibular prognathism.
Thermal support is provided by Bair hugger, overhead halogen heat lamp, and/or heated water blanket.
Anesthesia: We have four isoflurane vaporizers in the hospital, one of which is a portable unit for use in the field if needed.
Diagnostic imaging:
Ultrasound; Mylab Esaote with 7.5 mHz head
Sound Eklin Digital Radiography
Mini C arm Fluoroscopy
Vimago HD CT / Flouoroscopy
In-House Laboratory: Our in-house laboratory is equipped for basic microbiology, hematology, cytology and biochemistry diagnostics. Light microscopy is available using a Nikon Eclipse 2000 microscope with digital image capture capability, We maintain two Abaxis in-house biochemistry analyzers.
Student expectations are stated above in the layout of the four week preceptorship. Students often work with the doctors on staff 6 days per week in order to optomize their experience and exposure, although this is not required.
Students can be housed, and costs may be $400.00 for one month; including meals.