Offsite Electives

Externs will assist the veterinarians and veterinary technicians in the daily clinical practice at the Fort Worth Zoo. Minimum skills to be learned and practiced by students include examination, blood collection techniques, basic laboratory techniques, and chemical immobilization and anesthesia of zoo animal species. Students will complete and present a project by the end of the externship.

Highlights: 

• Three- to eight-week externships for veterinary students in their clinical years
• AZA-accredited institution with a diverse collection of over 7,000 animals and 500 species
• Veterinary team includes 3 veterinarians (including one Dipl. ACZM), 4 licensed veterinary technicians, 2 veterinary assistants, 1 hospital keeper, and 1 procurement keeper
• Fully-equipped veterinary hospital (rigid/flexible endoscopy, ultrasound, blood gases analyzer, digital radiography, OR, ICU room, necropsy room) with a full-service in-house laboratory
• This is a volunteer program; no monetary compensation, housing, transportation, or insurance will be provided

All students with a strong interest in zoo medicine are encouraged to apply. Self-motivated, self-starting students will have the greatest success in this externship. Application materials include:

• Cover letter, curriculum vitae, and two letters of recommendation
• Include 3 preferred time slots ranked in order of preference
• Submit application materials and prioritized time slots to Dr. Sarah Cannizzo by e-mail at
• scannizzo@fortworthzoo.org

Externs must have a negative TB test within 6 months of start date, be up-to-date with tetanus vaccine (within the last 10 years), and have a current rabies vaccine or titer within the past 2 years

Students selected to participate in WSU’s externship will be introduced to the anatomic pathology residency and graduate training program offered within the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL), the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology (VMP), and the School for Global Animal Health. Students will interact with 10 to 12 resident pathologists, nine ACVP boarded pathologists, and other faculty members while participating in diagnostic necropsies, evaluating histopathology from necropsies and surgical biopsies, and interpreting immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies.  Externs will follow a subset of cases to their conclusion through ancillary laboratories (bacteriology, virology, serology, parasitology, toxicology, aquatic health, and molecular diagnostics).  Our caseload includes domestic small animals, food animals, horses, camelids, exotics, fish, and birds submitted from WSU’s veterinary teaching hospital, regional practitioners, and local clientele as well as wild mammals and birds submitted by wildlife biologists.  In addition, externs will meet with residents in the combined training program and selected faculty to discuss current research projects in order to understand the ongoing research in immunology and infectious diseases within VMP and the School for Global Animal Health. 

Externs will be responsible for their own travel expenses and housing, though faculty members, residents, and veterinary students may be able to provide assistance in establishing temporary housing.  A stipend of up to $500 may be provided by the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology to a limited number of interested externs.

Two to four week externships are available year-round with flexible start dates for students in good standing in their third or fourth year of veterinary training. No more than 2 externs will be accepted for the same period of time.  Applications will be accepted year round and should include CV, letter of intent, and unofficial transcripts.

Participate in all aspect of zoological medicine and husbandry.
 Learn husbandry of hospitalized animals while at the veterinary hospital or in quarantine.
 Assist with the treatment and medical care of hospitalized animals.
 Participate in the diagnosis and treatment of ongoing clinical cases under the veterinarian’s supervision.
 Learn clinical pathology techniques from veterinary technicians and veterinarians
 Acquire knowledge and skills in post-mortem examination techniques and differential diagnosis lists for deceased animals.
 Learn surgical techniques aimed at non-domestic animals.
 Become familiar with preventative medicine programs in zoo settings and their implementation.
 Understand how quarantine programs are designed and executed in a zoo setting
 Gain experience in the interpretation of radiographs and other imaging techniques in a zoological collection.
 Expand his/her knowledge on chemical and physical immobilization techniques in zoo animals.
 Practice and improve medical record-writing skills.
 Review up to date literature related to ongoing clinical cases and discuss findings with veterinary staff.
 Enhance his/her knowledge in zoonotic diseases and biosecurity in zoo settings
 Optional: Prepare a case report from one of the active cases at the zoo.
 Optional: With guidance from the veterinarians, write a case report/what is your diagnosis or clinical challenge during the preceptorship with the aim of having it published in a peer-reviewed journal.
 Interact with Animal Collections staff to obtain experience in husbandry practices in the different species at the zoo.

The extern will be immersed in all aspects of equine theriogenology and breeding farm operations.   The extern will shadow the veterinarian and participate in veterinary procedures including foaling, foal checks, foal and mare treatment and medications, mare breeding and pregnancy checks, embryo transfer, lab diagnostics, stallion collection and semen processing.  The breeding farm component includes care, feeding, catching, leading, watering and stall cleaning for horses.  The extern will also be exposed to general farm maintenance including feed and shaving management along with basic machinery / equipment usage and operation.