Columbia Pike Animal Hospital and Emergency Center, VA

Description of Elective Experience: 

Columbia Pike Animal Hospital & Emergency Center was founded by Dr. Davis Hall in 1975. Over the years we have grown from a single doctor practice to a 24 hour General and Emergency practice with over 30 doctors. We have had a successful internship program for 8+ years.  We are the largest privately owned practice in Northern Virginia, seeing an average of 84 cases per day and performing 8 surgeries a day. Our hospital has a Vimago CT scanner, state of the art ultrasound, full in house labs, digital xray, etc. Externs are welcome to spend time with a GP doctor in appointments, on our emergency service, and/or with our surgery team depending on what you prefer. Externs also participate in our weekly intern rounds as well as any other intern events(wet labs, guest speakers, spay/neuter days) during their stay. We offer a visit to the local Wolftrap Animal Rescue for interested students as well. For more information visit our website at https://vet-ready.com/externship-program/ 

Institutional and Educational Resources - staffing, equipment, etc.: 

Our medical director, Dr. Nancy Barnett, is ACVPM boarded

We have a veterinary technician on all shifts as well as a large staff 

We have a Vimago CT scanner, new state of the art GE ultrasound machine, Clarius hand held ultrasound, full in house labs including digital cytology, digital radiology, digital dental radiology, and a Snyder oxygen cage. 

We have a newly built intern/extern classroom to hold our rounds and meetings in. 

Student Responsibilities - what is expected of students in terms of hours, days of the week, shadowing or actual support?: 

Students will be scheduled for time in our GP, ER, and surgery departments based on their preference. We recommend some evening/weekend shifts for those interested in emergency medicine. 

Students will be responsible for assisting in their assigned department and may take primary case responsibility when deemed appropriate.

Students will be allowed to assist in surgery and with hospitalized patients care, as well as with anesthesia when deemed appropriate. Students may be allowed to perform procedures (laceration repair, NG tube placement, unblocking cats) as deemed appropriate. 

Students will participate in hospitalized patient rounds when on ER.

Students will participate in weekly intern topic rounds as well as any other intern activities during their stay.

 

Student Housing (include costs, amenities, pet friendly, contact info if different from elective contact info): 

Housing (private room in house with shared bathrooms and common area less than 10 minutes from the clinic) is provided if available. We will know housing availability by the spring prior to the clinical year (ie by mid march 2025 for the 2025-2026 clinical year). Students are not allowed to bring pets with them. However, please note that there are pets (both dogs and cats) living in the common spaces of the available housing. We will require a basic housing agreement form to be signed prior to your arrival.  

We also offer a $250/week travel stipend (independent of housing availability). We do require you to fill out a W-9 form and the stipend will be provided as a check to you when you arrive. Feel free to reach out with any questions. 

Supervisor: 
Laura Fink, DVM
Website: 
https://vet-ready.com/externship-program/
Address: 
4205 Evergreen Lane
Annandale, VA 22003
United States
Specialties: 
Practice or Institution Type: 
Is student housing available?: 
Yes
Hours of supervision by a licensed veterinarian per week: 
40