Nashville Zoo, TN

Description of Elective Experience: 

Students will work along side the veterinary team. They will experience the day to day operations of the zoo assisting with preventative and emergency care as well as learning animal husbandry as the opportunity arises. They will have opportunity to assist/ or observe necropsy, preventative care and emergency procedures at the zoo. 

 

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

Our veterinary team consists of a team of six. We  have two full time veterinarians along with two full time licensed veterinary technicians and two full time quarantine/hospital keepers. We currently have a small clinic and lab but are hoping to break ground on a new state of the art veterinary hospital in the spring of 2017 with a grand opening in spring- summer of 2018. 

Our equipment includes but is not limited to full in house laboratory with Abaxis CBC analyzer and Chemistry, centrifuge, fecal ovoparasite testing, and cytology. We have storz enodoscopy, digital radiography, dental scaler and polisher, surgical monitoring equipement, Sevoflurane and Isoflurane gas anesthesia and much more. 

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

Students are responsible for assisting the veterinarian team with day to day care of animal care operations. They will be responsible for researching and studying about upcoming and current cases, and assist with examinations, clinical procedures and surgery. They will have the opportunity to expand their cytology and hematological skills. Students are responsible for presenting a 30-60 minute powerpoint presentation towards the end of their externship to the animal care staff on either a current, pertinent topic or on a research project performed by the student. Students will also be asked to participate in a bi-monthly journal club.

Supervisor: 
Heather Robertson, DVM
Website: 
https://www.nashvillezoo.org/jobsinternships
Address: 
3777 Nolensville Road
Nashville, TN 37211
United States
Animal Type: 
Is student housing available?: 
No
Hours of supervision by a licensed veterinarian per week: 
40