Students will gain experience in clinical zoological medicine including preventative medicine, diagnostics, surgery and nutrition by participating in the daily activities of the veterinary staff during their externship. During their externship, students may assist with routine or preventative procedures, assist with emergency cases, help evaluate nutritional goals for animals in the collection and will assist with the maintenance of medical records. Also during their externship, students will prepare an in depth presentation or project (15-30 minutes) to be given to veterinary and/or keeper staff on a subject of their choice. Students will participate in weekly journal club rounds.
The veterinary department consists of two full-time veterinarians, and two full-time licensed veterinary technicians. The hospital is equipped with digital radiography (including dental radiographs), ultrasound, in-house chemistry analysis, and endoscopy equipment. A small, on-site library provides the student with various zoological medicine resources including textbooks and journals.
The student is expected to be present Monday-Friday, from 8AM-5PM. Externship blocks last for 3-5 weeks. Overnight and weekend hours are not required, however if interesting cases present during these times the student has the option of coming in to participate. Each day the student is paired with a clinical veterinarian and is able to have as much hands-on participation as each case allows, including restraint, physical examination, venipuncture, anesthetic monitoring, and catheter placement. Some time may be spent shadowing and assisting keeper staff to learn more about specialized husbandry requirements of zoo and exotic species.