United States Dept. of Agriculture, Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, CA (USDA APHIS)

Description of Elective Experience: 

Exposure to the mission and career opportunities of regulatory medicine/public practice with USDA-APHIS-VS.  Disease surveillance for foreign animal and reportable (Program) diseases (avian influenza, bovine TB, bovine brucellosis, etc.) with our field veterinarians (Veterinary Medical Officers - VMOs) throughout the State of California; animal inspection (e.g. horses, ornamental fish, day-old chicks) and international animal movement (imports and exports) with Port VMOs at our Los Angeles Animal Import Center and Port of San Francisco; international movement documentation with Export veterinarians in our Sacramento Service Center; inspection of facilities with VMOs that export and import restricted animal products in Northern California (San Francisco area) and Southern California (Los Angeles and San Diego areas).  Also partnering with USDA, Food Safety Inspection Services (FSIS) to provide exposure to the mission and career opportunities in safeguarding the meat and other animal products that enter the food chain through slaughter establishments.

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

Veterinary Medical Officers (VMOs), Export Document Examiners, Veterinary Epidemiologists

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

Active participation and engagement in the educational opportunities offered through the externship.

Supervisor: 
David Ewey, Director, Service Center 6
Website: 
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth
Address: 
10365 Old Placerville Rd., Suite 210
Sacramento, CA 95827
United States
Animal Type: 
Practice or Institution Type: 
Is student housing available?: 
No
Hours of supervision by a licensed veterinarian per week: 
40