The extern will have the opportunity to learn how to provide clinical, diagnostics, and surgical care to a variety of research species including rodents, USDA species, avian species. Opportunities can also include IACUC and regulatory activities such protocol review, semi-annual inspections, and post approval monitoring. USC is an ACLAM accredited residency program, and the extern will participate in the didactic program.
USC's Department of Animal Resources has a staff of roughly 50. Currently has 4 veterinarians, two of them are ACLAM boarded and the other 2 are board eligible and 5 registered veterinary technicians. USC serves roughly 300 Investigators in the School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, School of Dentistry, School Engineering, and Division of Biological Sciences in the School of Letters and Science across two campuses.
Typical work business hours are from 8-4, Monday to Friday. Externs are expected to arrive by 8 or at a pre-arranged time depending on the needs of the scheduled procedures. Externs are expected to come with a collegial attitude, curiosity, and a desire to learn. There will be a mixture of shadowing of both veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Hands on opportunities will be available based on service needs, externs comfort level, and will always be supervised. Since USC is a large research university with multiple vivariums externs will always be with a member of the veterinary staff and not expected to work completely independent.