Opportunity to observe and participate in all aspects of general practice, including well and sick office visits, formulating diagnostic and treatment plans, medication selection, follow-up plans, case discussions, anesthesia planning, surgery, dental procedures, and euthanasia.  Emphasis on fear free handling and communication and connection with clients in order to best serve the patient's interests.  Mentoring will be provided for all aspects of participation.

Students joining our clinic for an externship receive an immersive experience in small animal general practice.  They are engaged in discussing cases, performing exams, reading cytology samples, interpreting lab results, and observing dentistry and surgery. They are welcomed to observe and, when appropriate, participate in interactions with clients. Our clinic also sees exotics including small mammals, reptiles, and birds, so students will have exposure to a variety of species. One of our doctors is skilled in acupuncture, so there is also a chance to observe alternative medicine modalities. Our clinicians enjoy teaching and are experienced with externs. 

The student will join in the daily work of the V.E.T. Net NGO.  The organization is an educational NGO that seeks to improve the knowledge and skills of national veterinarians.  As such, the primary goal will be an exchange of knowledge rather than a chance to perform many procedures.  It is important to us to impart knowledge and skills that will be clinically useful here rather than teaching the way things are done in the USA, many of which cannot be practically applied in the local context and could potentially lead to discouragement of local veterinarians.  We will seek to use the interest of the student to guide the specifics of how he/she will be involved, but the general format will likely include involvement in 2 main areas.  One will spend some time at a small animal clinic run by the NGO.  Here the student will work in a setting that is similar to rural practices in the USA, but it is actually one of (if not the most) advanced clinics in the country.  The rest of the time will be spent working with an intern program comprised of recent graduates.  The student will be able to interact and learn about the local culture from their peers here and will also take part in both preparing and listening to lectures as well as participation in hands on labs.  Depending on what is needed/occurring, it is also possible that the student can participate in some large animal house calls as well.

Small animal predominant practice seeing dogs and cats primarily with some exotic, wildlife and small ruminant cases. 

Cases are anywhere from general medicine, surgery and dental to urgent care and emergency. The practice is the only hospital on an island so we have to deal with all kinds of cases, many requiring extensive stabilization prior to transfer or no transfer at all and intensive care depending on ability to travel. 

Externs will be shadowing in appointments, in urgent care/ER or in surgery. They will be expected to help restrain or obtain samples if needed and take part in morning rounds.