VETERINARY INTERNSHIPS

Our one-year rotating internship program is designed to continue veterinary educational development. Interns are handpicked from a large pool of applicants every year. These applicants, as top performers in their classes at veterinary school, are actively seeking to further their education to become exceptional clinicians or to advance their careers in specialty veterinary medicine.

WestVet interns rotate through each of our specialty services, working directly with our specialists.

Interns are required to:

  • attend daily clinical case rounds
  • see appointments
  • manage surgical and medical cases
  • participate in surgery, radiology, anesthesia, and special procedure

In addition to clinical responsibilities, our interns attend monthly CE seminars and weekly educational/didactic rounds, including journal review, topic rounds, and case presentations. Previous WestVet interns have been selected for specialty residencies in surgery, ophthalmology, radiology, and clinical pathology.

WestVet Internship for DVMsThrough their daily activities and weekly educational rounds, in addition to 24/7 support of our specialists and emergency veterinarians, these young doctors quickly outpace their classmates in their knowledge base, clinical skills, and diagnostic prowess. Our specialists help guide and instruct each intern through this strenuous clinical year. We also encourage our interns to prepare a manuscript for publication.

If you are interested in applying for a rotating internship at WestVet, please find more information on the VIRMP website.

Surgical Internship at WestVet

Our one-year surgical internship program is designed to aid in the application process to a surgical residency. Our goals are to enable the intern to obtain further surgical experience by strengthening their surgical knowledge base, surgical techniques, and pre- and postoperative case management skills.

Applicants are selected from a large pool of highly qualified candidates. Unfortunately, the demand for placement far exceeds the supply. Currently, there are approximately 100 to 120 applicants for approximately 30 to 32 surgical residencies each year. Therefore, surgical internships are becoming the norm in the difficult, rigorous road to becoming board certified in veterinary surgery. To qualify to apply for our surgical internship, applicants must have completed a one-year rotating internship or three years in general practice.

Surgical interns initially rotate through our specialty clinic in anesthesia, internal medicine, and radiology. Much of the remainder of the year is spent rotating through the clinical service with our three board certified surgeons. In addition, our surgical intern also has rotations with the physical rehabilitation and pathology services. He/she is required to develop and implement a research project and strongly encouraged to present the results at a national surgical meeting. Past surgical interns have presented their research at the American College of Veterinary Surgeons Symposium, The Society of Veterinary Soft Tissue Conference, and the Veterinary Orthopedic Society Conference. It is expected this research be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

If you are interested in applying for a surgical internship at WestVet, you may find more information on the VIRMP website.

Veterinary Internships at WestVet

WestVet Emergency & Specialty Center is Idaho’s only integrated small animal emergency and specialty center. Located in the thriving metropolitan of Boise, Idaho with a population topping 500,000 people, we offer the region’s most progressive veterinary care. Boise is situated where the high desert meets the western edge of the Rocky Mountains and is the gateway to exceptional recreational opportunities including whitewater rafting, Nordic and alpine skiing, snowboarding, hunting, backpacking, and camping. Hiking, biking, and fishing are popular activities right in the metro area, accessed by miles of greenbelt along the Boise River. The nearby foothills provide trails for hikers and bikers.

Our services. WestVet is a centrally located, 24-hour veterinary emergency, critical care, and specialty hospital that employs 36 veterinarians. Our practice is housed in a nearly 32,000 square foot state-of-the-art building equipped with digital radiography, CT scan, MRI, oxygen cages, full monitoring equipment, and much more.

Additionally, we are associated with the WestVet Diagnostic Laboratory, a complete in-house diagnostic lab offering hematology, cytology, histopathology, and microbiology services. General practitioners, many of which are internship trained, staff our busy emergency service and are highly trained in all emergencies and routine urgent surgeries. Our specialty practice offers the services of the full-time board certified specialists in internal medicine, surgery, emergency/critical care, ophthalmology, and radiology as well as a part-time board certified oncologist and dermatologist.

Intern rotations. With such an extensive variety of veterinary services offered, interns will be exposed to a diverse caseload, rotating through each specialty, physical therapy, and emergency service.

  • Internal medicine. Interns will see cases and will gain experience in endoscopy, bronchoscopy, cystoscopy, rhinoscopy, ultrasonography, laparoscopy, and transfusion medicine.
  • Oncology. WestVet’s clinical oncology service receives a diverse cancer patient case load. Interns will be exposed to work up and treatment of cancer patients, including staging procedures, biopsy, and the administration of chemotherapeutic agents.
  • Surgery.  WestVet’s surgery department sees a wide variety of orthopedic, soft tissue, and neurosurgical cases. Orthopedic procedures include fracture fixation, arthroscopy, TPLO, TTA, total hip replacement, correction of angular limb deformities, and other routine procedures. Fluoroscopic-guided, minimally invasive repair is also performed. Soft tissue surgeries include an array of abdominal and thoracic procedures, as well as surgical oncology. Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic procedures are also routinely performed. Common neurosurgical procedures include hemilaminectomy, ventral slot, cervical stabilization, and lumbosacral stabilization.
  • Physical therapy/rehabilitationWhile rotating through this service, interns will assist in hydrotherapy sessions in the water treadmill, acupuncture, and other various exercises and activities used in our rehabilitation programs.
  • RadiologyWestVet’s radiology department is equipped with digital radiography, CT scan, MRI, fluoroscopy, and ultrasonography. Interns will be exposed to many advanced imaging techniques, as well as the indications and interpretation of these studies.
  • OphthalmologyOur ophthalmology department provides services that include cataract surgery, electroretinograms, tonometry, biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy, gonioscopy, glaucoma treatment, intra- and extraocular surgeries, various ulcer treatments, cryotherapy, and a wide variety of medical treatments for common veterinary eye conditions.
  • Emergency Veterinary and critical care. Our 24/7 emergency hospital receives walk-in emergency cases and transferred critical care cases from approximately 95 area veterinary hospitals. Additionally, our ER service cares for our own hospitalized specialty patients. A boarded certified specialist in emergency and critical care manages these services. Our emergency and critical care department are equipped with full monitoring, including invasive and noninvasive blood pressure, ECG, telemetry, and CVP. Oxygen cages and a ventilator are available. Interns will be exposed to a variety of outpatient cases and will gain invaluable experience in the management and diagnosis of a wide range of medical and surgical diseases.
  • PathologyInterns rotating through the WestVet Diagnostic Laboratory will be exposed to a variety of diagnostic laboratory services. Our in-house laboratory includes the abilities for CBC, full chemistry profile, coagulation profile, cytology, and other routine tests. The rotation will focus on clinical pathology, cytology, and surgical histopathology.
  • In addition, Dermatology rotations are provided, and interns are allowed a limited number of out-rotations in specialties not available at WestVet.

Rounds. Interns will participate in daily case rounds, which will include a thorough discussion of each case. Weekly rounds will also be provided and will include journal club, topic rounds, morbidity/mortality rounds, radiology rounds, and case presentations. Pathology rounds are also provided.

Serious candidates are strongly encouraged to have a personal or phone interview. In addition, externships/preceptorships are welcomed. Accepted candidates will be required to obtain Idaho Licensure before beginning the internship.

Interviews may be scheduled with Dr. John Chandler at 208.375.1600. Feel free to email any questions.

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