Extern/Intern

Externship Program

The externship at Arizona Equine Medical and Surgical Centre is designed for an individual who is seeking significant interaction with the staff and veterinarians in the various portions of an equine practice. Ideally we would like applicants who can make at least a 2-3 week commitment. However, we will accept any externs for lesser time as well. We enjoy visits from students world-wide, and encourage students to see some of Arizona while they are here. The Grand Canyon is several hours away, as are many wonderful hiking and other sightseeing opportunities.

Interaction with the veterinarians can be expected, plus additional opportunity to have extra time in given areas of individual preference (i.e. surgery, anesthesia, reproduction, ultrasonography, etc.). As you will be assisting the doctor with clients, a neat appearance and appropriate attire is required. Ragged, faded jeans and t-shirts are not considered appropriate attire.

Student housing is provided in the hospital. In exchange an extern helps to performat treatments and after hours emergency assistance. Unfortunately, due to the nature of our business and limited housing, we do not have accommodations for pets. There is a refrigerator and microwave available for extern use and there are also two restaurants within walking distance. As transportation is very limited, students are encouraged to bring a vehicle or rent a car if transportation is desired. If flying into Phoenix, the most economical transportation to the clinic is the “SUPER SHUTTLE”. This can be found outside of each terminal baggage claim. If you wish to make reservations prior to your arrival the phone number is (602) 232-4610. If you are a veterinary student and have an AVMA number please be sure to bring it.

The caseload at Arizona Equine Medical and Surgical Centre is somewhat seasonal, with summer being slower than spring, fall and winter. While virtually all aspects of equine practice will be noted at any given time, currently our case load is strongest in lameness evaluations (and ancillary tests), elective soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, diagnostic ultrasonography, nuclear scintigraphy, and routine preventive care. Reproduction and foal care is significant during spring-time.

We hope that this has provided you with sufficient incentive to do an externship at Arizona Equine Medical and Surgical Centre. If you desire further information, please do not hesitate to call. Otherwise, please complete the enclosed application and return it with your resume at your earliest convenience. The positions are filled on a “first come, first serve” basis and there is often more than one student interested in a certain time period. As we try to accommodate as many requests as possible, we need specific dates that you will be present at the Centre. Frequently, students request time off to sightsee while here. Time is available for these activities if you let us know of your plans in advance.

Click to download an Extern application.


Internship Program

Every year, Arizona Equine Medical & Surgical Centre accepts applications for two or three internship positions.

  • The intern’s primary responsibilities include emergency duty and care of hospitalized and surgical cases.
  • The intern works with a senior veterinarian when on emergency duty.

Please provide the following via email:

  • Resume
  • Letter of intent
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Reference from individual with knowledge of your academic performance and clinical skills

For important information regarding internship,
please read the below:


JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB DURATION:
1 year starting in June

INSURANCE:
Full medical benefits on the employee. Spouse and family may be included in the corporate policy at employee expense. Liability insurance is included.

DRESS CODE:
Slacks and shirts or blouses are considered appropriate. Denim or jeans and T-shirts are not appropriate.

EQUIPMENT:
The intern is required to have his/her own stethoscope.

TRANSPORTATION:
Not supplied. A veterinary truck will be supplied for ambulatory or emergency work, but is otherwise committed.

EMERGENCY WORK:
The intern will begin a normal emergency duty upon arrival. This entails serving as backup to primary veterinarian. This includes assisting and overseeing in-clinic cases. Our senior veterinarians cover our primary emergency calls. The intern will have 2 weekends a month off unless attending their hospitalized cases. All veterinarians carry cell phones to help if needed, unless out of town.

VACATION/SICK DAYS:
Each intern gets 8 personal days to use as they see fit in their internship, pending approval of the senior partner they are working with.

STATE LICENSE:
A state license is required prior to beginning the internship. The test is offered monthly. The intern is responsible for all fees.

COMPENSATED CONTINUING EDUCATION:
We provide 2 days off a year and a $500 stipend for CE purposes. 


INTERNSHIP CLINICAL GOALS

We would would like every finishing intern be an accomplished and experienced general equine veterinarian. Our program is set up to make this happen. Our interns gain valuable experience helping to manage both referral surgical and internal medicine cases and our internship is a valuable gateway to a residency if the intern wishes to pursue advanced training. Our partners maintain relationships with specialists at most university teaching hospitals and we actively advocate for our interns that want to pursue advanced training. For those interns that wish to enter a general practice after our internship, we aim to equip them with the needed skills to be exceptional equine veterinarians. Due to the diversity of our caseload and the responsibility with which we entrust our interns during the year, we estimate that a year at our practice is equivalent to 5-6 year’s experience gained on one’s own. As you examine our intern graduates below, you can see that we are very successful at training the next generation of equine veterinarians.


OUR PAST INTERNS – WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

1993-1994:
Jennifer Miller, Private Practice, Cave Creek, Arizona
Irene Doerksen, Private Practice, Chino, AZ Deceased

1994-1995:
Renee Andrea, ACVS, Residency in Equine Surgery – UC Davis, Private Practice, Phoenix, AZ

1995-1996:
Leslie Schur, Private Practice Las Vegas, NV

1996-1997:
Nathan Slovis, ACVIM, Residency in Equine Medicine – UC Davis, Private Practice, Lexington, KY
Valentine Moses, Residency in Equine Surgery – Ohio State University, Industry, Illinois

1997-1998:
Elaine Carpenter, ACVS, Residency in Equine Surgery – CSU, Private Practice Phoenix, AZ, Deceased
Mary Moore, Private Practice, Wyoming

1998-1999:
Camilla Van Liew, Private Practice, South Carolina
Dawn Loesch, ACVS, Residency in Equine Surgery, University of Florida – Private Practice, Palm Beach, Florida

1999-2000:
Jeff Alldredge, ACVS, Residency in Equine Surgery – CSU, Private Practice, Scottsdale, AZ
Tresha Robinson, Private Practice, Partner at Arizona Equine

2000-2001:
Nicole Johnson, ACVS, Residency in Equine Surgery – UC Davis, Private Practice, Colorado
Peter Heidman, ACVIM, Residency in Equine Medicine – UC Davis, Private Practice, Montana

2001-2002:
Jennifer Schleining, ACVS, Residency in Equine Surgery – Iowa State University – clinician at Iowa State Large Animal Clinic
Stephanie Mathis (Hibbits), ACVS, Fellow at Oregon State University; Residency Equine Surgery, Private Practice, California

2002-2003:
Kelly Anderson, Private Practice, AZ
Sam Hendrix, Residency in Equine Surgery, CSU

2003-2004:
Jill Higgins, Private Equine Practice, Sacramento,CA
Adam Eichelberger, ACT, Equine Reproduction Residency, University of Florida, Private Practice in South Carolina

2004-2005:
Jamie Higgins, DACVIM, Equine Medicine Residency, UCDavis, Private Practice Idaho
Tania Kozikowski, DACVIM, Equine Medicine Residency, UCDavis
Suzon Schaal, Private Practice, Calgary, Canada

2005-2006:
Beau Whitaker, Private Equine Practice, Texas
Erin McFadden, Private Equine Practice, Pittsburg, PA
Marie Bartling, Private Mixed Practice, Colorado

2006-2007:
Jillian Adler, Private Equine Practice – Colorado
Joanna Kouwenberg, Private Equine Practice – Colorado
Sarah Graham, DACVS, Residency in Equine Surgery – University of Florida
Chris Bell, ACVS, Residency in Equine Surgery – University of Saskatchewan, Private Practice, Winnipeg, Canada

2007-2008:
Anne Ray, Private Practice, Washington
Elizabeth Bush
Jessica Michel
J.R. Lund, Residency in Diagnostic Imaging, University of Wisconsin

2008-2009:
Jessica Carey Duncan
Jennifer Grimes
Sarah McNitt, Residency in Internal Medicine, private Practice
Abby Obermiller, Private Practice, Nebraska

2009-2010:
Dr. Robert Stewart, Private Practice, Alabama
Dr. Nathan Heidbrink, Private Practice, Florida
Dr. Stacey Cameron

2010-2011:
Dr. Nick Moore, Private Practice, Moore Equine in Georgetown,TX
Dr. Krystle Azerolo, Private Practice, New Mexico

2011-2012:
Dr. Jessica Fragola, Ophthalmology fellowship – UW Madison
Dr. Wade Walker, ACVS, Residency in Equine Surgery, Cornell, Private practice, California

2012-2013:
Dr. Mindy Himler
Dr. Megan Lustig

2013-2014:
Dr. Lindsay Smogar, Private practice
Dr. Karla (Penman) Lombana, Private practice – Tucson, Arizona

2014-2015:
Dr. Lauren Zapatelli, Private practice
Dr. Skylar Bieleny, Private practice

2015-2016:
Dr. Drew Durig, Private practice
Dr. Sabrina Wilson, Radiology internship at University of California, Davis

2016-2017:
Dr. Emily Thometz, Private Practice
Dr. Megan Jurasek, Private Practice

2017-2018:
Dr. Rebecca McOnie, Residency in Equine Surgery, Cornell
Dr. Cassandra Klosterman, Residency in Equine Surgery, Iowa State

2018-2019:
Dr.  Barbara McKibbon, Private Practice Arizona

2019-2020:
Dr. Avery Loyd, Large Animal Fellowship, Oregon State University
Dr. Juli Sorenson, Private Practice, Arizona

2020-2021:
Dr. Denisse Holden, Associate at Arizona Equine Medical and Surgical Centre
Dr. Shawna Wood, Private Practice, Arizona

2021-2022:
Dr. Alanoud Alshami “Dr. Ali”, Equine Internship, Equine Veterinary Medical Center, Doha, Qatar
Dr. Gabrielle Gonzalez, Equine Internship, University of Missouri