By the time Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students reach their final year at the College of Veterinary Medicine, they've mastered the fundamentals of anatomy, physiology and disease treatment.
In their fourth and final year, many opt to spend up to six weeks in externships, which help bridge the gap between academic training and real-world practice. These placements offer hands-on experience in settings such as private practices, corporate offices and state or federal agencies.
“Through these placements, students gain firsthand insight into the practical realities of veterinary practice, including day-to-day operations, client interactions and community relationships that define the profession,” says Erin Burton, the college’s senior associate dean of academic and student affairs.
Here’s how three Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students say their externship experiences shaped their careers.
Sophia Farrow
Sophia Farrow came to veterinary school with a clear goal: to become a veterinary cardiologist. Her externship at a large specialty hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona, gave her the opportunity to explore cardiology and other specialties, including assisting with a rare brain surgery called a front-approach craniotomy.
"I was up there handing the surgeon instruments," she says. "It was amazing."
However, Farrow’s externship at a small rural practice outside Seattle was the most transformative. The hospital was short-staffed, with just one veterinarian, a stark contrast to the specialty hospital’s team of more than 30 specialists.
“I went from being a shadower and learner to a doer,” says Farrow, who built a small client base at the practice and is considering signing a general practice contract with the hospital.
Farrow plans to complete another externship in India. She says her experiences in Arizona taught her valuable lessons in both medicine and professionalism.
“Externships are a way to sell yourself as a veterinarian, to network and to learn how to be an effective and calm communicator,” she says.
Jenna Geier
Growing up, Jenna Geier’s family never had pets, but that didn’t stop her from falling in love with animals — or chasing her dreams of becoming a veterinarian.
The summer before her second year at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Geier fostered a miniature schnauzer named Ruby, a senior dog who was given just two months to live. It turned out that Ruby had other plans and, under Geier’s care, she lived for more than two years. When it was time to put Ruby down, Geier had a veterinarian come to her home so Ruby could pass peacefully in a place where she felt comfortable.
“She was my introduction to how amazing senior pets are and the importance of providing them comfort care during their final years,” Geier says.
Geier externed with Soucheray’s at Home Veterinary Care and Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice to deepen her skills in hospice and palliative care.
“The owners allowed me into their homes during those difficult times,” she says. “They allowed me to witness the human-animal bond, and that is very special. The main goal is to keep the animals comfortable, the humans comfortable, and make sure everyone feels at peace.”
Eliza Merges
For Eliza Merges, the best classrooms don’t have desks — they have dairy cows. Before attending veterinary school, she worked with a large-animal veterinarian in upstate New York, gaining experience in dairy farming.
Merges has completed two externships so far, including one in New York, where she worked on herd checks, assisted with surgeries and helped manage animal welfare and farm production.
“I was also a part of discussions with veterinarians and producers on how to maximize both animal welfare and farm production,” she says.
Her second externship in Indiana focused on managing groups of calves raised by different producers.
“I have never met a farmer who will not teach a student something,” Merges says.
These externships have helped Merges envision herself as a practicing veterinarian and understand the challenges of the profession.
“You learn so many ways of doing one task or accomplishing one goal,” she says. “Then you figure out what works best for you.”
These externships helped these students gain hands-on experience, improve their communication skills, and build professional networks.
