Diagnostic Externship Program for Veterinary Students

Department of Veterinary Sciences

University of Wyoming

Eligibility for the Externship: Within limitations of personnel time and space availability at the Department of Veterinary Sciences, any third- or fourth-year student in good academic standing from an accredited college of veterinary medicine is eligible for the externship. At present, it is difficult to accommodate more than 2 persons simultaneously unless prior arrangements are made (i.e., during scheduled experimental and/or field studies where more students can be used).   Students with the best qualifications, as demonstrated by resume and academic standing, are chosen for a given time period.

How to Apply:  Students should apply by letter to head of the diagnostic extern program (see below) in the Department of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Wyoming. The letter should include a general resume and the time period(s) preferred for the externship. The applicant should also have a letter sent from the academic dean at his/her college indicating approval of the externship.

Length of Externship: The length of externship is flexible between 3 and 12 weeks.  Most students come here for the shorter periods (3 weeks).   The busiest time of the year and therefore the best time to see routine diagnostic accessions from food animals is late January-early May.

Questions on enrollment: Please contact the head of the wildlife externship program:

Dr. Donal O'Toole MVB, Ph.D., MRCVS, DipECVP, FRCPath
Department of Veterinary Sciences,
University of Wyoming
1174 Snowy Range Road
Laramie
Wyoming 82070
PHONE: 307 742 6638 and FAX: 307 721 2051

Housing and Financial Assistance:  Students are responsible for their expenses.   They should consider contacting the CL Davis Foundation to help with a stipend.  For information about this externship stipend, which is available to veterinary students interested in pathology, contact Dr. Jim Britt DVM MS DACVP at the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission Lab Little Rock, AR 72205 501-907-2435 501-907-2410 fax jbritt@arlpc.org.  Housing can be difficult to locate in Laramie during academic sessions (late Jan – early May; late August – late December).  Faculty members can sometimes assist students secure university accommodation either through the university’s student housing unit at Residence Life and Dining Services or through other entities on campus that have housing for visiting scholars.  You might try commercial services (try 1, 2 or 3), or classified ads in the local newspaper, the Boomerang.  Student housing is most likely to be secured if we are contacted well in advance of your proposed start date.  We have a separate externship for students who come here specifically to work on wildlife diseases.  There is financial support for students coming here on the wildlife externship.

Externship programs should be arranged at least 3 months in advance of the starting date. 

Purpose/Objectives of the Externship: The primary purpose of the externship is to expose the veterinary student to diagnostic veterinary medicine. Major objectives are to acquaint the veterinary student

·         The role of diagnostic pathologists in performing necropsy examination

·         The role of diagnostic microbiologists and toxicologists in establishing  

          the cause of death and illness in animals

·         The interaction with veterinary clients in disease outbreaks in food and

          companion animals

·         Examples of major diseases of livestock and other species

·         Research studies on diseases of livestock and companion animals

Treatment of individual animals for illnesses or injuries is NOT an aspect of the externship

Externship Activities: The extern’s activities depend upon work in progress at the Department of Veterinary Sciences during the time period. An effort will be made to expose the student to a broad variety of experiences. Students will participate in necropsy examinations, including entering gross observations in the laboratory’s database, and following cases through till they are reported to clients. When field trips are available, participation is required. The student will be expected to respond to questions pertaining to assigned readings, lectures, and field experiences, and to participate in graduate student seminars.  Informal lectures and PowerPoint sessions are presented as time permits. The externship program is a team teaching effort.  The extern will be assigned to various faculty members during the program, and may spend time in various units in the laboratory (bacteriology, virology, toxicology, etc).   It is beneficial for the program if the student presents on a topic of interest to the department during his/her stay.

Evaluation of the Extern: Formal tests will not be given. The director of the externship program, in consultation with other faculty members, will evaluate the extern in the format provided by the veterinary college of origin. Strong consideration will be given to work participation, demonstration of academic capability, and on the ability of the student to project a professional image.

What to bring:  Few banana trees grow in Laramie during the winter.  To get around town, it is strongly advised you have access to a car due to the winter conditions and snow.