wyoming wildlife disease Veterinary extern program

Department of Veterinary Sciences

University of Wyoming

Eligibility for the Externship: Within the limitations of personnel time and space availability, 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 have been made (i.e., for scheduled experimental and/or field studies where more students can be used).  Students with the best qualifications, as demonstrated by resume and academic standing, will be chosen for a given time period.

How to Apply: Students should apply by letter or email to the externship program (see below).  The application should include a general resume, a statement of career goals, and the time periods preferred for the externship.  The applicant also should have a letter sent from the academic dean at his/her college indicating approval of the externship following acceptance to the program.  Externship programs should be arranged at least 3 months in advance of the starting date.  Each participant must have his/her own health insurance.

Externship description:  The primary purpose of the externship is to expose veterinary students to the many aspects of wildlife population medicine.  Major objectives are to acquaint veterinary students with:

·         The role of diagnostic veterinarians in the maintenance of healthy

          wildlife populations

·         The interaction of wildlife management and wildlife health

·         Examples of major diseases of free-ranging wildlife

·         Research studies on diseases of wildlife

Treatment of wild animals for illness or injury is NOT an aspect of THE externship

Length of the externship is flexible, between 1 and 12 weeks.  Externs participate in activities of the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory related to wildlife and domestic animal diagnostics, research, and fieldwork as they arise during the time of the externship, and may be asked to participate in seminars or in the preparation of scientific manuscripts, as opportunities develop. Due to the nature of wildlife work, the exact activities will vary by season and ongoing activities.  We work closely with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and opportunities may arise to interact with biologists and veterinarians with the Department.

Questions on enrollment/application information: Please contact either:

Todd Cornish DVM PhD DipACVP
Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, 1174 Snowy Range Road, Laramie, Wyoming 82070;
Phone (307) 742-6638
Fax (307) 721-2051

OR

Cynthia Tate DVM PhD
Wyoming Game and Fish Department, 1174 Snowy Range Road, Laramie, Wyoming 82070
Phone: (307)742-6681 Ext. 171
Fax: (307) 721 2051

Housing and Financial Assistance: Funding is available from two endowments to help defray the cost of travel to the Department, and for accommodation.  Students should also consider contacting the CL Davis Foundation 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 in securing 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. 

Evaluation of the Extern: Formal tests will not be given. The instructors of the wildlife 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, development of new knowledge, skills, and abilities, and on the ability of the student to project a professional image.