Veterinary Student Extern

Job Description

Veterinary Extern – General Practice | NVA General Practice

The Tone:
This is an externship at Greywolf Veterinary Hospital, a full-service companion and exotic animal hospital operating under NVA General Practice, located on the scenic Olympic peninsula in Sequim, WA. The hospital prides itself on a dedicated team and a multi-DVM practice offering a wide range of services including dentistry, surgery, ultrasound, and digital radiology. This role provides veterinary students with an immersive opportunity to gain hands-on clinical experience and develop essential communication skills in a patient-centric environment that prioritizes gold-standard medicine and work-life balance. Externs will contribute to the medical management of a diverse patient population, including unique cases from USFWS and NOAA, all within a friendly, pet-focused community.

The TL;DR
• Role: Externship
• Location: In-person, Sequim, WA

• Team: Part of a multi-DVM practice, working closely with a supervising veterinarian.
• Mission: To support patient care and clinical operations by developing practical veterinary skills and contributing to the treatment of a diverse patient base, including unique exotic and wildlife cases.
• Tech Stack: Veterinary software

What You’ll Actually Do
• Patient Care Collaboration: Work directly with supervising veterinarians to gain practical experience in gathering detailed patient histories and conducting thorough physical examinations.
• Medical Strategy Development: Participate in the creation of comprehensive treatment plans and contribute to diagnostic processes to guide patient care effectively.
• Advanced Clinical Procedures: Observe, assist with, or perform a variety of advanced clinical services including full-service dentistry, general surgery, and other diagnostic procedures such as ultrasound and digital radiology.
• Specialized Case Management: Engage with and treat unique and complex cases as a dedicated provider for the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
• Practice Operations and Communication: Develop communication skills by interacting with the medical team, support staff, and clients, while also receiving training on veterinary software, managing healthcare plans, and utilizing the on-site pharmacy.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Current enrollment as a veterinary student pursuing a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) is required. This externship is designed as an entry-level opportunity for students to gain foundational experience in general practice.
• Experience: No prior professional veterinary experience is explicitly required, as the externship is structured to provide hands-on learning and skill development.
• Skills: Core clinical skills including patient history taking, physical examination, diagnostic interpretation, assistance with surgical procedures, and general medical case management. The ability to effectively communicate with medical teams, support staff, and clients is also essential.
• Bonus: Eligibility for a travel/living expense stipend is available for veterinary students who are in the clinical portion of their education, with the stipend amount for Greywolf Veterinary Hospital being $1,500.