Externships During Clinical Year

Kaitie Ban, Ross University

Externships during your clinical year are like the little prizes that come with a kid’s meal. Your clinical year in general is the time you finally get to touch things, do things, and put all the hours of memorizing into practice. Realistically, at your university, you will often be writing SOAPs, surgery reports, and treatment sheets for post-operative orders. You’ll be reading literature relevant to your current cases and learning how to use a professional medical library. All of this is important to your education in fourth year, even if it means more paperwork than hands on experience. That’s where externships come in. More often than not, you’ll be even more hands- on with your patients and your cases than at your clinical affiliate. While on an externship you may find yourself as the only other assistant scrubbed into surgery or even performing your first solo spay! 

I have been lucky enough to do the majority of my externships at different veterinary universities on either their anesthesia services or their emergency services. As I am planning to become a veterinary anesthesiologist, it is important to me to see how other universities perform the same tasks/procedures that my clinical affiliate has taught me. I have appreciated the varied exposure to familiar disease processes and procedural work-flow. Each new clinician and house officer I have worked with has taught me something new and that is my favorite part of externships - the never-ending learning. 

I have also used these externship weeks as working interviews or meet-and-greets. I have chosen my externship sites based on where I think I would like to pursue an anesthesia residency. Many classmates have similarly scheduled externships in places they may want to apply to work as a new grad. This has been beneficial in many ways, as I have been able to rule in or rule out programs as well as adjust how each program falls on my rank list. I have heard good and bad reports from students externing with possible future employers. Truthfully, the only way to really get to know the vets, support staff, and workflow of a hospital is to spend time there. That is what makes externships so fruitful! 

Choose your externships wisely, my friends! Make sure that you know what the two to three weeks will entail. Will you be able to touch patients, write treatment plans, take histories? Will you be able to work one on one with a clinician or will you work with a technician? It’s always best to go in with eyes wide open and with a good understanding of what will be expected of you. Consider, also, what you will want to pay attention to and what questions you would like to ask of them. Most externship locations are expecting an inquisitive student and will offer time to answer any questions you have. Take advantage of these opportunities to get to know the kind of clinic or hospital you are considering! These externship weeks are what you make of them, so do your research beforehand and most importantly - have fun! 

Sketch Work

Thank you, Leigha Jessie from Lincoln Memorial University for these incredible works of art. You are so talented!

South Africa Study Abroad Course: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

Rachel Ellerd, Texas A&M

It was a crisp, chilly June morning when 16 eager veterinary students excitedly unloaded off the bus at Amakhala Game Reserve. We were ready to start our South Africa study abroad course and gain knowledge and skills involved in the immobilization and conservation of wildlife. Guided by Dr. Peter Brothers, the veterinarian leading our course, and Dr. Alice Blue-McClendon, our professor from the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine, we quickly gathered into two game-viewers and headed off on our first safari ride. Within minutes, we were immersed in herds of cape buffalo, wildebeest, zebra and white rhino. While the sun set along the horizon, a full-grown African elephant walked within inches of our game-viewer, and I knew this would be a trip to remember.

The view of the sunrise from our tents at Mattanu Game Reserve

After getting a taste of the adventure that awaited us, we spent our first full day in the classroom learning the basics of African wildlife management. 

A herd of giraffe at Amakhala Game Reserve

Next came physiology and pharmacology. Safety being our instructor’s top priority, we learned the ins and outs of the different tranquilizers, sedatives and antidotes we would be working with in the field as well as how and why specific ones work for different species. 

Texas A&M CVM South Africa study abroad class

Brimming with excitement, we started out the next morning by darting wildebeest. It didn’t take long until all 20 veterinary students were working like a well-oiled machine, each with their own duties to make the process as efficient as possible. Each student was able to practice different skills such as administering vaccines, anti-parasitic medicine, drawing blood and monitoring vital signs. 

One of the rescued leopards at Shamwari Big Cat Rescue

Between classroom and safari work, we were able do some sightseeing. Addo Elephant National Park, the third-largest national park in Africa, is a must-see for any elephant lover. One of my favorite days of our trip was an excursion off the coast of Port Elizabeth. We journeyed to St. Croix island, home to the largest breeding colony of African penguins. On our boat ride there, we encountered a pod of more than 100 bottle-nosed dolphins and a rare southern right whale with her calf.

Southern Right Whale, off the coast of Port Elizabeth

Finally, our last stop in the southern cape consisted of giving back to the African community. We brought donations to Isopho, a facility that assists victims of the AIDS pandemic, most of whom are children. The smiles on the kids’ faces were priceless as they scored against us in games of soccer and when they each got their very own bag filled with hygiene care products and treats.

Rhinos during sunset, Amakhala Game Reserve

The next leg of our journey took place at the Mattanu game reserve in the northern cape of South Africa. It was here that we took on our largest and most dangerous immobilizations—giraffe. Because of their enormous size, it took careful planning, incredible skill, teamwork and a little bit of luck to safely dart, treat and guide them onto a specialized trailer using a system of ropes. Once loaded, the feeling of accomplishment that swept over our team was unforgettable.

Walking the giraffe to the transportation vehicle

After more immobilizations, we continued our lectures on the diseases of African wildlife and their conservation. One lecture that really changed my way of thinking was Dr. Brothers’ lecture about hunting and its positive effect on conservation. 

Dr. Brothers teaching me how to shoot a dart gun

Going into the study abroad, it seemed counter-intuitive to me that hunting could help save species from extinction. However, we learned that without carefully maintained and humane hunting to sustain the value of African wildlife, many populations would be killed off to be eaten and make room for farmland instead of being carefully managed and conserved. In addition, the revenue made from hunting is put back into protecting wildlife. 

Sunset at Mattanu Game Reserve

Although all the animal darting was done by veterinarians, we had a unique opportunity to practice shooting from a helicopter on our own. Each student had a short ride in a helicopter that chased a pretend antelope (a volunteer on a four-wheeler with protective gear and a cut-out target on his back) and had five shots with a paintball gun with which to test their skill. 

Immobilization of a red hartebeest

Picturesque Photography

Thank you, Rebecca Gill from Cornell University, for these unique and beautiful photographs!

Some days you have to just follow the rainbow

Just a little guy on a big adventure

National Love Your Pet Day

Might be belated, but it is never too late to celebrate our wonderful pets! The Vet Gazette Editor Kirsten Andersson from the University of Illinois wanted to give her cat, Oliver (aka Pudge), some extra love in honor of National Love Your Pet Day. Hopefully, all of your furry friends got a few extra treats yesterday!