Externship Experience

Submitted by Externship Grant Recipient Paulina Peralta

During my final year as a veterinary student in Mexico, I had the
opportunity to complete four externships at AZA-accredited zoos in the
United States. These experiences gave me invaluable exposure to the
daily work of zoo veterinarians and the essential contributions of
other animal care professionals, including keepers, veterinary
technicians, and administrative staff. I gained hands-on knowledge in
the management and clinical care of animals under human care and
observed real-world conservation efforts for endangered species. In
three of these rotations, I also had the chance to prepare and deliver
a presentation on a case or topic encountered during my stay, which
sparked an interest in research and scientific writing that I had not
fully explored as a student. These externships deeply shaped my
professional development, and now, as a newly graduated veterinarian,
I am committed to a career in zoological medicine to advance both
animal health and species conservation. As an international student, I
sincerely hope that more people have the opportunity to benefit from
these kinds of formative experiences.

Photography

Submitted by Sydney Long, Iowa State University

Creative Corner

Submitted by Britney Levy, Lincoln Memorial University

Cutest Pet

Submitted by Jessica Wood, Michigan State University

Experiences

Submitted by Madison Brun, Ross University

One of the most influential experiences during your clinical year of Vet school are your

externships. It is imperative to choose ones that allow you to explore your interests and

gain real world experience before tackling the world of veterinary medicine on your own

after graduation. The experiences and relationships created during those externships

will propel you down a path of success and may even lead to future opportunities such

as internships or jobs.

I had the pleasure of taking an externship with Banfield of West Lake, Ohio. I chose this

externship as I was interested in experiencing corporate veterinary medicine, what it

had to offer and how it compared to private practice. I cannot express enough how

much fun and fulfillment I had on this externship. The doctor I worked with was

phenomenal; she challenged me and pushed me to think critically on cases, speak with

clients and encouraged me to come up with treatment plans we could discuss and

implement. I also gained dentistry and surgical experience which was the absolute

highlight of my externship. This externship offered me the ability to gain confidence in

my skills and knowledge, allowing me to feel more prepared as graduation draws near.

I would encourage fellow students to make the most of your externship rotations and

advocate for the hands-on experiences you wish to gain. These are our critical teaching

moments that help prepare us for the real world and may even ignite passions and

interests previously unknown. I would like to thank the Ross University Professional

Development Fund and Banfield of West Lake Ohio for making this one of my favorite

rotations of my clinical year.