PDF Scholarship Experience: Zachary Schmauch

PDF Scholarship Experience: Zachary Schmauch

During my clinical year at Ohio State University I was able visit VCA University Animal Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii to complete my last externship before graduation. With the help of the PDF scholarship from the SAVMA board I was able to afford this opportunity. VCA university hospital is a very hands-on general practice. There were two doctors on shift at a time, with one doing surgeries while the other doctor would be seeing appointments and the occasional emergency. The entire team at VCA University Animal Hospital were all very welcoming and really loved to teach me while I was there. Even the technicians were constantly helping me with ways to improve my blood draws and catheter placements and encouraged me to keep trying if I was having trouble. Being able to see the different kinds of cases in Hawaii versus somewhere I am used to like Ohio was very interesting. While I was discussing cases and treatment options with the doctors, it made me realize I had to sit back and think of different options that they carry in hospital. For example, they do not have the tick that carries Lyme disease on the island, and so therefore prescribe their patients with different flea and tick preventatives. A few months ago I completed an externship at a specialty dental clinical in Florida. This VCA externship was very heavy on their dentistry and had procedures every day. It was perfect for me to apply the skills and knowledge I learned at my previous externship and really feel confident in that area. I had such an awesome experience during this externship and being able to travel and work in Hawaii for two weeks was the best ending to veterinary school I could have asked for.

PDF Scholarship Experience: Nicole DiLevo

VCA University Animal Hospital - PDF scholarship

During the last two weeks of my clinical year I had the amazing opportunity to complete an externship at VCA University Animal Hospital on Oahu, Hawaii. I was awarded a Professional Development Fund scholarship through SAVMA which really helped me be able to afford externing in Hawaii. VCA University Animal Hospital is a five-doctor general practice in the heart of Honolulu. Two veterinarians work a day, one performs dentals and surgeries while the other sees appointments. I had the opportunity to work with all 5 doctors and they were honestly all amazing. The staff overall was so welcoming and made me so comfortable my entire stay! I was able to assist in several dental procedures, ranging from prophylactic cleanings to extractions, and got to practice taking dental radiographs. It was helpful to see cases in a different region of the United States and discuss how diseases and treatment options change from place to place. For example, Hawaii is a rabies free island. Therefore, it is not one of their core vaccines, and pet owners only vaccinate for rabies if they are traveling to the mainland. The doctors at this hospital also do a lot of the hands-on work, so I was able to take their place and practice many technical skills, like blood draws, catheter placements for surgeries and dentals, and monitor anesthesia, which was great practice. I was assigned to one doctor each day I was there and performed my own physical exams, and then discussed the cases and treatment options with the doctor after each patient’s appointment. The pace at the hospital provided just enough time to do so which was super helpful. I also had a few days off during my two week stay and was able to explore the entire island. The staff gave me great recommendations for food to try and places to explore. This externship was seriously the best way to end my clinical year and final year of veterinary school.