General Internship Program

Hollywood Animal Hospital is offering (7) seven general internships to those qualified candidates who wish to participate in a busy general medical/surgical practice that acts as a referral center for difficult orthopedic, general surgical and medical cases in South Florida. Currently our staff consists of twenty-one veterinarians of whom seven are general interns and one surgical intern, with approximately one hundred and ten support personnel. Two staff members are members of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons; four others are diplomats of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, additionally three members of the American College of Veterinary Radiologists are available for consultation to the practice in the reviewing of our digital radiographs. This group provides additional radiographic expertise for the intern group, as well as daily written tele-radiographic consultation.

In addition the Animal Cancer Care Clinic (ACCC) will rotate interns thru their facility as part of our program. One week of every seven will be spent at that facility.

The Animal Cancer Care Clinic is a state of the art, comprehensive, cancer center located in downtown Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. With four additional satellite hospitals located in the tri-county area (Dade, Broward Palm Beach) ACCC is one of the premier oncology centers in our area. Animal Cancer Care Clinic houses a Varian 2100 Linear Accelerator, CT scanner, Ultrasound machines, Digital radiology, Endoscopy, and Echocardiography. The Animal Cancer Care Clinic jointly cooperates with Hollywood Animal Hospital to provide interns with diverse, practical and well-rounded experiences. Interns work directly with board certified specialists and participate directly with the specialist in case management, treatment planning, and interactive one-on-one didactic rounds during the day. Specialists at ACCC include board certified oncologists, internists, cardiologists, surgeons and critical care specialists. These specialties are in addition to those at Hollywood Animal Hospital.

Hollywood Animal Hospital provides equipment consistent with its efforts as a referral center including a complete line of Synthes bone plating and Biometrics total hip equipment, nitrogen-driven drills, saws and pin drivers as well as external fixators and a Luxar carbon dioxide laser. Isoflurane is used at our eighteen anesthesia stations, with Sevo available. Surgical monitoring is provided with Life Window and BioNet physiologic monitors, respiratory monitors, Doppler blood pressure and SurgiVet pulse oximetry. There are three operating suites, with a total of six tables, available as well as a dental operatory with Schick digital dental radiography. Other radiographic capabilities are provided with two 600 MA 125 Kvp x-ray units with Eklin digitalized processing. Viewing monitors are present in radiology viewing, operating rooms, exam rooms and all offices.

Routine chemistries and hemograms are performed by three laboratory technicians in-house utilizing a ATAC 8000 Spectrophotometer in conjunction with a Sysmex KX-21 cell counter. An Idexx dry chemistry unit is available for after-hours or STAT chemistries along with an I-Stat-Heska unit for blood gases. Storz arthroscopic, video endoscopic and bronchoscopic equipment is available as well as a Philips ultrasound with color Doppler capabilities.

The hospital is open from 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM Monday thru Saturday. A rotating emergency intern clinician is in the building 24 hours a day seven days a week. The records are a paper-lite system through Cornerstone. The general interns’ responsibility for 2010-2011 includes one week of seven on overnight duty, one week at the ACCC with the balance of their time on day clinic rotation or in surgery.

Additionally, we have adjacent to the hospital, a Well Health Care/Out-Patient Clinic for routine services previously provided at the main hospital. The main facility has just completed a renovation increasing our square footage to approximately 20,000. This expansion adds 4 to our 12 examination rooms, a new laboratory, a second prep room and rooms for a CT unit and re-hab area. A new doctor’s office, two additional wards and a new isolation area will complete our present growth. The hospital information can be viewed on-line at www.hollywoodanimal.com. Intern training is provided through personal case management, discussions, daily rounds, topic presentations and outside lectures. This is a hands-on practical internship supported by rounds and periodic evening meetings. This is not intended to be a didactic training program.

Continuing education meetings are encouraged, as is publishing, although the latter is not mandatory. Intern attendance at a regional or national meeting is financially supported. Daily rounds and in-house presentations occur on a rotating basis. Membership in the American Animal Hospital Association as well as malpractice insurance will be paid by Hollywood Animal Hospital. A $50,000 base salary is provided with additional compensation for receiving emergency patients. This addition is approximately $7,000-$9,000 annually. This brings the interns total compensation package to near $60,000 for the thirteen month program. Two weeks off for vacation and one week for meetings plus partial health insurance supplement round out the benefits. This program extends from June 14, 2009 until July 10, 2010.

The interns schedule is developed to reflect 35 duty shifts in a seven week rotation. Of those 35 shifts there are five Sundays and 7 overnights manning the emergency portion of the practice. The seven day rotation on overnights is followed by a 5 day leave. One week of the seven is spent at the ACCC in oncology. Presently the interns rotate mornings in surgery or clinic and the afternoons seeing clients. There are two weekends off of the seven week rotation. The remaining shifts are spent rotating in exam rooms and assisting in surgery. The final schedule is determined by the total number of interns matched and the present needs of the practice.

The goal of the program is for the intern to mature and grow in developing both case management and client relationship while honing their skills as a practioner. The intern is to handle the case as the practioner of record with full case responsibility supported by senior staff. That responsibility is fully supported by the owners and associate veterinarians. Overnight interns are supported by the associate veterinarians and surgeons via phone or by their attendance for surgical assistance.

The program begins June 14th with “three a day” meetings for the first several days, soon decreasing to twice a day. Topics consist of “Art of Practice”, “Policy and Philosophy” of practice with presentations changing to “Pharmacy and Topics”. Pharmacy is “Practical Pharmacology” while “Topics” consists of a list of 180 topics applicable to small animal practice. Each intern will give a short presentation on a topic, clinical signs, protocol, therapy or anticipated results. Examples include “Cushing’s disease”, “Vaccination Protocol”, “Dystocia”, etc.

Nestled in the heart of the Gold Coast between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, we have quick and easy access to the many cultural, social and sporting events of south Florida.

A Florida license to practice, health certificate accreditation and narcotic license is required. The applicant is to have registered to complete the Florida’s licensure requirements by the spring of 2010.

Interested parties can reply to Dr. James Dee or Dr. Tom Sessa at work at 1-954-920-3556, fax 1-954-920-4716, e-mail Dr Dee at deejim1@cs.com or his home 1-954-920-8450 or Dr Sessa’s e-mail at Tsessa1022@aol.com

Information regarding ACCC is available from:
Dr Stephanie Correa, DVM
Board Certified in Oncology
Animal Cancer Care Clinic
www.AnimalCancerCareClinic.com
Ph: 954.421.5099
Fax: 954.421.9339

Present interns, 2009-2010, available for comments can be reached through the hospital at
954-920-3556 include:

• Dr Crystal Decker, The Ohio State University
• Dr Kerri Lewis, The Ohio State University
• Dr Menaka Bhaskaran, The Ohio State University
• Dr Calli Thompson, Guelph
• Dr Jorden Manasse, U. of Glasgow
• Dr Stephen Jones, University College of Dublin Ireland
• Dr Radka Andrysikova, University of the Czech Republic
• Lauren Pugliese North Carolina (surgical intern)

2008-2009 interns available for comments include:

• Dr. Derek Wineburgh
• Dr. Diana Zapata

2007-2008 interns available for comments include:

• Dr. Alicia Grasso
• Dr. Anne Romano
• Dr. David Shapiro