Program Schedule

The schedule is developed to reflect 30 duty shifts in a six-week rotation. Of those 30 shifts, there are two Sundays and a week of seven overnight shifts manning the emergency practice. The seven-day rotation on overnights is followed by a five-day leave. Seven shifts at the Well Health Care Facility follow that time off. Those mornings are in surgery with afternoons spent seeing clients. There are 2 weekends off of the 6 available. The remaining shifts are spent rotating in exam rooms and assisting in surgery. The goal of the program is for the intern to develop both the case and the client relationship while honing their skills as a practitioner. The intern is to handle the case as the practitioner of record with full case responsibility. That responsibility is fully supported by the owners and associate veterinarians. While on overnights, interns are supported by the associate veterinarians via phone or by their attendance.

The program begins June 15th with three meetings a day for the first week. Topics at that time consist of "Art of Practice" and "Policy and Philosophy" of practice. Decreasing to twice a day 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, and anticipated results. Examples include "Cushing's Disease", "Vaccination Protocol", "Dystocia", etc. All morning meetings begin with case rounds and discussions. By the first of November, the morning meetings are decreased to three times a week, consisting of rounds, radiology/surgery presentations, and formal intern presentations.