Residency Programs
RESIDENCY PROGRAM IN EQUINE SURGERY
Objectives:
- To provide advanced clinical training in all areas of equine surgery, and lameness.
- To provide clinical instruction of veterinary students in the hospital, and didactic instruction in lameness, and basic surgical and equine practice techniques laboratories.
- To have each resident complete at least one primary author manuscript that will qualify for board eligibility with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS).
- To prepare residents for board certification with weekly journal and clinical case discussions, and with a mock board examination that is given in January of each year.
- To develop clinical expertise in general, abdominal, and orthopedic surgical procedures, as well as lameness diagnosis.
- To complete a rotation in Equine Medicine, and spend at least 100 hours in the disciplines of Radiology, Anesthesia/Critical Patient Care and Pathology.
- To have all residents complete at least 6 presentations throughout the residency program.
- To have all residents participate in the Annual House Officer Seminar Day at least once during their residency program.
- To provide avenues for residents to pursue research opportunities and advanced graduate course work following completion of their residency program.
Justification:
- Excellence in the practice of equine surgery and lameness is largely based upon performing high quality diagnostics, medicine, and surgery. The graduate clinical training program in equine surgery is designed to provide the knowledge and skills required to meet the ever-increasing demands of surgery in private equine practice, as well as to prepare residents for clinical academic positions. In conjunction with the clinical program, residents will also become proficient in diagnostic imaging techniques such as computed tomography, MRI, ultrasound, nuclear scintigraphy, and radiology. The program also stresses excellence in academics and research, which will allow residents to achieve board certification. Having residents continue in a Master's or PhD program in an area of interest following completion of the residency is encouraged.
- Qualifications Required of Applicants:
Minimum qualifications include graduation from an accredited school of veterinary medicine and a one-year internship or equivalent practice experience. The selection of residents is made on the basis of academic achievement, career objectives, letters of recommendation, interpersonal skills, clinical skills, and pertinent experience.
Duration:
The duration of the residency program is 3 years. Renewal for the second and third years will be contingent upon satisfactory performance.
General Scope and Nature of the Training:
First Year Program:
- Residents will rotate primarily through elective and emergency surgery services (surgery service I and the equine intensive care service), a 4 to 5 week rotation on equine medicine, and 2 weeks in large animal radiology, equine anesthesia/critical care, and pathology. No more than one month out of clinics will also be provided.
- Residents will be on primary emergency duty for at least two days per week during their first year. The emergency duty is designed to have 2nd and 3rd year residents as a back up to the 1st year resident. A faculty person is the tertiary back up.
- Residents will have a major role as clinical instructors for senior veterinary students. Opportunities to perform didactic instruction are limited during the first year.
- During journal discussions, residents will develop the ability to critically evaluate veterinary literature, and the process required for preparing for the ACVS board examination. Residents will receive assistance and guidance in the preparation and delivery of two presentations.
- Residents will be required to present cases in weekly clinical case discussions, which will serve as a media for discussing patient management and board preparation.
- Unless already completed, residents will be required to attend the beginning ASIF course.
- Residents will be strongly encouraged to focus on grant submission or begin a research project during their first year. All research activities will be guided and supported by faculty mentors.
Second and Third Year Programs:
- The resident duties and responsibilities will be similar to those of the first year, but with increasing responsibility for patient management. Residents will have some supervisory responsibility for training and supervision of lower-year residents. The second year resident will have no more than 2 months of out-of-clinics professional development time and no more than one month for additional rotations on equine ultrasound (2 weeks) and ophthalmology (2 weeks). Third-year residents will have no more than 3 months of out-of-clinics time. The out-of-clinics professional development time is primarily allotted for resident research project completion and to prepare for specialty board examinations.
- Second year residents will begin to have back up emergency duty and less primary on call. Emergency duty for third year residents will be primarily as a back up to first and second year residents.
- Residents can attend one professional meeting of their choice. Attendance of the advanced ASIF course (if offered) or the ACVS annual meeting is strongly recommended.
- Resident projects and submission of a manuscript to a refereed journal (JAVMA, AJVR or Vet Surg) should be completed by the beginning of the third year. Second and/or third year residents must deliver a paper at the annual VMTH House Officer Seminar Day program, and are encouraged to present a paper at the residents competition of the annual ACVS Meeting.
The VMTH is committed to building strong relationships with its constituents. A major part of the resident’s duties, therefore, includes timely communication with referring veterinarians and clients.
The current salary for the first year of the residency program is $38,424, with 24 days of vacation accrued yearly. Continuation into the second year is contingent upon satisfactory performance.
A personal interview is desirable but not required. If you plan to visit the VMTH, please make advanced arrangements with Katie Dunn kedunn@ucdavis.edu to confirm a date when all or a majority of the faculty will be present.
Selection will be in accordance with the guidelines of the Veterinary Internship/Residency Matching Program. www.virmp.org
The University of California, Davis, and the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital are interested in candidates who are committed to the highest standards of scholarship and professional activities, and to the development of a campus climate that supports equality and diversity.
ALL RESIDENTS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO OBTAIN A CALIFORNIA LICENSE WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE RESIDENCY IN ORDER TO WRITE PRESCRIPTIONS.
RESIDENTS MUST BE ABLE TO ARRIVE AT THE HOSPITAL WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF AN EMERGENCY CALL, THEREFORE, RESIDENTS MUST PLAN TO LIVE WITHIN 15 MILES OF THE HOSPITAL.
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT NEW RESIDENTS BE AVAILABLE TO BEGIN THEIR RESIDENCY PROGRAM ON AUGUST 1, 2013.
