Small Animal Rotating Internship

Small Animal Rotating Internship

The UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital offers a 53-week Small Animal Rotating Internship for five veterinarians seeking advanced postgraduate clinical training. The program provides a structured, mentored experience across core and specialty services.

Objectives of the Program

The primary objective of the Small Animal Rotating Internship is to help veterinarians transition from entry-level clinical training to advanced clinical practice or specialty residency training. Through supervised experiential learning, interns develop clinical competence, professional communication skills, clinical teaching abilities, and progressively greater autonomy in patient care.

The program prepares interns for careers in specialty residency programs, academic clinical practice, referral medicine, or high-quality private practice. The internship will provide the broad clinical foundation expected of competitive residency candidates.

Clinical and Teaching Responsibilities

Interns will participate in supervised daytime and after-hours clinical duties across multiple hospital services. They will assume primary responsibility for cases appropriate to their experience, knowledge, and level of comfort. Faculty support and supervision are provided throughout the year, with increasing responsibility and autonomy as interns demonstrate greater clinical proficiency.

The program exposes interns to a diverse caseload that includes emergency, first-opinion, referral, and specialty cases. Interns are expected to manage emergency patients and may be assigned responsibility for more complex cases under the supervision of a board-certified specialist. Emergency rotations include overnight and weekend responsibilities.

Interns also participate in the clinical education of veterinary students under faculty supervision. Interns are expected to develop as clinical teachers and team leaders while supporting a collaborative learning environment.

Clinical duties are structured to allow for appropriate rest between shifts, and one full day in seven free from in-hospital clinical work and scheduled educational activities (averaged over 4 weeks).

Clinical Competencies

The internship uses a competency-based approach organized around Entrustable Professional Activities. By the completion of the program, interns are expected to demonstrate competence in:

• Performing comprehensive assessments of new patients
• Developing and modifying diagnostic and treatment plans
• Communicating effectively with clients, including during complex or emotionally challenging discussions
• Prioritizing care according to patient needs and client resources
• Maintaining accurate and timely medical records
• Communicating effectively with the medical team and referral community
• Teaching and leading clinical-year veterinary students

Mentorship and Professional Development

Interns participate in a structured mentor-mentee program and meet quarterly with a mentor from the Rotating Internship Committee to review their progress, professional goals, and evaluations. Faculty members from each participating service provide direct clinical supervision, teaching, feedback, and formal assessment during their respective rotations.

During the first weeks of the program, interns will participate in didactic and hands-on sessions addressing topics such as clinical teaching, giving and receiving feedback, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, wound management, and the initial management of shock. Throughout the year, interns will attend service-specific rounds, journal clubs, interns seminars, grand rounds, hospital-wide educational activities, and professional development lectures as permitted by their clinical schedules.

Each intern is also required to deliver at least one formal presentation to peers and faculty during the internship year.

Course of Activities

The 53-week program includes:

Elective opportunities may include research, rotations in exotics medicine, orthopedic surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology, primary care, anatomic pathology, radiation oncology, nutrition, and behavior, or additional rotations within participating services. The rotating structure promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and will allow interns to explore individual clinical and academic interests.

Research and Scholarly Activity

Completion of a research or scholarly project is encouraged but is not required for successful completion of the program. Interns interested in research may use up to two weeks of elective time to pursue a clinical research project, case report, or other scholarly activity with faculty mentorship. Attendance at a veterinary conference may also be permitted during research elective time.

Facilities and Resources

Interns have access to the clinical facilities, diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, information technology systems, and library resources available to UC Davis house officers. Dedicated office space is provided for the rotating intern class within the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

Process of Evaluation

Intern performance is assessed through:

• Rotation-specific written evaluations
• Direct observation and formative feedback
• Quarterly meetings with a mentor from the Rotating Internship Committee

Interns also formally evaluate their rotations and the overall internship program. UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital policies are followed if remediation, probation, or dismissal is required.

Certification

A certificate of successful completion is awarded to interns who:

• Successfully complete all required rotations
• Meet professional conduct and clinical duty expectations
• Complete required program evaluations and an exit interview
• Deliver the required formal seminar
• Receive final approval from the Rotating Internship Committee

Application

The application period begins November 1, 2026, and will remain open until January 4, 2027. Interns are selected through the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program (VIRMP). Phone/Zoom interviews will be upon invitation only.  Detailed application requirements, deadlines, eligibility criteria, and interview information will be included in the annual VIRMP program listing.