Visit this form to begin the process. You can also apply for aid via the Veterinary Externship Reimbursement for NYC.

Internal Medicine

Veterinary Externship Rotation: Internal Medicine (3 Days in IM, 1 Day in Treatment Room/week)

This 3-day internal medicine externship provides veterinary students with concentrated exposure to the diagnostic and therapeutic management of complex medical conditions in small animal patients. Working closely with our board-certified internist and experienced veterinary technicians, externs will observe and assist in diagnostic procedures, interpret lab and imaging results, and participate in case discussions.

• Key Learning Objectives:
  • Understand the spectrum of care diagnostic approach to chronic and systemic diseases
  • Gain familiarity with interpreting diagnostics such as abdominal ultrasound, radiographs, and laboratory panels
  • Observe and assist with specialized procedures including ultrasound-guided aspirates and endoscopy
  • Learn to formulate differential diagnoses and long-term treatment plans with an eye to spectrum of care options
• Common Conditions Managed:
  • Endocrine disorders: diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease, and Addison’s disease
  • Gastrointestinal diseases: IBD, chronic vomiting/diarrhea, pancreatitis, and hepatic insufficiency
  • Renal and urinary disorders: chronic kidney disease, protein-losing nephropathy, and lower urinary tract disease
  • Hematologic and immune-mediated diseases: IMHA, ITP, and anemia of chronic disease
  • Infectious diseases: tick-borne illnesses, FIV/FeLV, parvovirus, panleukopenia, and leptospirosis

This externship is ideal for students interested in diagnostics, internal medicine, and managing long-term conditions in both shelter and non-shelter settings.

The 4th day of the externship is spent in our hospital’s treatment room to observe acute patient presentation and stabilization.

Specialty Surgery

Veterinary Externship Rotation: Specialty Surgery – Orthopedic & Soft Tissue (3 Days with Specialist, 1 Day with Generalist/week)

This externship offers students observational and hands-on experience in orthopedic and soft tissue procedures for both publicly owned underserved pets and shelter animals. Under the mentorship of a board-certified surgeon, externs will observe advanced surgical techniques, assist with patient management, and learn pre-operative planning and post-operative care.

• Key Learning Objectives:
  • Understand principles of surgical asepsis, instrument handling, and perioperative protocols
  • Observe and assist in orthopedic and soft tissue surgeries
  • Learn to evaluate diagnostic imaging, including radiographs and CT scans, for surgical planning
  • Participate in rounds and discussions on case selection, prognosis, and post-op care
• Common Orthopedic Procedures:
  • Cruciate ligament repair (extracapsular repair, TPLO)
  • Fracture repair (plating, intramedullary pinning)
  • Patellar luxation correction
  • Joint surgery (femoral head ostectomy)
• Common Soft Tissue Procedures:
  • Brachycephalic airway surgery
  • Total ear canal ablation
  • Perineal urethrostomy
  • Perineal herniorrhaphy

Externs also observe anesthesia, pain management, and surgical recovery, building a strong understanding of specialty surgery. Goals include sterile technique, suture handling, instrument identification, and assisting at the surgical table.

Emergency

Veterinary Externship Rotation Emergency Care 5 Days/Week 

This 5-day externship immerses students in a high-volume emergency hospital. Under emergency veterinarians’ supervision, externs evaluate, stabilize, and treat a range of acute and life-threatening conditions.

• Key Learning Objectives:
  • Develop triage and clinical decision-making skills
  • Assist in diagnostics: radiography, ultrasonography, lab testing
  • Gain proficiency in catheter placement, oxygen therapy, resuscitation, and pain management
  • Learn communication strategies for stressful client interactions
• Common Conditions Treated:
  • GI emergencies: foreign body, parvovirus, pancreatitis, HGE
  • Respiratory distress: pneumonia, feline asthma, collapsing trachea
  • Trauma: hit-by-car injuries, bite wounds, fractures, falls
  • Toxicities: chocolate, xylitol, rodenticides, meds
  • Urogenital emergencies: urethral obstruction, pyometra, dystocia, BNPH

This is ideal for students looking to sharpen emergency skills in a low-income, underserved community setting.

Soft Tissue Surgery

Veterinary Externship Rotation: Soft Tissue Surgery – Elective & Emergency (5 Days/Week)

This externship, led by an experienced GP surgeon, offers a blend of elective and emergency soft tissue procedures in a supportive, hands-on environment.

• Key Learning Objectives:
  • Observe and assist in elective and emergency surgeries
  • Gain experience with sterile technique and instrument handling
  • Participate in all stages: intake, anesthesia, intraoperative monitoring, post-op care
  • Assess surgical candidates, case selection, and complication management
• Common Elective Procedures:
  • Spays/neuters (including cryptorchid)
  • Hernia repairs
  • Enucleations
  • Amputations
  • Cystotomies
• Common Emergency Procedures:
  • GI foreign body removal, enterotomy, anastomosis
  • Pyometra spays
  • Dystocia surgeries

Externs take an active role in surgical care and case discussions. Great for students seeking a solid practical foundation.

Dentistry

Veterinary Externship Rotation: Dentistry (5 Days/Week)

This dentistry externship provides hands-on and observational experience under a GP with a strong dental focus. Students participate in a high-volume setting performing 10–15 procedures weekly.

• Key Learning Objectives:
  • Oral anatomy, pathology, and radiograph interpretation
  • Dental charting, nerve blocks, instrument handling
  • Scaling, polishing, extractions
  • Advanced procedures: surgical extractions, periodontal disease, fracture management
• Common Procedures & Conditions:
  • Full-mouth exams and dental radiographs
  • Prophylaxis and extractions
  • Periodontal disease treatment
  • Tooth resorption, stomatitis, fractured teeth

Ideal for students building dental skills and valuing oral health in whole-patient care.

Multidisciplinary

Veterinary Externship Rotation: Multidisciplinary Clinical Experience (5 Days/Week)

This rotation provides a broad overview by rotating through Emergency, Dentistry, Soft Tissue Surgery, Specialty Surgery, and Internal Medicine. It includes both observation and hands-on experience.

• Departments & Key Experiences:
  • Emergency Medicine:
    • Triage and stabilization
    • Common emergencies: trauma, GI, toxins, respiratory distress
  • Dentistry:
    • Exams, radiographs, charting
    • Cleanings and extractions
    • Periodontal disease discussions
  • Soft Tissue Surgery:
    • Spays/neuters, cystotomy, abdominal exploratories
    • Pre/post-op care, anesthesia, sterile technique
  • Specialty Surgery:
    • Complex procedures (e.g., cruciate repair, fracture repair)
    • Surgical rounds and discussions
  • Internal Medicine:
    • Diagnostic workups for chronic/systemic disease
    • Lab and imaging interpretation
    • Conditions: diabetes, kidney disease, immune-mediated, GI
  • Learning Objectives:
    • Broaden interdisciplinary understanding
    • Strengthen diagnostics and communication
    • Practice core clinical skills
    • Explore animal welfare career paths outside shelter settings

Best suited for students seeking a well-rounded experience with an emphasis on spectrum of care and underserved communities.

• Hands-on experience for externs is similar to that of a 4th-year veterinary student which can include shadowing on cases with a senior clinician, performing physical examinations, handling of animals, and assisting in surgery or procedures.
• Unfortunately we cannot provide sole primary case responsibility.
• The amount of hands on experience will vary depending on caseload on that service and whether an intern or resident is also
• If you are a 3rd year veterinary student you will be able to observe, take histories, and assist in handling

The ASPCA Animal Hospital (AAH) is a non-profit animal hospital on the Upper East Side of Manhattan that provides high-quality, specialized, and general medical care to animals belonging to the public, as well as to shelter animals, and those who have been victims of cruelty.

You’ll be given a badge, locker and a print out of your schedule. You’ll also be given a tour of the hospital and introduced to staff on the floor. You’ll be given time to complete the base survey if you didn’t get the chance to last week.

• Stethoscope: this is not required, but feel free to bring one if you have it. Please label your stethoscope in case it becomes misplaced.
• Clothing: Clean shoes/sneakers and scrubs. During the winter, it is best to dress in layers.
• A lunch: Packing food or snacks, as well as water is always advised. There is a fridge, freezer and microwave in the break room which you may use. There are also places close by the hospital where you can buy food.

The areas you will be shadowing are: appointments, treatment, internal medicine, surgery, and dentistry.

You will be scheduled with a different doctor each day. If your assigned doctor has down time during the day, you are encouraged to observe other areas of the hospital.

Please make your specific interests (i.e. surgery, internal medicine, treatment) known so your schedule can be customized as much as possible.

• Sample schedule:
  • Day 1 9a-arrive in lobby and tour
    • 9:15a-intake survey
    • 9:30a-shadow in surgery
    • 1p- lunch
    • 2p shadow in surgery
    • 5p- finish day
  • Day 2
    • 10a - shadow in treatment
    • 1p - lunch
    • 2p shadow in treatment
    • 6p finish day
  • Day 3
    • 9a - shadow in appointments
    • 1p - lunch
    • 2p - shadow in appointments
    • 5p - finish day

We accommodate externs for 1-2 weeks.

You will have access to appointments, treatment rooms, internal medicine, and surgery.

Yes, please contact Jaclyn Larosa.

Unfortunately, we do not offer housing accommodations or parking. We do offer reimbursement for some program expenses. Learn more.