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Key Considerations for Securing Highly Competitive Internships, Externships & Residencies typography
By Dr. Brett Shorenstein, VMD
digital illustration of a woman thinking
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ike other healthcare-related fields, veterinary medicine can be a demanding world that requires diverse skills and real-world experience. While classroom learning lays the foundation, internships and externships play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between theory and practice. However, securing these opportunities has grown increasingly competitive over recent years, especially among residencies. So, why consider venturing into these postgraduate opportunities?

With options like rotating, specialty and residency programs, motivations vary and are unique to each aspiring veterinarian’s goals and desired outcomes. Regardless of your “why,” navigating today’s competitive landscape requires both strategic decision-making and the development of skillsets that go beyond the practical to ensure you stand out. Here are some key considerations to help guide future veterinarians through the process:

Select a Path that Maximizes Learning Experiences
To start your path, it’s important to grasp the key distinctions between internships, externships and residencies, and how each experience can shape your skillsets differently. From there, you can identify which personalized toolkit serves as the optimal steppingstone toward the professional you aspire to be.
Key Considerations for Securing Highly Competitive Internships, Externships & Residencies typography
digital illustration of a woman thinking

By Dr. Brett Shorenstein, VMD

L

ike other healthcare-related fields, veterinary medicine can be a demanding world that requires diverse skills and real-world experience. While classroom learning lays the foundation, internships and externships play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between theory and practice. However, securing these opportunities has grown increasingly competitive over recent years, especially among residencies. So, why consider venturing into these postgraduate opportunities?

With options like rotating, specialty and residency programs, motivations vary and are unique to each aspiring veterinarian’s goals and desired outcomes. Regardless of your “why,” navigating today’s competitive landscape requires both strategic decision-making and the development of skillsets that go beyond the practical to ensure you stand out. Here are some key considerations to help guide future veterinarians through the process:

Select a Path that Maximizes Learning Experiences
To start your path, it’s important to grasp the key distinctions between internships, externships and residencies, and how each experience can shape your skillsets differently. From there, you can identify which personalized toolkit serves as the optimal steppingstone toward the professional you aspire to be.
  • Internships provide recent graduates with practical experience and opportunities to refine their clinical skills under seasoned professionals’ guidance in a clinical setting. These immersive programs expose interns to diverse cases, specialties and procedures, helping them build confidence and competence. However, the financial and time commitment can be significant factors to consider when exploring this path.

    Recent graduates typically kick-start their journey with a rotating internship, which is highly recommended for honing surgical, medical and emergency skills. This step is often a prerequisite to coveted specialty internships in cardiology, diagnostic imaging and more, where dedication and that extra year of expertise can pave the way to landing a competitive residency.

  • Externships offer students the opportunity to explore various facets of veterinary medicine in an intensive, controlled environment. These short-term placements apply educational knowledge in real-world scenarios to deepen understanding and aide in informed decision-making. Externships focus on developing specific clinical skills without the financial strain or time commitment of internships, making them a beneficial option for recent graduates. However, opportunities may be limited by individual veterinarian school offerings.

    Engaging in an externship at the prospective internship site provides valuable insights into the organization’s operations and day-to-day activities, offering a firsthand understanding of the work environment and facilitating informed decision-making about potential future roles before applying.

  • Residencies are advanced postgraduate training programs that specialize in specific areas of veterinary medicine, offering intensive, focused training. Typically spanning several years, these programs equip residents with in-depth knowledge, hands-on experience and mentorship, preparing them for advanced roles within their chosen veterinary specialty.

    To maximize opportunities, residents should take the time to fully understand treatment plan adjustments, asking senior doctors additional questions to absorb the educational experience.

Seek Opportunities for Networking, Shadowing and Mentorship
Serving as guides throughout your veterinary journey, networks, mentors, and shadowed experiences can help you navigate challenges and setbacks with confidence and understanding. The advice, emotional support and encouragement from the connections forged across these guides can make all the difference during tough times.

  • Networking is a key to success, as it fosters professional connections that can lead to collaboration, mentorship and career opportunities. A strong network can help new veterinarians understand emerging industry trends and insights and create a supportive community that enhances both personal and career development.

    It is critical to start building these professional relationships early on. Consider your existing network of fellow students, recent graduates, professors, clinicians you’ve studied with, and even alumni who may be willing to support you. Additionally, joining veterinary medicine associations expands your network to gain exposure to colleagues in your area.

  • Shadowing in the veterinary field provides aspiring professionals with a firsthand glimpse into the daily responsibilities and challenges faced by practicing veterinarians. This experience helps individuals confirm their passion for the profession and allows them to observe various veterinary practices and medicine specialties.
  • Mentorship also plays a pivotal role in professional growth and development by providing guidance and support at the start of your veterinary career. Established veterinarians offer a unique perspective that taps into years of experience.

    Mentors are invested because they understand the importance of starting your career on the right foot, leading to the next generation of veterinarians. Many veterinary networks are working toward creating their own internal mentorship programs to ensure that veterinary professionals are set up for early-career success.

Develop Overlooked Skills Outside of the Classroom
Aspiring vets often underestimate the significance of communication in veterinary medicine. Beyond treating a furry friend, you’re navigating the complex emotions, anxieties and hopes of concerned pet parents. While technical skills form the foundation, mastering communication and empathy can distinguish you in a competitive landscape.
While technical skills form the foundation, mastering communication and empathy can distinguish you in a competitive landscape. typography
Sharpen your communication skills both in the learning environment and your daily interactions to develop your bedside manner and embrace emotional intelligence to excel as a veterinary professional. You can do this by practicing active listening with family and friends, providing clear and concise explanations, and demonstrating empathy and compassion when understanding emotional journeys.

Depending on your goals, acquiring business skills can enhance your understanding of efficient veterinary practices and hospital operations. Many schools offer opportunities to obtain a veterinary business certificate, which serves as a foundation for learning how veterinarians play a vital role in supporting and growing the business. While not mandatory, adopting a business-focused mindset can complement your skillset and set you apart from the competition when marketing yourself as an asset to a veterinary team.

Maintain a Strong Academic Record
Maintaining a strong academic record is crucial and often a prerequisite for postgraduate veterinary opportunities. A favorable academic record positions students as competitive candidates, providing an edge in admission processes for internships, externships and residencies. Beyond these, a strong academic foundation opens avenues for pursuing postgraduate education or specialized degrees in veterinary medicine.

Veterinary professionals are held to high ethical and professional standards. Demonstrating academic excellence reflects a veterinarian’s commitment to upholding these standards throughout their career, enhancing their professional credibility. Additionally, students should maximize campus resources and stay up to date with the latest research, industry news and advancements to ensure they are remaining ahead of the curve in this evolving industry.

Charting your veterinary career path can be winding. However, approaching this journey with humility, an open mind and a positive attitude can go a long way. These experiences will not only refine your skills and build confidence; they will also elevate animal care and welfare through your knowledge and expertise.

Reflect on your “why” for choosing this career path. As the veterinary field continues to evolve, practical experiences gained through internships, externships and residencies become increasingly imperative. Staying competitive ensures optimal experiences that will enable you to deliver the best possible care to patients and their families.

Brett Shorenstein headshot
Dr. Brett Shorenstein, VMD, is a practicing veterinarian and co-founder of Veterinary Innovative Partners (VIP), a growing network of veterinarian-owned and operated hospitals across nine states. Previously an investment banker in New York City, he left the industry to follow his true passion of becoming a small animal veterinarian. Combining his financial expertise with veterinary training, Dr. Shorenstein focuses on cultivating a positive workplace culture and reigniting fellow veterinarians’ passion for their work.