Shelter Medicine Internship

Mission Statement: To provide an intern with a unique set of service based experiences, giving them an unequaled foundation for a future in the field of Shelter Medicine. These experiences will be largely comprised of surgery, Shelter Medicine Program Mastery and 4th year student instruction (both clinical and didactic) and direct shelter outreach (targeted and Project Shelter).

Structure: A 12-month post-DVM service based program that will function with no less than a five day per week schedule and include time at the Veterinary Health Center, on the road with the Mobile Surgery Unit and on site at various shelter partners.

Shelter Medicine Program Mastery and Fourth- Year Student Instruction: Active participation in current Shelter Medicine rotation under direct faculty supervision provides opportunity to master the topics and surgical techniques which form the foundation of Veterinary Shelter Medicine. As proficiency is demonstrated, regular fourth year student didactic and
surgical instruction will be an included and expanding responsibility.

Surgical Experience: Once surgical proficiency has been demonstrated, the intern will consistently be assigned to provide at least one surgery day per week at a local shelter. The goal is for the intern to complete at least 750 surgeries over the course of the program. These will be primarily spay and neuter but also will include special procedures commonly seen in a shelter setting such as enucleations, cherry eye repairs, dental extractions, amputations, abscess,
laceration repair, etc.

Direct Shelter Outreach: The intern will participate and lead service oriented shelter outreach. This will include regular targeted, topic specific assistance at various shelters and a more immersive long term presence within a single shelter partner (Project Shelter). Direct supervision will be provided by KSU faculty and complete documentation with the intentto publish will be expected of the intern.

Interns will receive tri-annual written evaluations which are discussed with the Intern Advisor and the Hospital Director.

The intern must be present for orientation on the first day of the program.

The Veterinary Health Center is a modern, spacious facility on the campus of Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. The University is in the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas with numerous recreational opportunities available.

Kansas State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. A
background check will be required of all successful applicants prior to employment at Kansas State University. Matched applicants must apply for a Institutional License with the Kansas Board of Veterinary Examiners.

Intern and resident candidates are selected through the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians (AAVC) Veterinary Intern and Resident Matching Program (VIRMP). Information about position availability, program descriptions and forms needed to apply can be found at the VIRMP web site.