Internship Opportunities
The internship program at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is designed to provide a learning environment in which first year veterinarians:
- Sharpen their diagnostic, therapeutic, reproductive management, and decision-making skills that are crucial to well-rounded equine veterinarians.
- Learn to communicate with and manage clients through a 'hands-on' approach.
- Benefit from our collection of experts that provide state-of-the-art veterinary care.
Internship Areas
Field Care Internship
Consists of rotations through Hagyard Field Care, McGee Fertility Center, McGee Medicine Center, and Davidson Surgery Center from July through December. The remainder of the year primarily consists of field/ambulatory responsibilities involving emergency duties both with and without a senior practitioner. The experience is very intense and extremely diverse due to the large volume of horses treated by a practice of over 40 veterinarians and the enormous referral base that Hagyard Equine Medical Institute enjoys. Interns are often housed on or near some of Kentucky's most spectacular breeding farms.
Medicine Internship
Involves working at the McGee Medicine Center under the direct supervision of 5 ACVIM board-certified internists with additional time spent within the ambulatory environment. This internship provides an unparalleled learning experience with a caseload of over 2,500 annually, including approximately 450 neonates in the Intensive Care Unit. This internship provides a specialized learning opportunity for not only those who desire to focus on the many challenging aspects of internal medicine but also those with the desire for exposure and experience applicable in a future ambulatory practice. Cases frequently admitted to the hospital include neonatal foals, post-foaling mares with complications, high risk pregnancies, pneumonia, gastrointestinal disorders, neurological disease including acute trauma, as well as renal and hepatic disorders.
Sport Horse Internship
This internship involves aspects of veterinary sport horse management. It focuses on client communication and comprehensive services including health and wellness diagnostics and therapies, performance maintenance programs and consultative partnerships. Veterinary work will be with area sport horses clients and at competitions in the area that range from entry level to international events. Time may be split at the winter circuits in either Florida or California.
Surgery Internship
Surgery internships are designed for those students with a sincere interest in pursuing surgical residency programs. Greater then 90% of the intern experience will be based within the Davidson Surgery Center performing daily patient assessments, treatments, nuclear scintigraphy, anesthesia, digital, and standard radiography, as well as lameness and performance evaluations with a high speed treadmill. These interns will rotate through the Internal Medicine service as well.
Benefits for internships include:
- Salary $25,000.00 per year
- Housing Allowance
- Health and Dental Insurance
- $1,500.00 Continuing Education
- Professional dues and licensing fees
- AVMA Professional Liability Coverage
- Business mileage reimbursement
Applicants must visit the clinic before being considered.
Prerequisites of Acceptance:
- Completion in good standing of a DVM or VMD
- A passing score on the NAVLE.
- A veterinary license and accreditation to practice in the State of Kentucky.
- All required board tests must be completed by the beginning of internship.
Applications Process: Interested parties should send a letter of intent, resume, and three letters of recommendation to Rhonda Rathgeber, PhD, DVM, Applications can be submitted throughout the year and are evaluated upon submission. November 15th is the absolute deadline. A visit of the facility is required for all applicants preferably between February and May.