Summer is an ideal time to gain hands-on clinical experience that will help to prepare you for your future as a veterinarian. While externships can be incredibly valuable , not all experiences are created equal. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of tips to help you find high-quality externships!
- To find great experiences with reputable organizations, start by checking out the Student Externship Locator on My Veterinary Life®
- Choose a practice that fits your goals and has ample opportunities for you to learn and exercise your skills. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
- Some externships can be expensive once travel, lodging, and other expenses are factored in. Be sure to ask the practice/organization if they are able to provide any housing support or financial assistance during your time with them.
- Remember that as a SAVMA member, you can apply for a variety of travel grants on the SAVMA Awards and Scholarships page.
Protecting Yourself
During Clinical Experiences
Clinical settings come with a wide
variety of risks. Whether it’s administering care to fractious cats, helping large
animals recover from anesthesia, or being exposed to radiation, chemicals, or zoonotic diseases, clinical settings come with
a wide variety of risks. Being informed and prepared is crucial when it
comes to protecting your health, finances, and future.
Here are some considerations:
- Seeking Medical Attention: Make sure you know where the closest urgent care and/or emergency center is located well before an injury ever occurs. Always remember to notify your supervising veterinarian about any injuries, and before you ever begin work, be sure to ask your practice/organization if their Worker’s Compensation policy covers volunteers and interns. If the answer is yes, this coverage may assist with medical expenses in the event that you become injured in the clinical setting.
- Protecting Your Professional Life: Mistakes happen, and they shouldn't define your career. As a SAVMA member, you have access to free veterinary student professional liability coverage that can protect you in the event of a medical error (or allegations of an error, or negligence). Before your externship begins, make sure that you're signed up coverage!
- Protecting Your Belongings: Auto and Renter’s Insurance are available to SAVMA members and can help to provide coverage for your belongings if they are stolen (even outside of your own apartment or house) or if you're in a vehicular accident.
- Safeguarding Your Future in the Event of Severe Injury or Illness: Being a veterinarian can be dangerous, and the same risks exist for students in clinical settings. While rare, it's possible to sustain an on-the-job injury or illness that prevents you from completing veterinary school or forces you to delay your education. Long-term disability insurance from AVMA LIFE can provide you with monthly benefits for covered disabilities, even if you aren’t earning an income.
- Considering the Incomprehensible: AVMA LIFE offers complimentary student life insurance to eligible SAVMA members at no cost.* This coverage provides a $25,000 tax-free benefit to the beneficiary of your choosing if you pass away.
*The AVMA Trust covers the cost of
premiums for complimentary coverage. Veterinary student professional liability
coverage is not available in NH, USVI and Guam. Contact our office at
800-228-7548 for coverage options.