Veterinary Extern - Specialty

Job Description

Applicants must be fourth-year students of accredited domestic or international veterinary schools, pursuing a DVM, VMD, or foreign equivalent.

About the Program


Student Externs gain experience working in a specialty department of a high-volume referral hospital. Externs will work closely with the rotating interns, residents, and specialists, as well as the veterinary technician team. Responsibilities may vary by department but may include participating in rounds, SOAPing patients, treatments and diagnostics, House Officer Lectures, case presentations, observing client interactions and learning about case management and the workings of a multi-department hospital.

Program Location: San Marcos, CA

Program Schedule


Veterinary student externships are generally 1-4 weeks in one department for 4th-year students. Special exceptions may be made to the schedule based on the applicant's level of expertise and the staff's availability to accommodate longer/shorter requests. VSH hosts Western University externs for their 4-week CORE Internal Medicine and Surgery rotations as well as elective rotations on multiple services.


Externs can expect to begin work by 7 or 8 in the morning and, depending upon the department, may be called upon to put in a 12-hour day. As the hospital is a 24hr/day, 365 days/year facility, in some departments Externs will be expected to work on Saturdays.

About You

• Applicants must be fourth-year students of accredited domestic or international veterinary schools, pursuing a DVM or VMD degree.
• Students are required to have liability coverage either through their veterinary school or personal coverage through the AVMA's student liability coverage program.
• Externs must provide their own lodging and transportation.

Externship availability


Please consult the grid below to see whether an Externship is offered at VSH in your preferred department.


Application information


Once we've received your application, you will receive an email confirmation. If your application contains all the necessary information, please allow 3-6 weeks for us to schedule and confirm your externship.


Ethos Veterinary Health is at the forefront of innovation and world-class medicine. As the premier network of over 140 specialty and emergency hospitals across North America, Ethos brings together a dedicated community of more than 1,500 specialized doctors providing care for nearly 2 million pets annually. The integrated and collaborative network of veterinary professionals utilize state-of-the-art technology and a scientific, evidence-based approach to deliver compassionate, unparalleled care and rewarding careers. Committed to revolutionizing veterinary medicine, Ethos sets the standard in veterinary excellence. Discover more at EthosVet.com.

Our commitments to the industry, the profession, our teammates, and our patients, will not change, and in fact will be stronger than ever, as we forge new ground as this new dynamic community.

At Ethos Veterinary Health, we want to make sure your experience connecting with us is seamless and straightforward. Here's what to expect when interacting with us:
• We'll always reach out via verified LinkedIn profiles or emails ending in @ethosvet.com or @nva.com
• All job opportunities and applications are hosted on our official careers site: careers.ethosvet.com
• There is no cost or confidential information required to apply or be considered for a position

If you have any doubts about a communication, feel free to visit our careers page to verify authenticity or email us at View email address on click.appcast.io. Thank you for exploring opportunities at Ethos Veterinary Health!

Ethos Veterinary Health offers a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, vision, a 401k with employer match, and paid time off (including sick time) for all eligible employees. The team can provide more information about compensation and benefits for your specific location during the process. For positions based in Colorado, EVH provides eligible employees with paid sick and safe leave and public health emergency leave in accordance with the requirements of Colorado's Healthy Families and Workplaces Act.

Ethos Veterinary Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and any other state or local hiring regulations, we will consider for employment any qualified applicant, including those with arrest and conviction records, in a manner consistent with the applicable regulation.