Veterinary Extern - General Practice

Job Description

Veterinary Student Externship | $2500 Travel Stipend

Deerfield Animal Care Center | Deerfield, Illinois

Your future as a veterinarian is taking shape. Come build it with us!

Looking for more than just another externship? At Deerfield Animal Care Center, you'll have the opportunity to grow your clinical confidence, learn from experienced veterinarians, and experience what it means to be part of a team that cares deeply about its patients, clients, and one another.

We believe the best veterinarians never stop learning. That's why we're passionate about welcoming veterinary students, sharing our knowledge, and helping the next generation of doctors develop the skills and confidence to thrive.

Bring your curiosity, your compassion, and your enthusiasm for veterinary medicine. We'll help you make the most of your time with us!

Learn Great Medicine. Build Real-World Confidence.

At Deerfield Animal Care Center, your externship is an opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world veterinary practice. Work alongside our veterinary team, explore clinical cases, ask questions, and gain valuable insight into the many facets of small animal medicine.

During your externship, you'll have opportunities to:

• Learn from experienced veterinarians: Gain insight from doctors with backgrounds in general practice, internal medicine, and integrative medicine.
• Expand your clinical knowledge: Experience a diverse range of canine and feline cases, from preventive care and wellness to complex medical conditions.
• Explore diagnostics and treatment: Learn how modern diagnostic tools, including ultrasound, digital radiography, and in-house laboratory testing, support clinical decision-making.
• Discover your surgical interests: Gain exposure to dentistry, spay and neuter procedures, mass removals, and other soft tissue surgeries.
• Strengthen your client communication skills: See how veterinarians educate pet owners, build lasting relationships, and guide families through important medical decisions.
• Grow through mentorship: Ask questions, discuss cases, learn from different perspectives, and develop the confidence to approach clinical challenges thoughtfully.

Hands-on participation and procedural opportunities will depend on your experience, patient needs, and supervising veterinarian.

A Team That Wants to See You Succeed

Your externship should be more than a line on your résumé. It should be an experience that helps you discover your strengths, explore your interests, and envision the kind of veterinarian you want to become.

At Deerfield Animal Care Center, our core values of compassion, excellence, integrity, teamwork, and community guide the care we provide every day. We strive to create an environment where learning is encouraged, collaboration matters, and every team member has an opportunity to make a difference.

We welcome your questions, value your perspective, and want you to leave with knowledge and experiences you can carry throughout your veterinary career.

Learn in a Modern Veterinary Practice

Our hospital combines experienced veterinary care with modern medical technology and a broad range of services. You'll gain exposure to the clinical tools and approaches that help veterinarians deliver thoughtful, comprehensive care.

From diagnostic imaging and laboratory work to dentistry, surgery, and medical management, you'll have the opportunity to see how the pieces of a veterinary practice come together to support better outcomes for pets and their families.

Make Your Externship an Experience

Located in Deerfield on Chicago's beautiful North Shore, our hospital offers a welcoming suburban setting with easy access to restaurants, coffee shops, outdoor recreation, and the excitement of downtown Chicago.

Whether you're exploring local trails, discovering new places to eat, or planning a trip into the city, you'll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the area outside the hospital.

Your Next Chapter Starts Here!

We offer externships lasting two to eight weeks, coordinated around student and hospital schedules, for third- and fourth-year veterinary students. Eligible students may also qualify for a travel and living expense stipend.

If you're eager to learn, passionate about animal health, and excited to take the next step toward becoming a veterinarian, we'd love to meet you.

Come for the clinical experience. Leave with greater confidence, new connections, and inspiration for the veterinarian you're becoming.

Ready to learn with us?

Explore an externship at Deerfield Animal Care Center and take the next step toward your future in veterinary medicine! Apply today and let's grow together.

Externships range from two to eight weeks, depending on student and hospital schedules. We offer externships to 3rd and 4th year veterinary students.

Veterinary students who are in the clinical portion of their education are eligible for a travel/living expense stipend. Click HERE to view list of stipend amounts and HERE for details on the stipend program.


National Veterinary Associates (NVA) is a leading North American pet health care company with nearly 1,300 locations spanning general practice veterinary hospitals, Ethos emergency and specialty hospitals, and pet resorts and equine veterinary care. With approximately 40,000 team members, we care for pets and support pet families in communities across the United States and Canada. Our purpose is to give pets and the people who love them more quality years together, and our mission is to make care more personal, easy and accessible while advancing medicine and care across every stage of life. Across NVA, we support our teams with the resources, expertise and opportunities they need to deliver exceptional care and help shape the future of veterinary and pet care.


Purpose : Give pets and the people who love them more quality years together


Mission : Transform the pet family experience to be personal, easy and accessible, while advancing medicine and care across every stage of life.


Values : Care Deeply, Do What's Right, One Team, Own It, Shape What's Next


One NVA: Bringing General Practice & Ethos Together


NVA is built to make care personal, easy and accessible, while advancing medicine across every stage of a pet's life.


At National Veterinary Associates, 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 @nva.com


- We may also contact you via text message from an identified NVA representative for recruiting-related communication


- All job opportunities and applications are hosted on our official careers site: careers.nva.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 NVA!

NVA 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, NVA 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.

NVA 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.