DVM Mission Launch: Externship + New Grad Opportunity

Colonial Terrace Animal Hospital P.C.; Dubuque (IA); On-site; USD 46,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Colonial Terrace Animal Hospital, P.c. in Dubuque, IA, offers an externship track designed for DVM students who will graduate in 2027. You’ll receive hands-on experience with a supportive team and mentorship from licensed veterinarians.

The externship features a $1,000 per week stipend and a clear path toward a potential full-time doctor role for those who fit well with the team and the practice values. This is a great opportunity to launch a veterinary career in a community-focused

Qualifications

• Active enrollment in a DVM program at an accredited university, graduating in 2027.
• Professional comportment and appearance, with excellent interpersonal skills and a positive, friendly attitude.
• Commitment to practicing the highest standard of veterinary medicine and upholding the veterinary code of ethics.
• Compassionate, team-player attitude with a respect for clients and their pets.
• Authorization to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Gain broad clinical experience with mentorship from experienced veterinarians.
• Observe and participate in medical and surgical procedures, the diagnostic process, and client communication when possible.
• Receive genuine mentorship and ensure you are supported within the team.
• Enhance diagnostic and technical skills through hands-on practice in a supportive environment.

Skills

Professional comportment

Interpersonal skills

Team-player

Client communication

US work authorization

Education

DVM program enrollment

Graduating 2027

Job description

At Colonial Terrace Animal Hospital, P.c., you are joining a highly respected medical team committed to providing AAHA accredited excellence in patient care. This accreditation reflects our commitment to the highest standards of veterinary practice and quality assurance. Our reputation is confirmed by the community, evidenced by our excellent Google rating of 4.9 stars. We are actively looking for veterinary professionals who want to do their best work and become an essential part of our growing practice in Dubuque, Iowa. We believe our success rests entirely on the skill and dedication of our teammates. You will find a highly supportive environment where collaboration is prioritized, allowing you to focus purely on providing outstanding small animal care. As a teammate here, you are encouraged to grow your specialized interests and advance your career goals, whether that means pursuing advanced credentialing or taking on new responsibilities within the clinic. You will be supported with the resources and mentorship necessary to succeed professionally alongside our existing dedicated team.

Our hospital offers comprehensive small animal care, distinguished by our focus on advanced medical procedures. We offer specialized services in orthopedics, allowing you to expand your surgical and diagnostic skills and work with complex cases right here in Dubuque. Working within an AAHA accredited facility ensures you always have access to the necessary equipment, protocols, and continuing education needed to maintain top-tier patient outcomes. If you are passionate about practicing quality medicine and furthering advanced procedural skills, this environment is built for your development.

Dubuque, Iowa, offers a rich community environment defined by Midwestern accessibility and a high quality of life. Settled along the Mississippi River, Dubuque provides an appealing blend of natural beauty and historical character, ensuring you enjoy a true sense of community outside of the practice. If you are seeking a location where you can achieve work-life balance while contributing meaningfully to the health of pets in a trusting, local environment, Dubuque provides an excellent opportunity for you.

Job Description

$1,000/Week Stipend | Open to the Class of 2027

We’re doing more than offering a great externship—we’re looking for the veterinarians who will join our team. This is an externship track designed for students who are ready to start thinking about where they’ll launch their careers.

Externs in this track receive an enhanced stipend of $1,000/week —double our standard rate—because this experience is tied to a hiring opportunity. This hospital has an open new-grad doctor position, and your externship here is a genuine first step toward a full-time role. You get paid, hands-on experience, and we both get the chance to see if this is the right fit for your career.

This externship is designed to give you a real, working look at what it’s like to practice here—the team, the caseload, the community, and the day-to-day. Think of it as a two-way conversation. You get to evaluate whether this is where you want to begin your career, and we get to know you as a future colleague. There’s no obligation, and there’s no pressure. But if it clicks, the path from extern to full-time doctor here is a short one.

What To Expect

• Gain broad clinical experience: Receive mentorship & supervision from experienced veterinarians
• Observe & participate: Get involved in medical and surgical procedures, the diagnostic process, and (when possible) client communication
• Genuine mentorship: You won't get lost in the shuffle. Our team invests in the students who train here
• Enhance your diagnostic skills: Practice interpreting fecal samples, blood smears, radiographic images, urinalysis, and CBC/Chemistry panels
• Fine-tune your technical skills: Put your classroom knowledge to the test and develop your hands-on abilities in a supportive environment

What You'll Bring to the Team

• Active enrollment in a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at an accredited university, graduating in 2027
• Professional comportment and appearance, with excellent interpersonal skills and a positive, friendly attitude.
• A commitment to practicing the highest standard of medicine and upholding the veterinary code of ethics.
• A compassionate, team-player attitude and a respect for clients and their pets.
• Authorization to work in the United States.

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