DVM Mission Launch: Externship + New Grad Opportunity

Laguna-Creek-Veterinary-Hospital; Elk Grove (CA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

Laguna Creek Veterinary Hospital in Elk Grove, CA, invites DVM students to join an externship track designed to start their careers with hands-on mentorship and a proven path toward a full-time doctor position.

Externs receive an enhanced $1,000/week stipend, and the program focuses on real-world experience, including clinical cases, surgeries, and client interactions within a supportive team.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Gain broad clinical experience: mentorship & supervision from experienced veterinarians
• Observe & participate: involvement in medical and surgical procedures, the diagnostic process, and client communication
• Genuine mentorship: team invests in students who train here
• Enhance diagnostic skills: interpret fecal samples, blood smears, radiographs, urinalysis, CBC/Chemistry panels
• Fine-tune technical skills: apply classroom knowledge in a hands-on, supportive environment

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

DVM program enrollment

Job description

Laguna Creek Veterinary Hospital in Elk Grove, CA, operates on a foundation of integrity, honesty, and compassion, viewing ourselves as your other family doctor. We have been a trusted part of the Elk Grove community, caring for companion animals, pocket pets, and exotics since 1992. The high quality of our medical care and our patient-first approach is reflected in our outstanding community reputation, evidenced by our excellent 4.9-star Google rating. If you are seeking a role where you can truly do your best work alongside dedicated colleagues, this is your opportunity to join a practice committed to exceptional medicine.We believe the success of our practice rests entirely on our teammates. While working directly at Laguna Creek, you are supported by a broader network committed to fostering professional growth and development for all roles. Veterinarians have direct access to internal resources, including specialty consultations and robust continuing education opportunities. We have programs designed to help all teammates achieve their career goals, whether that involves pursuing new credentialing or stepping into a leadership position. You will join a culture where education and mentorship are prioritized, ensuring every teammate feels supported in their long-term career path.As a full-service veterinary clinic, we provide comprehensive medical services that allow you to practice medicine at a high standard. Our offerings include advanced care, sophisticated testing and diagnostics, surgical procedures, and essential wellness and preventive medicine. A key component of our hospital is our commitment to diversity in species; we actively welcome avian, exotic, and pocket pet cases in addition to companion animals. This breadth of services means you can constantly expand your skill set and encounter a wide variety of medical challenges daily.Elk Grove is a rapidly growing and family-friendly community just south of Sacramento, offering an excellent blend of suburban comfort and California accessibility. As the hospital has served this area since 1992, you will be joining an established institution within a community that values its pets and veterinary partnerships. Elk Grove provides abundant parks, high-quality schools, and easy access to Northern California's recreational attractions, including wine country and Tahoe, making it an ideal location for achieving a rewarding work-life balance.

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.

If you're using NVDA, press NVDA key + space to enable focus mode to read the slider properly.

Location:Care Animal Hospital of Pleasant Prairie

Location:Whitehaven Veterinary Center Pets and Pigs

Location:Well Pets Veterinary Clinic and After Hours Urgent Care

Location:Town and Country Animal Hospital

Location:Kronenwetter Veterinary Care S.C.