Veterinary Extern - Specialty & Emergency

Charleston Veterinary Referral Center (CVRC); Charleston (SC); On-site; Full time

Job summary

National Veterinary Associates in Charleston, SC offers an externship at Charleston Veterinary Referral Center (CVRC) for students pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. This program provides practical experience in a supportive and collaborative setting, allowing externs to engage with experienced clinicians while observing patient care. Participants will gain insight into various specialties such as surgery, internal medicine, and critical care. The externship lasts 2-4 weeks, encouraging both learning and exploration of the vibrant Charleston area.

Qualifications

• Students in the clinical portion of their training are preferred.
• Willingness to ask questions and participate in patient care.

Responsibilities

• Observe and discuss cases with professionals.
• Participate in minimally invasive procedures.
• Plan and manage externship experience.

Job description

Although every Ethos hospital is unique, we all have some things in common: an environment that is supportive, committed to excellent medicine, and provides exceptional service to animals and the people who love them. Charleston Veterinary Referral Center (CVRC) is a busy emergency and multi‑specialty hospital in Charleston, SC with a collaborative and patient‑forward approach to care, and a welcoming and supportive environment.

An externship experience at an Ethos hospital like CVRC gives students real‑life clinical experience in multi‑specialty hospital, and the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills while working alongside experienced clinicians, board‑certified specialists, and skilled technical staff. Students are welcomed to take an active role in making their time at CVRC exactly what they want – we encourage externs to ask questions, participate in all‑hospital and departmental patient rounds, select topic rounds with specialists, and attend in‑house continuing education lectures if occurring.

Services & Specialties

• Critical Care
• Surgery (combined soft‑tissue and orthopedic service)
• Internal Medicine
• Oncology
• Cardiology
• Anesthesiology (coming soon!)
• Physical Rehabilitation
• Clinical Veterinary Pharmacy
• Blood Bank

We are a private practice hospital, and our patients have loving families. Therefore, we are liable for the care and treatment of our patients. Discussion of cases, interaction with staff, and observation are strongly encouraged, though we may limit physical participation within CVRC‑approved guidelines. While we recognize the value of hands‑on experience, we generally allow participation only in minimally‑invasive or low‑risk procedures, such as venipuncture/intravenous catheters, urinary catheters, and minor emergency procedures. That said, externs are always welcome to ask to participate at any time during their externship – consideration for hands‑on participation is always left to the discretion of the clinician and staff working with the pet on a case‑and‑extern‑specific basis.

Externship experiences at CVRC range from two to four weeks depending on student and hospital schedules. Our externships are typically designed for students in the clinical portion of their training, but we welcome inquiries from students at all levels of education.

Externs at CVRC are responsible for making their own accommodation and travel arrangements, though we can provide guidance regarding locations, as well as information collected from prior extern experiences, if needed. Charleston is an excellent place to visit, with multiple beaches, a wide variety of enjoyable activities to occupy your days off, and a top‑notch culinary scene, and our externship schedule is structured to not only allow but encourage our visitors to make the most of their time in Charleston!

CVRC also offers an ER Immerse mentorships intended for new or recent graduates interested in a career in Emergency Medicine. Participation in our externship or prior experience at CVRC is a prerequisite for consideration as a candidate for these mentorships, and we are happy to discuss the program in more detail before or during the externship.

For questions regarding Charleston Veterinary Referral Center externships or the ER Immerse program, please contact Dr. Alyx Tracy via email at [e-mail]. For additional information on our services, please visit our website – https://www.charlestonvrc.com/

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.

Charleston, South Carolina, United States