Ethos Veterinary Health

West Coast - Veterinary Student Externship

Learning & Development - United States - Volunteer

If you have a question not answered by this page, please contact Pam Collier at pcollier@ethosvet.com for our VSH-Sorrento Valley location and Giselle Auther at [email protected] for our VSH-San Marcos location.

Program Name: Veterinary Student Externship – West Coast

Fourth-year veterinary students are invited to apply for an externship at Veterinary Specialty Hospital Sorrento Valley or Veterinary Specialty Hospital North County.

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 Diego, CA or 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. 

Apply: West Coast - Veterinary Student Externship
* Required fields
First name*
Last name*
Email address*
Location *
Phone number*
College or University*
Anticipated year of graduation*
How many weeks total are you looking to spend as an extern here?*
1a. From the dropdown options below, please select your FIRST CHOICE of hospital/department for an externship. If you want additional rotations in (an)other department(s), please select one here and (an) additional one(s) below where asked for SECOND and THIRD CHOICES.*
1b. For the department/hospital selected in the question above, how many weeks would you like to spend there?*
2a. From the dropdown options below, please select your SECOND CHOICE of hospital/department for an externship. Or if you are requesting a second rotation, please select it below.*
2b. For the department/hospital selected in the question above, how many weeks would you like to spend there?*
3a. From the dropdown options below, please select your THIRD CHOICE of hospital/department for an externship. Or, if you are requesting a third rotation, please select it below.*
3b. For the department/hospital selected in the question above, how many weeks would you like to spend there?*
4a. Externships/rotations begin on Mondays unless Monday is a National holiday or the department isn't open. What is your preferred Monday start date? Please select a date occurring within the next 18 months.*
4b. What is your second choice of a Monday start date? Please select a date occurring within the next 18 months. If no date is indicated, we will assume your preferred start date is the only one you have available.
5. Externs are required to be covered by Professional Liability Insurance. Veterinary schools usually provide this to students in their 4th-year. If your school will not provide this for you, please secure liability insurance for yourself through the SAVMA. You will need to provide proof of insurance before you can begin your externship. Will your university provide liability insurance for your requested externship?*
If there is additional information we need to know about your school or externship that impacts the scheduling process, please let us know here.
Are you interested in or will you be applying to our Rotating Internship Program?"
Human Check*