Rotating Internship in Small Animal Medicine

Tufts University, Cummings School of Vet. Medicine

Intern Survey Results

Positions: 15
Survey Responses: 5
Category: Small Animal Rotating
Program Dates: 6/16/2017 to 6/30/2018

Responses except for Question 11

  1. Strongly Disagree
  2. Disagree
  3. Neither agree or disagree
  4. Agree
  5. Strongly Agree

Questions

  1. The internship met the program description as provided in the VIRMP

    Mean: 3.8

  2. The time spent on emergency duty matched the program description

    Mean: 3.8

  3. I received an orientation to the work environment and job requirements at the start of the internship

    Mean: 4.2

  4. I was provided with supervision and opportunity to consult with other doctors at the institution/practice regarding patient care

    Mean: 4.2

  5. Rounds, journal clubs, or other educational opportunities were regularly available during the internship

    Mean: 3.6

  6. Adequate opportunity to study and prepare for clinical cases was provided

    Mean: 2.4

  7. I was satisfied with the clinical training opportunities provided during the internship

    Mean: 4.0

  8. The internship met my learning objectives

    Mean: 3.6

  9. I was treated in a professional manner by staff and other doctors

    Mean: 2.6

  10. I would recommend this internship program to a friend or colleague

    Mean: 2.8

  11. The average number of hours I worked per week

    Mean: 5.0

    1. Less than 40 hours
    2. 40-49 hours
    3. 50-59 hours
    4. 60-69 hours
    5. 70-79 hours
    6. Greater than 80 hours

Program Being Evaluated Follows

Employment Information

Salary: $25,900

Opportunity to earn additional cash compensation: None

Benefits: University benefit programs, including health and life insurance are available. Professional liability insurance is provided.

Vacation: Two weeks (10 days) annual leave.

Is a contract required? Yes

Is a non-compete clause required? No

Is a State license required? Yes    If yes, what is the licensure fee? Massachusetts

Is a DEA license required? No

Is USDA accreditation required? No

Caseload

The following information represents the average of cases in direct support of this program

Total No. Annual Cases: 14,000
Average Daily No. Cases Presented to Hospital: 45-60
Average No. Cases Treated Daily as Outpatients: 30-35
Average No. of Inpatients Each Day: 15-25
Average No. Daily Surgeries Performed: 9-15
Average No. of Emergency Cases Seen Daily: 45

Number of Faculty/Clinicians in Direct Support of Program: 9
Number of Residents in Direct Support of Program: 17

Diplomates in Direct Support of Internship

Full Time Part Time/Consultant Full Time Part Time/Consultant
ABVP 1 ACT
ACVAA 4 ACVD 1 1
ACVCP 2 ACVN 3
ACVO 2 ACVR 4 1
ACVS 4 1 ACZM 1 1
AVDC 1 ACVECC 5
ACVIM/CARD 3 ACVIM/INTMED 8 1
ACVIM/NEUR 1 ACVIM/ONC 4
ACVB ABVT
ACLAM ACPV
ACVM ACVP
ACVPM ACVIM/LA
ACVR/ONC ACVSMR

Registered/Licensed/Certified Veterinary Technicians

In Direct Support of Program: 18
Assigned to the Emergency Service per shift: 1
Assigned to the Intensive Care Unit per shift: 2

Clinical Experience and Responsibilities

  1. Yes No
    Does the intern have primary case care responsibility for first-opinion and emergency/critical care cases?
  2. Yes No
    Is the intern the primary surgeon on a broad range of elective and entry-level procedures?
  3. Yes No
    Does the intern have primary case care responsibility for complex cases with supervision by a boarded specialist?
  4. Yes No
    Are patient rounds held daily with a boarded specialist in attendance?
  5. 90%
    What is the percentage of time the intern will be directly supervised?

Didactic Training

  1. Yes No
    Are teaching rounds held weekly?
  2. Yes No
    Does the intern deliver a professional presentation or seminar to senior clinicians and peers?
  3. Yes No
    Does the intern have an opportunity to attend a professional meeting?
  4. Yes No
    Is financial support provided to attend a professional meeting?
  5. Yes No
    Is the intern required to complete/submit a publication?

Facilities

  1. Yes No
    Does the intern have access to current medical textbooks?
  2. Yes No
    Is a computer with internet access provided?
  3. Yes No
    Does the intern have access to search engines for scientific literature and online journals?
  4. Yes No
    Does the primary hospital have an intensive care unit?

Equipment

  1. Do interns have access to the following equipment/technology, either on-site or outsourced?
    • Ultrasonography
    • Electrocardiography
    • Blood Pressure Monitoring
    • Echocardiography
    • Endoscopy
    • CT Scan
    • Bone Plating Equipment
    • MRI
    • Digital Radiography
    • Laparoscopy
    • Arthroscopy
    • Basic clinical laboratory equipment
    • Nuclear Medicine
    • Blood Gas Analysis
    • Diagnostic Laboratory
    • Physical Therapy

Scheduling

These percentages may not be cumulative

  1. 22%
    Percentage of program intern is assigned to daytime primary emergency
  2. 22%
    Percentage of program intern is assigned to overnight primary emergency
  3. 15%
    Percentage of program intern is assigned to first opinion (primary care) clinics
  4. 15%
    Percentage of program intern is provided elective time
  5. <5%
    Percentage of program intern is required to work at a secondary (satellite) clinic

Orientation/Supervision/Mentoring

  1. Yes No
    Is a formal orientation program required?
  2. Yes No
    Does the intern have a mentor who is a veterinarian in the practice?
  3. Yes No
    Are written performance evaluations provided?
  4. Yes No
    Is an internship orientation manual provided?

Additional Information about Program

The Foster Hospital for Small Animals at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine (hereinafter referred to as Cummings School) is offering competitive internship positions. This rotating internship provides the strong clinical experience and didactic training necessary for future success as residents and independent veterinarians. This internship consists of rotations through Internal Medicine, Emergency & Critical Care, Surgery, Neurology, Dermatology, Cardiology, and Ophthalmology. Rotations in the spay clinic and primary care clinic (Tufts@Tech) are required. If desired, additional elective time may be scheduled on the Radiology, Oncology, Anesthesiology, Exotics, or other small animal clinic services. Specific time allocations to various sub-specialty rotations will be adapted to both intern and clinic needs. The objectives of the Cummings School internship program are to enhance the interns' clinical, diagnostic, problem-solving, communication and technical skills, and prepare individuals to advance to a residency program. The interns will participate in primary patient care, daily rounds, and instruction of 4th year veterinary students. Attendance and participation at regularly scheduled lectures, seminars, journal clubs, and clinical rounds are required and are an integral part of the internship program. The School’s library also provides the interns with access to current literature. Each intern is expected to prepare and present one formal seminar. A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of program participation.The Foster Hospital for Small Animals is located in North Grafton, MA, about 40 miles west of Boston and provides inpatient and outpatient care for more than 33,000 cases per year. It has one of the strongest and largest training programs in Emergency/Critical Care in the country. This allows the Hospital to provide around-the-clock care of critically ill cases. Interns acquire part of their emergency training while working under the supervision of ECC faculty and residents. The ICU is equipped and able to provide care to patients at the highest level, including positive pressure ventilation, dialysis, and other advanced life-support techniques. Prior interns have successfully obtained residencies in Internal Medicine, Neurology, Surgery, Radiology, Cardiology, Emergency and Critical Care, Anesthesiology, Clinical Pathology, and Oncology.We do not offer personal or phone interviews. However, interested applicants are welcome to schedule an informal visit. Please contact Lori Muhr at [email protected]. For veterinary students wishing to schedule a senior year clinical externship (not required), please contact our externship coordinator, Kim Lipinski, at [email protected].Candidates must possess a DVM/VMD degree or equivalent. The hospital has a dress code.Tufts University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Employer.