About the Program

Externships are available to veterinary students in their third or fourth year of school. Student externs gain experience working in a specialty department of a high-volume referral hospital.  Externs will work under the supervision of a specialist and closely with the technicians.  Responsibilities may vary by facility, but may include participating in rounds, patient treatments and diagnostics, and (when applicable) educational department meetings, as well as observing client interactions and learning about case management and the workings of a multi-department hospital.

Program Location
Lawrence, MA

Program Schedule
Externships are generally for 1 week in one department for third-year students and 1-2 weeks (1 or 2 departments) for fourth-year students.  Special exceptions may be made to the schedule based the applicant’s level of expertise and the staff’s availability to accommodate requests.  Longer Preceptorships for students at schools such as Ross University of Veterinary Medicine, Western University College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sydney School of Veterinary Science or UPEI Atlantic Veterinary College may also be possible.

Externs can expect to begin work by 7 am or 8 am and may be called upon to put in a 12-hour day.  As all our hospitals are 24hr/365-day facilities, externs should expect to work on the weekends.

About You

Applicants must be third or fourth-year students of accredited domestic or international veterinary schools, pursuing a DVM, VMD or foreign equivalent. Externs are required to have liability coverage either through their veterinary school or personal coverage through the AVMA’s student liability coverage program. Externs must have their own lodging and transportation.

Externship Availability 

Bulger currently offers externships in the following specialties: Emergency/Critical Care, General Practice, Internal Medicine, Ophthalmology, and Surgery (note that Surgery may require a flexible schedule). ​

Departments can accommodate one extern at a time and availability may depend on the staffing schedule of the department. Note: some departments operate on a 4-day/week schedule. 

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.

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