Animal Emergency and Specialty Hospital of Grand Rapids serves the pets of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and other nearby western Michigan communities. Our hospital offers 24/7 inpatient and outpatient emergency care. We are excited to offer veterinary students a highly immersive emergency externship experience in our established, rapidly growing hospital.

Program Overview:

Our veterinary student externship is open to third- and fourth-year students ready to jump into a two- to four-week emergency practice program. You will be paired with a supervising veterinarian and will work four to five 10-hour day or swing shifts. Your experience will be extremely hands-on, and you will be in charge of your own cases, including client communication, patient diagnostics, treatment plans, and surgery, with our team’s appropriate guidance. Our hospital serves not only cats and dogs, but also many exotic species.  Student externs operate like graduated doctors. They are allowed to take primary case responsibility. They perform their own surgeries and conduct all communication with clients once they have demonstrated they are ready. Students work alongside experienced ER doctors. This externship is a special opportunity to operate as a graduate veterinarian while still under the supervision of a mentoring vet.

Why choose our hospitals?

Our hospitals employ 25 veterinarians and more than 100 support staff who work as a team and treat each other with kindness and respect. We work hard to create a supportive and welcoming environment, and our veterinarians are eager to teach and mentor student externs. Our facilities are fast-paced, and we will allow you to take full ownership of interesting and unusual cases with experienced clinicians by your side. Both Grand Rapids and Byron Center are newly built 10,000-square-foot facilities with 9 exam rooms, dedicated separate isolation spaces, CT, ultrasound, and more. We have been established in the Grand Rapids area as an emergency hospital for over 30 years. 

Grand Rapids, nick-named “Beer City,” is a booming city and cultural hub in western Michigan that hosts many breweries and the famed beer trolley tour. We are about an hour’s drive to Lake Michigan’s quaint beach towns and outdoor enthusiasts have easy access to parks and natural areas. 

Are you ready to experience a fast-paced externship that will allow you to take ownership and act as the primary doctor on emergency cases? Apply now!