Our Internships

The Rhinebeck Equine internship is an opportunity for an intense year of clinical experience for five veterinarians in an equine private practice setting with both ambulatory and referral hospital services. The practice is committed to providing interns with a rewarding educational experience. Mentoring is provided by boarded specialists in surgery (2), internal medicine (2), theriogenology, ophthalmology, and dermatology, as well as seasoned ambulatory practitioners.

Our interns have ample opportunity for hands-on experience in all aspects of the program. We expect our interns to rapidly transition to working independently under the guidance of senior clinicians. The interns rotate bi-weekly through surgery, medicine, ambulatory services, sports medicine (Aug-Feb), and reproduction (Feb-Aug).

On hospital rotations, the interns are responsible for assisting with all patient evaluations, procedures, and diagnostic imaging. The interns assume a primary role in daily patient care and developing appropriate treatment plans under the guidance of board-certified hospital clinicians. The surgery rotations allow the intern to follow elective and emergency cases from initial evaluation, through surgery and post-op care, to discharge and follow-up. Anesthesia is learned alongside an experienced veterinarian and as skills progress, interns are responsible for managing the anesthesia of elective and emergency cases. The internal medicine rotation exposes the interns to a wide variety of cases, both in the hospital and in the field, and is particularly busy in the spring due to the large neonatal foal caseload. The interns learn breeding management and advanced reproductive techniques from our boarded theriogenologist while at the clinic and local stud farms. Interns have the opportunity to work with an ophthalmology specialist who sees numerous cases at the clinic monthly.

During the ambulatory rotation, the interns become comfortable with common ambulatory emergencies, routine wellness care, reproduction, dentistry, and lameness evaluation. Interns have the opportunity to see cases independently after the first few months, with backup always available. The sports medicine rotation gives intern additional opportunities to assist our Sport Horse vets with pre purchase exams, advances imaging, and diagnostic nerve blocks.

The internship provides excellent preparation for individuals seeking admission to residency programs or a career in general equine practice.  Rhinebeck Equine supports the professional development of our interns through teaching rounds, journal club, business seminars, career advice, assistance with job and residency placements, and ongoing mentoring beyond the end of the internship year. Past interns have gone on to residencies in surgery, internal medicine, theriogenology, ophthalmology, and dentistry as well as many general practitioners and practice owners. We are proud of the high retention rate in equine medicine of our former interns.

While we expect our interns to work hard, they also have time to recharge and enjoy the Hudson Valley. Interns are called upon to perform some after-hours treatments and evaluation of hospitalized patients as needed. However, the hospital is staffed by technicians around the clock and our interns are treated as doctors.

All applicants must be senior veterinary students in good academic standing at an accredited college of veterinary medicine OR a graduate of an accredited college of veterinary medicine.  An externship is strongly encouraged and preference will be given to students who have completed an externship as ensuring a good mutual fit is essential. Students are expected to graduate on time and have obtained the DVM/VMD degree by the start of their internship. All candidates must be eligible for licensure in the State of New York, and must successfully pass the licensing examination prior to, or within 6 months of the start of employment.

In addition to an annual salary and compensation for certain emergencies, housing is provided onsite or in close proximity to the clinic. Five vacation days and five sick/personal days are offered for the year, as well as time off and funding to attend a national continuing education meeting. Interns are also eligible for student loan reimbursement and enrollment in a health insurance plan.