INTERNSHIP
INTERNSHIP
Weatherford Equine offers 4 internship positions through the AAEP avenues program. Two intern suites are located above the hospital and 2 apartments are located at our reproduction facility 4 miles to the west.
Application Deadline: November 1st
Please contact Dr. Heath Qualls
phone 817-594-9100 or weatherfordequine@gmail.com
1877 Mineral Wells Hwy, Weatherford, TX 76088
Staffing Number and Tasks:
8 technicians, 3 front office staff, and 3 barn crew.
Type of Practice:
100% Equine; Full service referral and first opinion medical and surgical facility, advanced reproductive services, and ambulatory services.
Facilities:
State of the art facility built in 2002. Hospital includes multiple exam areas, surgical suite, ICU, isolation, lameness center finished in 2008, reproduction center finished in 2011, digital radiography, digital endoscopy, pharmacy, lab, 2 intern suites, 2 extern suites, and two intern apartments at the reproduction center.
Case Load:
Surgery- approximately 75 colic surgeries performed annually, arthroscopy, other orthopedic (including pastern arthrodesis, long bone fixation), and soft tissue surgeries. Reproduction- we maintain a large recipient herd that the interns are able to monitor and use to develop skills in reproductive ultrasonography and medicine, a large number of embryo transfers and oocyte aspirations are performed at our breeding center. Our reproductive team services the finest cutting horse stallions in the world (including High Brow Cat) and the top breeding farms in the area. Medicine- neonatal intensive care and broodmare illness comprise the majority of the spring’s work. The balance of the year is filled with a mixture of adult and juvenile respiratory, GI, and neurology related disease or performance issues. A small percentage of oncology, ophthalmology, dermatology, cardiology, and endocrinology. Lameness- our hospital serves as a hub for performance and lameness evaluations. A very large percentage of our caseload throughout the year is related to lameness work.
Types of Cases (estimated % by system or categories):
25% Non-surgical lameness; 15% Surgical; 20% Medical/Miscellaneous; 30% Reproduction; 10% Preventative medicine
Estimated Breakdown of Daily or Weekly Load:
Our interns spend their time between 4 services: hospital/medicine, hospital/surgery, out-patient, and emergency/overnight. This allows for attention to be devoted to a subset of our patients and also provides case continuity to maximize the learning experience.
Philosophy of Internship:
We feel that an internship should provide a new veterinarian with opportunities to increase their skill level and gain the comfort and knowledge that make an equine veterinarian or potential resident successful.
Prerequisites of Application and Internship:
Passed National Board Exam and the Texas State Board Exam.
Notification of Acceptance:
Friday prior to AAEP meeting as per AAEP Guidelines
Employee Benefits:
AAEP membership, AVMA membership, Professional liability, license, housing (studio intern apartment or apartment, includes utilities), 1 week paid vacation.
Employment Contracts:
One year contract
List of Internship Duties in Practice:
Position will not be limited to running anesthesia and taking radiographs, but will allow hands on experience in primary care of routine as well as emergency cases.
Emergency Duty Requirements/Amount of Supervision:
As our comfort level with your confidence and ability increases, supervision will proceed from full time to an as needed basis.
Internship Salary & Term of Employment:
SALARY INCREASED for 2022-2023 –$60,000/year plus housing with utilities and other benefits (totaling approximately $75,000)
June 1st to May 31st
EXTERNSHIP
Weatherford Equine offers year round learning opportunities for veterinary students through the AAEP avenues program. We encourage all students interested in our internship to visit if possible. Priority is given to fourth year students but we welcome all levels of training. International students are also accepted.
Two extern quarters, housing up to two students each with all linens provided and access to kitchen/washer/dryer are available. Internet, 50″ plasma TV and viewing to surgery (although you’ll probably be involved firsthand) are also provided for your comfort. Dress code is collared shirt, clean jeans or khakis and a good set of Cowboy boots, of course!
No need to bring books, we’ve got plenty for your reading pleasure. A stethoscope and thermometer are about all you’ll need to bring. Plan to work from 7:30 am to whenever things slow down. A day off per weekend is available and we encourage students to visit the area and attend cutting events as available. Please let us know your travel plans so that we can advise you the best way to get to the hospital. See you in God’s Country!
Please contact – Birgit O’Leary
Phone – 817-594-9100 or weatherfordequine@gmail.com to arrange dates
1877 Mineral Wells Hwy, Weatherford, TX 76088
Staffing Number and Tasks: 8 technicians, 3 front office staff, and 3 barn crew.
Type of Practice: 100% Equine; Full service referral and first opinion medical and surgical facility, as well as ambulatory services.
Facilities: State of the art facility built in 2002. Hospital includes multiple exam areas, surgical suite, ICU, isolation, lameness center finished in 2008, reproduction center finished in 2005, digital radiography, digital endoscopy, pharmacy, lab, 2 intern suites, 2 extern suites. The following site features our hospital’s design.
Names of Veterinarians in Practice including any Specialty Qualifications:
Jeff Foland, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS
Bruce Hebbert, DVM
Justin Ritthaler, DVM
Gabe Young, DVM
Heath Qualls, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Chloe Gates, DVM
Case Load: Surgery- approximately 75 colic surgeries performed annually, arthroscopy, other orthopedic (including pastern arthrodesis, long bone fixation), and soft tissue surgeries. Reproduction- we maintain a small recipient herd that the interns are able to monitor and use to develop skills in reproductive ultrasonography, a large number of embryo transfers are performed both in the hospital and at local stallion stations. Our reproductive team services the finest cutting horse stallions in the world (including High Brow Cat) and the top breeding farms in the area. Medicine- neonatal intensive care and broodmare illness comprise the majority of the spring’s work. The balance of the year is filled with a mixture of adult and juvenile respiratory, GI and neurology related disease or performance issues and a small percentage of oncology, ophthalmology, dermatology, cardiology and endocrinology. Lameness- our hospital serves as a hub for performance and lameness evaluations. A very large percentage of our caseload throughout the year is related to lameness work.
Types of Cases (estimated % by system or categories):
40% Non-surgical lameness 20% Surgical 20% Medical/Miscellaneous 15% Reproduction 5% Preventative medicine
Estimated Breakdown of Daily or Weekly Load: Externs are scheduled to shadow the senior veterinarians. Freedom to follow specific areas of interest exists. Students assist in morning and evening treatments and play a role in outpatient services. Ambulatory experience is also available.
Goals of Externship: To provide an atmosphere where students can gain exposure to many aspects of equine medicine and surgery outside of the university setting. We hope students can observe and participate in management of routine cases as well as referral cases.
Prerequisites for Externship: Preference given to fourth-year veterinary students, but will consider others as scheduling permits.
Application for Externship: Contact our office manager, Rachel Maxwell, at weatherfordequine@gmail.com for externship availability.
Dates and Duration: Prefer two to four week blocks, but shorter or longer stays are also welcome.
Practice Responsibilities to the Extern: To provide an atmosphere conducive to learning.
Externship Responsibilities to the Practice: To assist wherever needed, including treatment of hospitalized cases, work-up of after hours emergencies, occasionally help intern monitor critical cases.
Is the Externship a Prerequisite for Internship: Yes
Internship Available: Yes
Insurance Requirements: As required by the university.