Residency Information

Minimum qualifications include graduation from an accredited school of veterinary medicine and a one-year internship or equivalent practice experience. The selection of residents is made on the basis of academic achievement, career objectives, letters of recommendation, interpersonal skills, clinical skills, and pertinent experience.

The residency program in Equine Surgery is designed to provide three years of intensive training in the areas of equine surgery and lameness. Residents are under the supervision of the Chief of Equine Surgery and directly responsible to the service chief and alternately, to the other faculty members of the Service. The majority of the resident's work will be clinical in nature and will include clinical instruction of veterinary students in the hospital, as well as some instruction in basic surgical, lameness and equine practice techniques laboratories. The resident will be part of a team made up of a senior clinician, one to two residents and a group of senior veterinary students. The resident will have an opportunity to participate in rounds, discussions and seminars. Residents share out-of-hours emergency duty on a rotational basis. Residents must be able to arrive at the hospital within 15 minutes of an emergency call, therefore, residents must plan to live within 15 miles of the hospital.

As in most advanced training programs, much of the initiative is left to the individual, and the benefit he/she derives from the program will be directly related to the effort he/she is willing to expend.

It is anticipated that the residency training program will in part fulfill the eligibility requirements for specialty board certification in surgery. Residents will be requireded to prepare at least one manuscript suitable for publication, prior to completion of the residency program. During the initial year of training, residents will be required to complete a 4 to 5 week rotation in Equine Medicine and spend at least 100 hours in the disciplines of Radiology, Anesthesia/Critical Patient Care and Pathology. Presentation at the Annual House Officer Seminar Day is mandatory.

The VMTH is committed to building strong relationships with its constituents. A major part of the resident’s duties, therefore, includes timely communication with referring veterinarians and clients.

Selection will be made in accordance with the guidelines of the Veterinary Internship/Residency Matching Program. For application procedures, salary and benefits, and other information about the residency program, please see General Information on the VMTH web site.

The University of California, Davis, and the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital are interested in candidates who are committed to the highest standards of scholarship and professional activities, and to the development of a campus climate that supports equality and diversity.

ALL RESIDENTS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO OBTAIN A CALIFORNIA LICENSE WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE RESIDENCY IN ORDER TO WRITE PRESCRIPTIONS.

RESIDENTS MUST BE ABLE TO ARRIVE AT THE HOSPITAL WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF AN EMERGENCY CALL, THEREFORE, RESIDENTS MUST PLAN TO LIVE WITHIN 15 MILES OF THE HOSPITAL.