Museum Veterinary Sciences interns will gain experience in the medical management and husbandry care of exotic species maintained in the Museum’s Living Collection including reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds, fish, and invertebrates. Interns will work with the Museum’s Veterinary Sciences staff under the direction of Dr. Daniel S. Dombrowski. They will develop their public speaking skills through the Museum’s Window on Animal Health (Window), an exhibit that allows visitors to interact with veterinary staff as they perform medical exams and veterinary procedures. Interns will also regularly interact with visitors at the Window while assisting with diagnostic sample collection and  evaluations in the Museum’s clinical veterinary medicine laboratory. Upon
completion, students will gain a better understanding of veterinary medicine as it relates to public education and a natural sciences museum and receive a certificate of completion from VetPAC.

• Assisting with medical examinations of museum exotic animal species, veterinary
  procedures, and diagnostic sample collection and evaluation
• Museum exotic animal husbandry
• Medical record management
• Presenting veterinary medicine and science to the public in the Window on Animal Health
• Special events assistance as assigned

• Hands on experience assisting with the management of medical cases for a
  variety of taxa in the museum’s collection
• Hands on experience with and better understanding of general animal husbandry
  and handling
• Hands on experience with physical exams including intake exams, routine
  physical wellness checks, medical procedures, medication administration, and
  surgical procedures
• Hands on experience with basic clinical and laboratory techniques for multiple
  taxa, including fecal examinations, cytology, hematology, and water quality tests
• Hands on experience with assessing animal behaviors, both normal and
  abnormal, for multiple taxa
• Experience interacting with and presenting to the public on topics ranging from
  general natural history to technical medical and veterinary science information
  while in the Window on Animal Health
• Experience reviewing primary peer reviewed literature for clinical reference and
  presentation
• Develop a better understanding of the concept of “One Health”

Applications for the Spring semester are due by the end of the day on November 7th. Interviews for Spring will be scheduled within 2 weeks and final selections and positioned offered by the last day of November.

Applications for summer and fall will be evaluated together and due by the end of the day on April 7th. Interview dates to be scheduled within 2 weeks and final selections and positioned offered by the last day of April.

Eligibility Requirements: 

More information about the application process, time commitments, and program completion can be found here.

Application Materials: 

The Museum Veterinary Medicine Internship Application can be found here.